CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for pet care services (except veterinary) in Billings, MT
Pet care services (except veterinary) in the Billings, MT metro area: 23 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 7-person team.
- Establishments
- 23CBP 2023
- Employees
- 170mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 11.9U.S. 7.5
- Rank
- 174th of 667areas by count
The pet care business market in Billings, MT
County Business Patterns counts 23 pet care services (except veterinary) (NAICS 812910, Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services) in the Billings, MT metro area for 2023. Together they reported 170 mid-March employees and $4,322,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 174th of the 667 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 193,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 11.9 pet care services (except veterinary) per 100,000 people, 59.0% above the national rate of 7.5. Establishments average 7.4 employees, 7.8% above the U.S. average of 6.9. Payroll per employee comes to $25,424, 9.4% below the national $28,047.
| Measure | Billings, MT | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 23 | 122 | 25,551 |
| Mid-March employees | 170 (moderate noise) | 634 | 175,116 |
| Annual payroll | $4,322,000 | $16,215,000 | $4,911,421,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 7.4 | 5.2 | 6.9 |
| Payroll per employee | $25,424 | $25,576 | $28,047 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 11.9 | 10.7 | 7.5 |
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: pet care services (except veterinary) in Billings, MT
Of the pet care services (except veterinary) in Billings, MT that had employees in March 2023, 57.1% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 57.7%). 81.0% 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 | 12 | 57.1% | 57.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 5 | 23.8% | 20.0% |
| 10–19 employees | 4 | 19.0% | 14.2% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 7.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 0.8% |
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 pet care business in Billings, MT has to catch
Groomers, boarding kennels and pet sitters take bookings and status calls from owners who want to know their pet is fine. Clear communication keeps clients loyal.
Calls a pet care business in Billings, MT might handle in a typical week include:
- The business calls an owner when a pet is ready.
- An owner calls to check on a boarded dog.
- An owner calls to book grooming.
When nobody can pick up
Owners traveling may call outside business hours.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
Phone system pricing for a 7-person pet care business
The average pet care business in Billings, MT has 7.4 employees, so a 7-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 7 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $210.00 a month and 7 on Ooma Office Pro cost $174.65. On Callata the same 7 people cost $139.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $852. 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 | $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.
Local area codes for pet care services (except veterinary) in Billings, MT
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 406 (98 exchanges in NANPA's file). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your pet owners recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 406 | 98 | Mountain | 1947 | none |
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 pet care business in Billings, MT
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.
If you already have a number in Billings, MT, 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 pet care services (except veterinary) are there in Billings, MT?
Census County Business Patterns counted 23 pet care services (except veterinary) in the Billings, MT metro area in 2023. They employed 170 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 7-person pet care business?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 7 users cost $210.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $174.65 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $139.00.
What area code should a pet care business in Billings, MT use?
Area code 406 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a pet care business?
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.