CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for full-service restaurants in Birmingham, AL
Full-service restaurants in the Birmingham, AL metro area: 618 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 24-person team.
- Establishments
- 618CBP 2023
- Employees
- 14,979mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 51.8U.S. 76.0
- Rank
- 67th of 925areas by count
How many full-service restaurants are in Birmingham, AL?
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 618 establishments classified as Full-Service Restaurants (NAICS 722511) in the Birmingham, AL metro area. They employed 14,979 people in mid-March and paid $387.5 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 67th out of 925 areas with published figures for full-service restaurants.
Measured against its 1.2 million residents (2024 estimate), the area has 51.8 full-service restaurants per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 76.0, so Birmingham, AL is 31.9% below the national figure. The average establishment here has 24.2 employees, compared with 20.8 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $25,872, 7.7% below the national $28,018.
| Measure | Birmingham, AL | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 618 | 2,771 | 258,626 |
| Mid-March employees | 14,979 | 63,096 | 5,387,020 |
| Annual payroll | $387,541,000 | $1,458,764,000 | $150,931,656,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 24.2 | 22.8 | 20.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $25,872 | $23,120 | $28,018 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 51.8 | 53.7 | 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.
How big full-service restaurants in Birmingham, AL are
Of the full-service restaurants in Birmingham, AL that had employees in March 2023, 21.4% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 26.3%). 33.3% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 132 | 21.4% | 26.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 74 | 12.0% | 17.1% |
| 10–19 employees | 147 | 23.8% | 21.1% |
| 20–49 employees | 180 | 29.1% | 24.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 85 | 13.8% | 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 Birmingham, AL
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 Birmingham, AL as much as anywhere.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for full-service restaurants in Birmingham, AL:
- A supplier calls about a delivery.
- A guest calls to book a table for six on Saturday.
- A customer calls in a takeout order.
Business texting for full-service restaurants
Restaurants text reservation confirmations and table-ready alerts.
Because carriers require registration for business texting from local numbers, Callata files a 10DLC registration for a one-time $49; after approval, anyone on the team can reply from the business number.
What a phone system costs a full-service restaurant in Birmingham, AL
The average full-service restaurant in Birmingham, AL has 24.2 employees, so a 24-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 24 users would run $720.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $598.80 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $479.00 a month for 24 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $2,892 less than RingCentral for a full-service restaurant in Birmingham, 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 | $479.00 | $5,748.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $456.00 | $5,472.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $552.00 | $6,624.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $598.80 | $7,185.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $648.00 | $7,776.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $720.00 | $8,640.00 |
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.
Local area codes for full-service restaurants in Birmingham, AL
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 205 has the most, with 602 of 727 exchanges (83%). A local number lets guests in Birmingham, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 205 | 602 | Central | 1947 | 659 |
| 659 | 121 | Central | 2019 | 205 |
| 334 | 4 | Central | 1995 | 483 |
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 Birmingham, AL get with Callata
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 Birmingham, 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 full-service restaurants are there in Birmingham, AL?
Census County Business Patterns counted 618 full-service restaurants in the Birmingham, AL metro area in 2023. They employed 14,979 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 24-person full-service restaurant?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 24 users cost $720.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $598.80 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $479.00.
What area code should a full-service restaurant in Birmingham, AL use?
Area code 205 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 659 and 334. 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.