CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for pet and pet supplies stores in Boston, MA-NH
Pet and pet supplies stores in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area: 161 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 14-person team.
- Establishments
- 161CBP 2023
- Employees
- 2,294mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 3.2U.S. 2.9
- Rank
- 10th of 439areas by count
The pet store market in Boston, MA-NH
County Business Patterns counts 161 pet and pet supplies stores (NAICS 453910, Pet and Pet Supplies Stores) in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area for 2023. They employed 2,294 people in mid-March and paid $73.9 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 10th out of 439 areas with published figures for pet and pet supplies stores.
Measured against its 5.0 million residents (2024 estimate), the area has 3.2 pet and pet supplies stores per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 2.9, so Boston, MA-NH is 9.8% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 14.2 employees, compared with 12.3 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $32,198, 6.1% above the national $30,339.
| Measure | Boston, MA-NH | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 161 | 207 | 9,921 |
| Mid-March employees | 2,294 (moderate noise) | 2,857 (moderate noise) | 122,102 (moderate noise) |
| Annual payroll | $73,862,000 (moderate noise) | $92,689,000 (moderate noise) | $3,704,424,000 (moderate noise) |
| Employees per establishment | 14.2 | 13.8 | 12.3 |
| Payroll per employee | $32,198 | $32,443 | $30,339 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 3.2 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
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: pet and pet supplies stores in Boston, MA-NH
Of the pet and pet supplies stores in Boston, MA-NH that had employees in March 2023, 26.1% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 26.6%). 42.9% 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 | 42 | 26.1% | 26.6% |
| 5–9 employees | 27 | 16.8% | 23.0% |
| 10–19 employees | 49 | 30.4% | 26.8% |
| 20–49 employees | 37 | 23.0% | 22.5% |
| 50 or more employees | 6 | 3.7% | 1.1% |
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 and pet supplies stores in Boston, MA-NH
Pet stores answer questions about food, supplies and services like grooming. Regular customers call to check stock and place orders. That holds for pet and pet supplies stores in Boston, MA-NH as much as anywhere.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for pet and pet supplies stores in Boston, MA-NH:
- A customer calls about adoption events.
- A customer calls about fish supplies.
- A customer calls about grooming appointments.
Business texting for pet and pet supplies stores
Stores text special-order and grooming notices.
Because carriers require registration for business texting from local numbers, Callata files a 10DLC registration for a one-time $49; after approval, anyone on the team can reply from the business number.
What a phone system costs a pet store in Boston, MA-NH
The average pet store in Boston, MA-NH has 14.2 employees, so a 14-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, 14 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $420.00 a month and 14 on Ooma Office Pro cost $349.30. Callata comes to $279.00 a month for 14 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $1,692 less than RingCentral for a pet store in Boston, MA-NH 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 | $279.00 | $3,348.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $266.00 | $3,192.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $322.00 | $3,864.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $349.30 | $4,191.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $378.00 | $4,536.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $420.00 | $5,040.00 |
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.
Which area code to use in Boston, MA-NH
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 8 area codes. 781 has the most, with 763 of 3,063 exchanges (25%). A local number lets customers in Boston, MA-NH call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 781 | 763 | Eastern | 1997 | 339 |
| 978 | 642 | Eastern | 1997 | 351 |
| 617 | 635 | Eastern | 1947 | 857 |
| 508 | 282 | Eastern | 1988 | 774 |
| 857 | 278 | Eastern | 2001 | 617 |
| 603 | 203 | Eastern | 1947 | none |
| 774 | 163 | Eastern | 2001 | 508 |
| 339 | 97 | Eastern | 2001 | 781 |
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 and pet supplies stores
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 Boston, MA-NH 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 pet and pet supplies stores are there in Boston, MA-NH?
Census County Business Patterns counted 161 pet and pet supplies stores in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area in 2023. They employed 2,294 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 14-person pet store?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 14 users cost $420.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $349.30 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $279.00.
What area code should a pet store in Boston, MA-NH use?
Area code 781 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 978 and 617. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a pet store?
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.