CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in Maine
781 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors operated in Maine in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 781CBP 2023
- Employees
- 4,783mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 55.6U.S. 32.7
- State rank
- 37th of 51by count
The plumbing and HVAC contractor industry in Maine
Maine had 781 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 238220, Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors). They employed 4,783 people in mid-March and reported $316.9 million in annual payroll. That is the 37th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors make up 1.8% of the 43,345 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Maine has 55.6 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors, 70.0% above the national rate of 32.7. The average establishment has 6.1 employees against 10.9 nationally. Payroll per employee is $66,252, 10.1% below the U.S. figure of $73,693.
| Measure | Maine | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 781 | 111,207 |
| Mid-March employees | 4,783 | 1,214,761 |
| Annual payroll | $316,882,000 | $89,519,407,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 6.1 | 10.9 |
| Payroll per employee | $66,252 | $73,693 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 55.6 | 32.7 |
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.
Where plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in Maine are concentrated
Census published plumbing and HVAC contractor counts for 4 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Maine. The largest is Portland, ME, with 347 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 70% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME | 347 | 2,581 | 60.7 |
| Bangor, ME | 72 | 519 | 45.9 |
| Lewiston, ME | 69 | 497 | 59.9 |
| Augusta, ME | 55 | 253 | 42.8 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in Maine
71.8% of Maine's plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 58.3% nationally. 86.5% 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 | 559 | 71.8% | 58.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 115 | 14.8% | 18.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 56 | 7.2% | 11.8% |
| 20–49 employees | 38 | 4.9% | 7.5% |
| 50 or more employees | 11 | 1.4% | 3.8% |
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.
What plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in Maine use the phone for
Plumbing and HVAC calls are often emergencies: no heat, no cooling or water where it should not be. Homeowners call down a list until someone answers, so a missed call is frequently a lost job.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in Maine:
- A general contractor calls about rough-in timing.
- The dispatcher calls a customer with a technician's arrival time.
- A tenant calls about a burst pipe.
After-hours calls
Emergency calls at night and on weekends are core business, so after-hours routing to an on-call technician or an AI receptionist that takes details matters.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in Maine
Plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in Maine average 6.1 employees, so the comparison uses a 6-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $149.70 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $180.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 6 people cost $119.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $732. 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 | $119.00 | $1,428.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $114.00 | $1,368.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $138.00 | $1,656.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $149.70 | $1,796.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $162.00 | $1,944.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $180.00 | $2,160.00 |
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 Maine
Maine has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your customers know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 207 | 742 | Eastern | 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 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in Maine
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Maine, 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 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors are in Maine?
781 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 4,783 people in mid-March.
Which Maine metro area has the most plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors?
Portland, ME, with 347 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 6-person plumbing and HVAC contractor?
$180.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $149.70 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $119.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Maine 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.