CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for full-service restaurants in Albert Lea, MN
Full-service restaurants in the Albert Lea, MN micropolitan area: 24 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 14-person team.
- Establishments
- 24CBP 2023
- Employees
- 326mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 79.2U.S. 76.0
- Rank
- 753rd of 925areas by count
How many full-service restaurants are in Albert Lea, MN?
There were 24 full-service restaurants in the Albert Lea, MN micropolitan area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 722511, Full-Service Restaurants). Together they reported 326 mid-March employees and $6,231,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 753rd of the 925 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 30,314 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 79.2 full-service restaurants per 100,000 people, 4.1% above the national rate of 76.0. Establishments average 13.6 employees, 34.8% below the U.S. average of 20.8. Payroll per employee comes to $19,113, 31.8% below the national $28,018.
| Measure | Albert Lea, MN | Minnesota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 24 | 3,879 | 258,626 |
| Mid-March employees | 326 | 87,230 | 5,387,020 |
| Annual payroll | $6,231,000 | $2,273,784,000 | $150,931,656,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 13.6 | 22.5 | 20.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $19,113 | $26,067 | $28,018 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 79.2 | 67.0 | 76.0 |
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 full-service restaurants in Albert Lea, MN
Of the full-service restaurants in Albert Lea, MN that had employees in March 2023, 21.7% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 26.3%). 43.5% had fewer than ten. When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 5 | 21.7% | 26.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 5 | 21.7% | 17.1% |
| 10–19 employees | 10 | 43.5% | 21.1% |
| 20–49 employees | 3 | 13.0% | 24.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 10.8% |
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.
Why the phone matters for full-service restaurants in Albert Lea, MN
Restaurants take reservations, takeout orders and catering inquiries by phone during the same rush when staff are busiest. Unanswered calls during service often mean lost covers. That holds for full-service restaurants in Albert Lea, MN as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to full-service restaurants in Albert Lea, MN:
- A supplier calls about a delivery.
- A customer calls in a takeout order.
- A guest calls to book a table for six on Saturday.
When nobody can pick up
After closing, callers want hours and reservations, which a greeting or AI receptionist can handle.
Business-hours routing in Callata sends calls to voicemail, a teammate's cell or an AI agent once the day ends, and voicemails arrive transcribed with an urgency flag.
What a phone system costs a full-service restaurant in Albert Lea, MN
The average full-service restaurant in Albert Lea, MN has 13.6 employees, so a 14-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 14 users would run $420.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $349.30 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 14 people cost $279.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,692. 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 | $279.00 | $3,348.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $266.00 | $3,192.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $322.00 | $3,864.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $349.30 | $4,191.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $378.00 | $4,536.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $420.00 | $5,040.00 |
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 Albert Lea, MN
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 507 (28 exchanges in NANPA's file). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your guests recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 507 | 28 | Central | 1954 | 924 |
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 full-service restaurants in Albert Lea, MN get with Callata
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Albert Lea, MN, 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 full-service restaurants are there in Albert Lea, MN?
Census County Business Patterns counted 24 full-service restaurants in the Albert Lea, MN micropolitan area in 2023. They employed 326 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 14-person full-service restaurant?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 14 users cost $420.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $349.30 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $279.00.
What area code should a full-service restaurant in Albert Lea, MN use?
Area code 507 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a full-service restaurant?
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.