CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for exterminating and pest control services in Columbia, SC
Exterminating and pest control services in the Columbia, SC metro area: 66 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 9-person team.
- Establishments
- 66CBP 2023
- Employees
- 589mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 7.6U.S. 4.9
- Rank
- 53rd of 564areas by count
The pest control company market in Columbia, SC
County Business Patterns counts 66 exterminating and pest control services (NAICS 561710, Exterminating and Pest Control Services) in the Columbia, SC metro area for 2023. Together they reported 589 mid-March employees and $27.3 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 53rd of the 564 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 870,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 7.6 exterminating and pest control services per 100,000 people, 56.0% above the national rate of 4.9. Establishments average 8.9 employees, 6.0% above the U.S. average of 8.4. Payroll per employee comes to $46,336, 13.3% below the national $53,466.
| Measure | Columbia, SC | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 66 | 407 | 16,535 |
| Mid-March employees | 589 (moderate noise) | 3,568 | 139,150 |
| Annual payroll | $27,292,000 (moderate noise) | $172,128,000 | $7,439,859,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 8.9 | 8.8 | 8.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $46,336 | $48,242 | $53,466 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 7.6 | 7.4 | 4.9 |
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.
Establishment size: exterminating and pest control services in Columbia, SC
Of the exterminating and pest control services in Columbia, SC that had employees in March 2023, 44.6% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 56.9%). 69.2% had fewer than ten. Small teams usually share the phone: the person who answers is often also serving a customer or doing the job, which is when calls get missed.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 29 | 44.6% | 56.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 16 | 24.6% | 17.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 12 | 18.5% | 14.2% |
| 20–49 employees | 8 | 12.3% | 9.9% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 1.6% |
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.
What exterminating and pest control services in Columbia, SC use the phone for
Pest problems feel urgent to the caller, and people usually hire the first company that answers. Routes, follow-up treatments and recurring plans also generate steady scheduling calls.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for exterminating and pest control services in Columbia, SC:
- A customer calls to reschedule a quarterly treatment.
- A restaurant calls about a pest issue before an inspection.
- The company calls customers the day before service.
Calls after closing time
Evening calls about urgent infestations are common.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
What a phone system costs a pest control company in Columbia, SC
The average pest control company in Columbia, SC has 8.9 employees, so a 9-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 9 users would run $270.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $224.55 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 9 people cost $179.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,092. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $179.00 | $2,148.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $171.00 | $2,052.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $207.00 | $2,484.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $224.55 | $2,694.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $243.00 | $2,916.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $270.00 | $3,240.00 |
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.
Local area codes for exterminating and pest control services in Columbia, SC
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 5 area codes. 803 has the most, with 324 of 372 exchanges (87%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your customers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 803 | 324 | Eastern | 1947 | 839 |
| 839 | 43 | Eastern | 2020 | 803 |
| 864 | 3 | Eastern | 1995 | 821 |
| 843 | 1 | Eastern | 1998 | 854 |
| 854 | 1 | Eastern | 2015 | 843 |
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.
Setting up Callata for a pest control company in Columbia, SC
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
If you already have a number in Columbia, SC, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many exterminating and pest control services are there in Columbia, SC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 66 exterminating and pest control services in the Columbia, SC metro area in 2023. They employed 589 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 9-person pest control company?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 9 users cost $270.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $224.55 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $179.00.
What area code should a pest control company in Columbia, SC use?
Area code 803 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 839 and 864. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a pest control company?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.