CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for full-service restaurants in Charleston, SC
Full-service restaurants in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area: 879 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 24-person team.
- Establishments
- 879CBP 2023
- Employees
- 21,033mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 101.0U.S. 76.0
- Rank
- 49th of 925areas by count
How many full-service restaurants are in Charleston, SC?
County Business Patterns counts 879 full-service restaurants (NAICS 722511, Full-Service Restaurants) in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area for 2023. They employed 21,033 people in mid-March and paid $631.0 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 49th out of 925 areas with published figures for full-service restaurants.
Measured against its 870,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 101.0 full-service restaurants per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 76.0, so Charleston, SC is 32.9% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 23.9 employees, compared with 20.8 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $30,001, 7.1% above the national $28,018.
| Measure | Charleston, SC | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 879 | 4,583 | 258,626 |
| Mid-March employees | 21,033 | 98,946 | 5,387,020 |
| Annual payroll | $631,007,000 | $2,407,245,000 | $150,931,656,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 23.9 | 21.6 | 20.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $30,001 | $24,329 | $28,018 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 101.0 | 83.6 | 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 Charleston, SC
Of the full-service restaurants in Charleston, SC that had employees in March 2023, 20.7% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 26.3%). 32.2% 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 | 182 | 20.7% | 26.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 101 | 11.5% | 17.1% |
| 10–19 employees | 193 | 22.0% | 21.1% |
| 20–49 employees | 294 | 33.4% | 24.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 109 | 12.4% | 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.
Calls a full-service restaurant in Charleston, SC has to catch
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 Charleston, SC as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to full-service restaurants in Charleston, SC:
- A supplier calls about a delivery.
- An event planner calls about a private room.
- A guest calls to book a table for six on Saturday.
What full-service restaurants text about
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.
Phone system pricing for a 24-person full-service restaurant
The average full-service restaurant in Charleston, SC has 23.9 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 Charleston, SC 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.
Getting a local number in Charleston, SC
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 843 has the most, with 267 of 330 exchanges (81%). A local number lets guests in Charleston, SC 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 843 | 267 | Eastern | 1998 | 854 |
| 854 | 63 | Eastern | 2015 | 843 |
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 Charleston, SC 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 Charleston, SC 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 Charleston, SC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 879 full-service restaurants in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area in 2023. They employed 21,033 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 Charleston, SC use?
Area code 843 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 854. 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.