CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for full-service restaurants in Des Moines, IA
Full-service restaurants in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area: 531 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 23-person team.
- Establishments
- 531CBP 2023
- Employees
- 11,950mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 70.4U.S. 76.0
- Rank
- 79th of 925areas by count
Full-service restaurants in Des Moines, IA by the numbers
There were 531 full-service restaurants in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 722511, Full-Service Restaurants). Together they reported 11,950 mid-March employees and $292.4 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 79th of the 925 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 754,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 70.4 full-service restaurants per 100,000 people, 7.4% below the national rate of 76.0. Establishments average 22.5 employees, 8.0% above the U.S. average of 20.8. Payroll per employee comes to $24,466, 12.7% below the national $28,018.
| Measure | Des Moines, IA | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 531 | 2,459 | 258,626 |
| Mid-March employees | 11,950 | 44,032 | 5,387,020 |
| Annual payroll | $292,365,000 | $909,687,000 | $150,931,656,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 22.5 | 17.9 | 20.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $24,466 | $20,660 | $28,018 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 70.4 | 75.9 | 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 Des Moines, IA
Of the full-service restaurants in Des Moines, IA that had employees in March 2023, 22.0% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 26.3%). 35.8% 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 | 117 | 22.0% | 26.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 73 | 13.7% | 17.1% |
| 10–19 employees | 122 | 23.0% | 21.1% |
| 20–49 employees | 156 | 29.4% | 24.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 63 | 11.9% | 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 Des Moines, IA
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 Des Moines, IA as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to full-service restaurants in Des Moines, IA:
- The restaurant calls a guest to confirm a reservation.
- A supplier calls about a delivery.
- An event planner calls about a private room.
Calls after closing time
After closing, callers want hours and reservations, which a greeting or AI receptionist can handle.
Callata transcribes voicemail and triages it for urgency, so the first callback in the morning can go to the caller who needs it most.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for full-service restaurants in Des Moines, IA
The average full-service restaurant in Des Moines, IA has 22.5 employees, so a 23-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 23 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $690.00 a month and 23 on Ooma Office Pro cost $573.85. On Callata the same 23 people cost $459.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,772. 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 | $459.00 | $5,508.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $437.00 | $5,244.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $529.00 | $6,348.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $573.85 | $6,886.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $621.00 | $7,452.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $690.00 | $8,280.00 |
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 Des Moines, IA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 515 has the most, with 342 of 395 exchanges (87%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 515 | 342 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 641 | 52 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 712 | 1 | Central | 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.
Setting up Callata for a full-service restaurant in Des Moines, IA
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.
If you already have a number in Des Moines, IA, 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 Des Moines, IA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 531 full-service restaurants in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area in 2023. They employed 11,950 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 23-person full-service restaurant?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 23 users cost $690.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $573.85 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $459.00.
What area code should a full-service restaurant in Des Moines, IA use?
Area code 515 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 641 and 712. 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.