CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for pet care services (except veterinary) in Montana
122 pet care services (except veterinary) operated in Montana in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 122CBP 2023
- Employees
- 634mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 10.7U.S. 7.5
- State rank
- 41st of 51by count
Pet care services (except veterinary) in Montana by the numbers
The Census Bureau counted 122 pet care services (except veterinary) in Montana in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 812910). They employed 634 people in mid-March and reported $16.2 million in annual payroll. That is the 41st highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Pet care services (except veterinary) make up 0.29% of the 42,566 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Montana has 10.7 pet care services (except veterinary), 42.8% above the national rate of 7.5. The average establishment has 5.2 employees against 6.9 nationally. Payroll per employee is $25,576, 8.8% below the U.S. figure of $28,047.
| Measure | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 122 | 25,551 |
| Mid-March employees | 634 | 175,116 |
| Annual payroll | $16,215,000 | $4,911,421,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 5.2 | 6.9 |
| Payroll per employee | $25,576 | $28,047 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 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.
Pet care services (except veterinary) by metro area in Montana
Census published pet care business counts for 6 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Montana. The largest is Billings, MT, with 23 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 69% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 23 | 170 | 11.9 |
| Bozeman, MT | 22 | 91 | 17.3 |
| Missoula, MT | 12 | — | 9.4 |
| Kalispell, MT | 12 | 81 | 10.5 |
| Great Falls, MT | 11 | 65 | 13.0 |
| Helena, MT | 4 | 40 | 4.1 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at pet care services (except veterinary) in Montana
66.4% of Montana's pet care services (except veterinary) with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 57.7% nationally. 85.2% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 81 | 66.4% | 57.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 23 | 18.9% | 20.0% |
| 10–19 employees | 13 | 10.7% | 14.2% |
| 20–49 employees | 5 | 4.1% | 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.
Why the phone matters for pet care services (except veterinary) in Montana
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. That holds for pet care services (except veterinary) in Montana as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to pet care services (except veterinary) in Montana:
- An owner calls to book grooming.
- An owner calls about vaccination requirements.
- An owner calls about boarding availability for a holiday.
Calls after closing time
Owners traveling may call outside business hours.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Phone system pricing for a 5-person pet care business
Pet care services (except veterinary) in Montana average 5.2 employees, so the comparison uses a 5-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $124.75 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $150.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 5 people cost $99.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $612. 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 | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $95.00 | $1,140.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $115.00 | $1,380.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $124.75 | $1,497.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $135.00 | $1,620.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $150.00 | $1,800.00 |
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 Montana
Montana has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your pet owners know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 406 | 754 | 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.
How Callata works for pet care services (except veterinary) in Montana
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 Montana, 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 in Montana?
122 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 634 people in mid-March.
Which Montana metro area has the most pet care services (except veterinary)?
Billings, MT, with 23 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 5-person pet care business?
$150.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $124.75 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $99.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Montana 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.