CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for offices of real estate agents and brokers in South Carolina
3,337 offices of real estate agents and brokers operated in South Carolina in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 3,337CBP 2023
- Employees
- 7,097mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 60.9U.S. 48.2
- State rank
- 12th of 51by count
How many offices of real estate agents and brokers operate in South Carolina
The Census Bureau counted 3,337 offices of real estate agents and brokers in South Carolina in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 531210). They employed 7,097 people in mid-March and reported $440.4 million in annual payroll. That is the 12th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Offices of real estate agents and brokers make up 2.7% of the 122,958 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) South Carolina has 60.9 offices of real estate agents and brokers, 26.4% above the national rate of 48.2. The average establishment has 2.1 employees against 2.4 nationally. Payroll per employee is $62,050, 21.5% below the U.S. figure of $79,090.
| Measure | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 3,337 | 163,894 |
| Mid-March employees | 7,097 | 395,264 |
| Annual payroll | $440,366,000 | $31,261,611,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 2.1 | 2.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $62,050 | $79,090 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 60.9 | 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 South Carolina
Census published real estate office counts for 16 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of South Carolina. The largest is Charlotte, NC-SC, with 2,400 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 90% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC-SC | 2,400 | 5,131 | 83.2 |
| Charleston, SC | 832 | 1,537 | 95.6 |
| Greenville, SC | 601 | 1,020 | 60.3 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 499 | 1,826 | 120.7 |
| Hilton Head Island, SC | 373 | 676 | 157.1 |
| Columbia, SC | 363 | 764 | 41.7 |
| Augusta, GA-SC | 196 | 538 | 30.8 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 120 | 154 | 30.3 |
| Murrells Inlet, SC | 66 | 126 | 99.9 |
| Seneca, SC | 60 | 166 | 72.7 |
| Florence, SC | 34 | 65 | 17.0 |
| Sumter, SC | 18 | 75 | 17.2 |
| Greenwood, SC | 17 | — | 18.0 |
| Orangeburg, SC | 11 | — | 13.2 |
| Gaffney, SC | 8 | — | 13.8 |
| Newberry, SC | 7 | 7 | 17.9 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at offices of real estate agents and brokers in South Carolina
92.2% of South Carolina's offices of real estate agents and brokers with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 92.2% nationally. 97.1% 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 | 3,078 | 92.2% | 92.2% |
| 5–9 employees | 161 | 4.8% | 4.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 57 | 1.7% | 1.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 30 | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| 50 or more employees | 11 | 0.3% | 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.
Why the phone matters for offices of real estate agents and brokers in South Carolina
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 South Carolina:
- A lender calls about a buyer's financing.
- A seller calls to ask about a market valuation.
- Another agent calls to schedule a showing.
When nobody can pick up
Buyers and sellers call evenings and weekends, so a quick callback or text reply often decides who gets the business.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
What a phone system costs a real estate office in South Carolina
Offices of real estate agents and brokers in South Carolina average 2.1 employees, so the comparison uses a 2-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $49.90 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $60.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata is $99.00 a month with 5 users included, which is more than either per-seat plan for 2 people; it becomes the lower price at 4 users or more.
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 South Carolina
South Carolina has 6 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your buyers and sellers know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 803 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 839 |
| 864 | 784 | Eastern | 1995 | 821 |
| 843 | 783 | Eastern | 1998 | 854 |
| 839 | 190 | Eastern | 2020 | 803 |
| 854 | 182 | Eastern | 2015 | 843 |
| 821 | 42 | Eastern | 2024 | 864 |
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 South Carolina
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.
If you already have a number in South Carolina, 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.
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 South Carolina?
3,337 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 7,097 people in mid-March.
Which South Carolina metro area has the most offices of real estate agents and brokers?
Charlotte, NC-SC, with 2,400 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 South Carolina 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.