CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for offices of real estate agents and brokers in Montana
1,100 offices of real estate agents and brokers operated in Montana in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 1,100CBP 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 96.7U.S. 48.2
- State rank
- 36th of 51by count
How many offices of real estate agents and brokers operate in Montana
Montana had 1,100 offices of real estate agents and brokers in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 531210, Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers). That is the 36th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Offices of real estate agents and brokers make up 2.6% of the 42,566 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Montana has 96.7 offices of real estate agents and brokers, 100.7% above the national rate of 48.2.
| Measure | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 1,100 | 163,894 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,447 (high noise) | 395,264 |
| Annual payroll | $87,783,000 | $31,261,611,000 |
| Employees per establishment | — | 2.4 |
| Payroll per employee | — | $79,090 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 96.7 | 48.2 |
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.
Offices of real estate agents and brokers by metro area in Montana
Census published real estate office counts for 7 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Montana. The largest is Bozeman, MT, with 268 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 82% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | 268 | 323 | 211.1 |
| Billings, MT | 201 | — | 104.4 |
| Kalispell, MT | 173 | — | 151.1 |
| Missoula, MT | 123 | 246 | 96.3 |
| Helena, MT | 86 | 106 | 88.9 |
| Great Falls, MT | 36 | — | 42.6 |
| Butte, MT | 20 | — | 55.3 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at offices of real estate agents and brokers in Montana
96.5% of Montana's offices of real estate agents and brokers with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 92.2% nationally. 98.7% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 1,062 | 96.5% | 92.2% |
| 5–9 employees | 24 | 2.2% | 4.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 9 | 0.8% | 1.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 5 | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 0.4% |
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 real estate office in Montana has to catch
Real estate agents work on their cell phones from showings and open houses, and a missed call from a buyer can go to another agent. A business number that rings their cell, and that stays with the brokerage, keeps leads in one place. That holds for offices of real estate agents and brokers in Montana as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to offices of real estate agents and brokers in Montana:
- A lender calls about a buyer's financing.
- Another agent calls to schedule a showing.
- A seller calls to ask about a market valuation.
Business texting for offices of real estate agents and brokers
Agents text showing confirmations, offer updates and listing links.
Texting from a local number in Montana requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for offices of real estate agents and brokers in Montana
The comparison uses a 2-person team, the rounded U.S. average for offices of real estate agents and brokers. Priced per seat, 2 users would run $60.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $49.90 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata costs $99.00 a month ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), so at this team size both per-seat plans are cheaper; Callata drops below them from 4 users.
At this team size the per-seat plans cost less than Callata's $99 base price, which already covers 5 users; Callata becomes the lower price from 4 users.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $38.00 | $456.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $46.00 | $552.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $49.90 | $598.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $54.00 | $648.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $60.00 | $720.00 |
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 Montana
Montana has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a real estate office can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 406 | 754 | Mountain | 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 offices of real estate agents and brokers in Montana
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 Montana 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.
Marketing calls and texts to prospects require consent, and numbers on do-not-call lists must be respected.
Frequently asked questions
How many offices of real estate agents and brokers are in Montana?
1,100 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns.
Which Montana metro area has the most offices of real estate agents and brokers?
Bozeman, MT, with 268 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 2-person real estate office?
$60.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $49.90 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $99.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Montana 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.