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Business phone system for custom computer programming services firms in Kentucky

363 custom computer programming services firms operated in Kentucky in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.

Establishments
363CBP 2023
Employees
5,554mid-March 2023
Per 100k residents
7.9U.S. 20.0
State rank
31st of 51by count

The custom software firm industry in Kentucky

Kentucky had 363 custom computer programming services firms in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 541511, Custom Computer Programming Services). They employed 5,554 people in mid-March and reported $452.5 million in annual payroll. That is the 31st highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Custom computer programming services firms make up 0.38% of the 94,402 business establishments in the state.

Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Kentucky has 7.9 custom computer programming services firms, 60.5% below the national rate of 20.0. The average establishment has 15.3 employees against 14.9 nationally. Payroll per employee is $81,477, 34.4% below the U.S. figure of $124,254.

Custom computer programming services firms: Kentucky compared with the U.S., 2023
MeasureKentuckyUnited States
Establishments36368,051
Mid-March employees5,5541,012,250
Annual payroll$452,523,000$125,775,835,000
Employees per establishment15.314.9
Payroll per employee$81,477$124,254
Establishments per 100,000 residents7.920.0

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.

Kentucky's largest markets for custom computer programming services firms

Census published custom software firm counts for 16 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Kentucky. The largest is Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, with 388 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 33% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.

Custom computer programming services firms by metro or micropolitan area, Kentucky, 2023
AreaEstablishmentsEmployeesPer 100k residents
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN3886,04916.8
Louisville, KY-IN1693,01112.1
Lexington, KY6846512.7
Frankfort, KY15—19.4
Huntington, WV-KY-OH14723.8
Clarksville, TN-KY10—2.9
Paducah, KY-IL10—9.8
Bowling Green, KY7—3.6
Richmond, KY573.9
Elizabethtown, KY4—3.1
Glasgow, KY4267.1
Madisonville, KY4—8.8
Corbin, KY3—2.0
Danville, KY345.3
Mount Sterling, KY3—6.2
Murray, KY3—7.7

Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.

Team sizes at custom computer programming services firms in Kentucky

67.9% of Kentucky's custom computer programming services firms with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 72.0% nationally. 78.9% 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.

Custom computer programming services firms in Kentucky by employment size, 2023
Employment sizeEstablishmentsShareU.S. share
1–4 employees24567.9%72.0%
5–9 employees4011.1%10.1%
10–19 employees3610.0%7.0%
20–49 employees267.2%5.9%
50 or more employees143.9%4.9%

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 custom software firm in Kentucky has to catch

Small software shops juggle client meetings, support requests and sales calls with a team that is mostly heads-down building. A shared line with routing keeps support from interrupting developers while still answering clients.

Calls a custom software firm in Kentucky might handle in a typical week include:

Calls after closing time

Production issues can come in after hours, so an urgent flag on voicemail helps the on-call developer.

Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.

Phone system pricing for a 15-person custom software firm

Custom computer programming services firms in Kentucky average 15.3 employees, so the comparison uses a 15-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 15 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $450.00 a month and 15 on Ooma Office Pro cost $374.25. On Callata the same 15 people cost $299.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.

The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,812. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.

Monthly list price for a 15-person custom software firm
Provider (plan)Pricing basisPer monthPer year
Callata (Callata Office)$99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user$299.00$3,588.00
Quo (Starter)$19.00 per user$285.00$3,420.00
Nextiva (Core)$23.00 per user$345.00$4,140.00
Ooma (Office Pro)$24.95 per user$374.25$4,491.00
Dialpad (Standard)$27.00 per user$405.00$4,860.00
RingCentral (RingEX Core)$30.00 per user$450.00$5,400.00

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 Kentucky

Kentucky has 5 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your clients know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.

Area codes in Kentucky by assigned exchanges
Area codeExchangesTime zoneIn service sinceOverlay with
270769Eastern and Central1999364
502735Eastern1947761
606639Eastern and Central1955none
859563Eastern2000none
36472Eastern and Central2014270

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 custom computer programming services firms in Kentucky

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 Kentucky, 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 custom computer programming services firms are in Kentucky?

363 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 5,554 people in mid-March.

Which Kentucky metro area has the most custom computer programming services firms?

Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, with 388 establishments in 2023.

What does a phone system cost a 15-person custom software firm?

$450.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $374.25 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $299.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).

Do I need to register to text customers from a Kentucky 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.