CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for offices of real estate agents and brokers in Rhode Island
418 offices of real estate agents and brokers operated in Rhode Island in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 418CBP 2023
- Employees
- 874mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 37.6U.S. 48.2
- State rank
- 44th of 51by count
Offices of real estate agents and brokers in Rhode Island by the numbers
The Census Bureau counted 418 offices of real estate agents and brokers in Rhode Island in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 531210). They employed 874 people in mid-March and reported $57.8 million in annual payroll. That is the 44th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Offices of real estate agents and brokers make up 1.4% of the 29,510 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Rhode Island has 37.6 offices of real estate agents and brokers, 22.0% below the national rate of 48.2. The average establishment has 2.1 employees against 2.4 nationally. Payroll per employee is $66,130, 16.4% below the U.S. figure of $79,090.
| Measure | Rhode Island | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 418 | 163,894 |
| Mid-March employees | 874 (moderate noise) | 395,264 |
| Annual payroll | $57,798,000 | $31,261,611,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 2.1 | 2.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $66,130 | $79,090 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 37.6 | 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.
Rhode Island's largest markets for offices of real estate agents and brokers
Census published real estate office counts for 1 metro or micropolitan area that include part of Rhode Island. The largest is Providence, RI-MA, with 574 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans).
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI-MA | 574 | 1,116 | 33.7 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at offices of real estate agents and brokers in Rhode Island
91.6% of Rhode Island's offices of real estate agents and brokers with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 92.2% nationally. 97.4% 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 | 381 | 91.6% | 92.2% |
| 5–9 employees | 24 | 5.8% | 4.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 11 | 2.6% | 1.7% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 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 Rhode Island 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.
A few of the calls that come in to offices of real estate agents and brokers in Rhode Island:
- A lender calls about a buyer's financing.
- A buyer calls about a listing they saw online.
- Another agent calls to schedule a showing.
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 Rhode Island requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Phone system pricing for a 2-person real estate office
Offices of real estate agents and brokers in Rhode Island average 2.1 employees, so the comparison uses a 2-person team. 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 Rhode Island
Rhode Island 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 401 | 581 | 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 offices of real estate agents and brokers in Rhode Island
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.
Porting a number you already use in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
418 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 874 people in mid-March.
Which Rhode Island metro area has the most offices of real estate agents and brokers?
Providence, RI-MA, with 574 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 Rhode Island 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.