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Business phone system for pharmacies and drug stores in Augusta, ME

Pharmacies and drug stores in the Augusta-Waterville, ME micropolitan area: 19 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 22-person team.

Establishments
19CBP 2023
Employees
426mid-March 2023
Per 100k residents
14.8U.S. 12.3
Rank
287th of 840areas by count

Pharmacies and drug stores in Augusta, ME by the numbers

The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 19 establishments classified as Pharmacies and Drug Stores (NAICS 446110) in the Augusta-Waterville, ME micropolitan area. They employed 426 people in mid-March and paid $18.6 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 287th out of 840 areas with published figures for pharmacies and drug stores.

Measured against its 128,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 14.8 pharmacies and drug stores per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 12.3, so Augusta, ME is 20.4% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 22.4 employees, compared with 16.5 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $43,603, in line with the national $44,477.

Pharmacies and drug stores: Augusta, ME compared with Maine and the U.S., 2023
MeasureAugusta, MEMaineUnited States
Establishments1917541,792
Mid-March employees426 (moderate noise)3,158 (moderate noise)691,152
Annual payroll$18,575,000$135,180,000$30,740,561,000
Employees per establishment22.418.016.5
Payroll per employee$43,603$42,806$44,477
Establishments per 100,000 residents14.812.512.3

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.

Why the phone matters for pharmacies and drug stores in Augusta, ME

Independent pharmacies take refill requests, prescriber calls and insurance questions throughout the day, often while pharmacists are filling prescriptions. Sorting calls by purpose keeps prescribers and patients from waiting in the same queue.

Typical inbound and outbound calls for pharmacies and drug stores in Augusta, ME:

Business texting for pharmacies and drug stores

Independent pharmacies text customers when a prescription is ready for pickup and when a refill needs attention.

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.

Phone system pricing for a 22-person pharmacy

The average pharmacy in Augusta, ME has 22.4 employees, so a 22-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $548.90 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $660.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $439.00 a month for 22 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.

Over a year, that is $2,652 less than RingCentral for a pharmacy in Augusta, ME of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.

Monthly list price for a 22-person pharmacy
Provider (plan)Pricing basisPer monthPer year
Callata (Callata Office)$99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user$439.00$5,268.00
Quo (Starter)$19.00 per user$418.00$5,016.00
Nextiva (Core)$23.00 per user$506.00$6,072.00
Ooma (Office Pro)$24.95 per user$548.90$6,586.80
Dialpad (Standard)$27.00 per user$594.00$7,128.00
RingCentral (RingEX Core)$30.00 per user$660.00$7,920.00

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 Augusta, ME

The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 207 (63 exchanges in NANPA's file). A local number lets customers in Augusta, ME 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 codes in the Augusta, ME area by assigned exchanges
Area codeExchangesTime zoneIn service sinceOverlay with
20763Eastern1947none

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 pharmacy in Augusta, ME

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 Augusta, ME 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.

Practices that handle protected health information should review their own privacy obligations before recording calls, enabling AI summaries or texting appointment details, and keep clinical conversations out of text messages unless their policies allow it.

Frequently asked questions

How many pharmacies and drug stores are there in Augusta, ME?

Census County Business Patterns counted 19 pharmacies and drug stores in the Augusta-Waterville, ME micropolitan area in 2023. They employed 426 people in mid-March.

What does a business phone system cost for a 22-person pharmacy?

At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 22 users cost $660.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $548.90 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $439.00.

What area code should a pharmacy in Augusta, ME use?

Area code 207 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 pharmacy?

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. Practices that handle protected health information should review their own privacy obligations before recording calls, enabling AI summaries or texting appointment details, and keep clinical conversations out of text messages unless their policies allow it.