CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for general rental centers in Massachusetts
46 general rental centers operated in Massachusetts in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 46CBP 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 0.6U.S. 0.8
- State rank
- 20th of 51by count
How many general rental centers operate in Massachusetts
The Census Bureau counted 46 general rental centers in Massachusetts in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 532310). That is the 20th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. General rental centers make up 0.03% of the 183,767 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Massachusetts has 0.6 general rental centers, 19.5% below the national rate of 0.8.
| Measure | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 46 | 2,725 |
| Mid-March employees | 205 (high noise) | 19,738 |
| Annual payroll | $14,212,000 | $1,165,027,000 |
| Employees per establishment | — | 7.2 |
| Payroll per employee | — | $59,025 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 0.6 | 0.8 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Where general rental centers in Massachusetts are concentrated
Census published general rental center counts for 6 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Massachusetts. The largest is Boston, MA-NH, with 27 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 30% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA-NH | 27 | 149 | 0.5 |
| Providence, RI-MA | 17 | 100 | 1.0 |
| Worcester, MA | 4 | — | 0.5 |
| Springfield, MA | 4 | — | 0.9 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 3 | 30 | 1.3 |
| Amherst Town, MA | 3 | — | 1.8 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at general rental centers in Massachusetts
60.0% of Massachusetts's general rental centers with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 50.8% nationally. 91.1% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 27 | 60.0% | 50.8% |
| 5–9 employees | 14 | 31.1% | 26.8% |
| 10–19 employees | 4 | 8.9% | 15.4% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 6.1% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 1.0% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a general rental center in Massachusetts has to catch
General rental centers rent tools, party equipment and more, and customers call about availability and delivery. Weekend events drive call peaks. That holds for general rental centers in Massachusetts as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to general rental centers in Massachusetts:
- A customer calls about renting tables and chairs for a party.
- A homeowner calls about renting a floor sander.
- A customer calls to extend a rental.
Texting customers
Rental centers text delivery and return reminders.
Texting from a local number in Massachusetts requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Phone system pricing for a 7-person general rental center
The comparison uses a 7-person team, the rounded U.S. average for general rental centers. Priced per seat, 7 users would run $210.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $174.65 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $139.00 a month for 7 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $852 less than RingCentral for a general rental center in Massachusetts of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $139.00 | $1,668.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $133.00 | $1,596.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $161.00 | $1,932.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $174.65 | $2,095.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $189.00 | $2,268.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $210.00 | $2,520.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has 9 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a general rental center can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 978 | 773 | Eastern | 1997 | 351 |
| 781 | 769 | Eastern | 1997 | 339 |
| 617 | 768 | Eastern | 1947 | 857 |
| 508 | 749 | Eastern | 1988 | 774 |
| 413 | 602 | Eastern | 1947 | none |
| 774 | 524 | Eastern | 2001 | 508 |
| 857 | 362 | Eastern | 2001 | 617 |
| 339 | 104 | Eastern | 2001 | 781 |
| 351 | 92 | Eastern | 2001 | 978 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for general rental centers in Massachusetts
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Massachusetts is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many general rental centers are in Massachusetts?
46 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns.
Which Massachusetts metro area has the most general rental centers?
Boston, MA-NH, with 27 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 7-person general rental center?
$210.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $174.65 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $139.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Massachusetts number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.