CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in Montgomery, AL
Plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in the Montgomery, AL metro area: 100 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 12-person team.
- Establishments
- 100CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,157mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 25.8U.S. 32.7
- Rank
- 176th of 920areas by count
How many plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors are in Montgomery, AL?
County Business Patterns counts 100 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors (NAICS 238220, Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors) in the Montgomery, AL metro area for 2023. They employed 1,157 people in mid-March and paid $70.6 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 176th out of 920 areas with published figures for plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors.
Measured against its 388,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 25.8 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 32.7, so Montgomery, AL is 21.2% below the national figure. The average establishment here has 11.6 employees, compared with 10.9 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $61,025, 17.2% below the national $73,693.
| Measure | Montgomery, AL | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 100 | 1,647 | 111,207 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,157 | 17,066 | 1,214,761 |
| Annual payroll | $70,606,000 | $1,061,270,000 | $89,519,407,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 11.6 | 10.4 | 10.9 |
| Payroll per employee | $61,025 | $62,186 | $73,693 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 25.8 | 31.9 | 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.
Team sizes at plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in Montgomery, AL
Of the plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in Montgomery, AL that had employees in March 2023, 58.0% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 58.3%). 80.0% 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 | 58 | 58.0% | 58.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 22 | 22.0% | 18.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 6 | 6.0% | 11.8% |
| 20–49 employees | 8 | 8.0% | 7.5% |
| 50 or more employees | 6 | 6.0% | 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.
Calls a plumbing and HVAC contractor in Montgomery, AL has to catch
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.
A few of the calls that come in to plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in Montgomery, AL:
- A general contractor calls about rough-in timing.
- A customer calls to book a seasonal tune-up.
- A homeowner calls because the air conditioning stopped working.
What plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors text about
Contractors text arrival windows, technician names and invoices.
Texts sent from a local business number in Montgomery, AL have to be registered with carriers first (10DLC); on Callata that is a one-time $49 fee, after which the whole team can text from the shared number.
Phone system pricing for a 12-person plumbing and HVAC contractor
The average plumbing and HVAC contractor in Montgomery, AL has 11.6 employees, so a 12-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 12 users would run $360.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $299.40 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $239.00 a month for 12 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $1,452 less than RingCentral for a plumbing and HVAC contractor in Montgomery, AL 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 | $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.
Getting a local number in Montgomery, AL
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 334 has the most, with 217 of 224 exchanges (97%). A local number lets customers in Montgomery, AL 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 334 | 217 | Central | 1995 | 483 |
| 483 | 7 | Central | 2026 | 334 |
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.
What plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in Montgomery, AL get with Callata
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.
Porting a number you already use in Montgomery, AL 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 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors are there in Montgomery, AL?
Census County Business Patterns counted 100 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in the Montgomery, AL metro area in 2023. They employed 1,157 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 12-person plumbing and HVAC contractor?
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 plumbing and HVAC contractor in Montgomery, AL use?
Area code 334 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 483. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a plumbing and HVAC contractor?
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.