CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for pet and pet supplies stores in Columbia, SC
Pet and pet supplies stores in the Columbia, SC metro area: 27 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 12-person team.
- Establishments
- 27CBP 2023
- Employees
- 331mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 3.1U.S. 2.9
- Rank
- 69th of 439areas by count
How many pet and pet supplies stores are in Columbia, SC?
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 27 establishments classified as Pet and Pet Supplies Stores (NAICS 453910) in the Columbia, SC metro area. Together they reported 331 mid-March employees and $9,217,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 69th of the 439 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 870,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 3.1 pet and pet supplies stores per 100,000 people, 6.4% above the national rate of 2.9. Establishments average 12.3 employees, in line with the U.S. average of 12.3. Payroll per employee comes to $27,846, 8.2% below the national $30,339.
| Measure | Columbia, SC | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 27 | 158 | 9,921 |
| Mid-March employees | 331 (moderate noise) | 1,729 (moderate noise) | 122,102 (moderate noise) |
| Annual payroll | $9,217,000 (moderate noise) | $53,914,000 (moderate noise) | $3,704,424,000 (moderate noise) |
| Employees per establishment | 12.3 | 10.9 | 12.3 |
| Payroll per employee | $27,846 | $31,182 | $30,339 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 3.1 | 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 Columbia, SC
Of the pet and pet supplies stores in Columbia, SC that had employees in March 2023, 18.5% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 26.6%). 51.9% 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 | 5 | 18.5% | 26.6% |
| 5–9 employees | 9 | 33.3% | 23.0% |
| 10–19 employees | 5 | 18.5% | 26.8% |
| 20–49 employees | 8 | 29.6% | 22.5% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 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.
What pet and pet supplies stores in Columbia, SC use the phone for
Pet stores answer questions about food, supplies and services like grooming. Regular customers call to check stock and place orders.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for pet and pet supplies stores in Columbia, SC:
- A customer calls about grooming appointments.
- A customer calls about adoption events.
- A customer calls about fish supplies.
Calls after closing time
After-hours calls are mostly stock questions.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for pet and pet supplies stores in Columbia, SC
The average pet store in Columbia, SC has 12.3 employees, so a 12-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $299.40 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $360.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 12 people cost $239.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,452. 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 | $239.00 | $2,868.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $228.00 | $2,736.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $276.00 | $3,312.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $299.40 | $3,592.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $324.00 | $3,888.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $360.00 | $4,320.00 |
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 and pet supplies stores 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.
How Callata works for pet and pet supplies stores
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 pet and pet supplies stores are there in Columbia, SC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 27 pet and pet supplies stores in the Columbia, SC metro area in 2023. They employed 331 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 12-person pet store?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 12 users cost $360.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $299.40 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $239.00.
What area code should a pet store 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 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.