CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for custom computer programming services firms in Massachusetts
1,736 custom computer programming services firms operated in Massachusetts in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 1,736CBP 2023
- Employees
- 34,618mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 24.3U.S. 20.0
- State rank
- 12th of 51by count
The custom software firm industry in Massachusetts
Massachusetts had 1,736 custom computer programming services firms in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 541511, Custom Computer Programming Services). They employed 34,618 people in mid-March and reported $5.6 billion in annual payroll. That is the 12th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Custom computer programming services firms make up 0.94% of the 183,767 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Massachusetts has 24.3 custom computer programming services firms, 21.6% above the national rate of 20.0. The average establishment has 19.9 employees against 14.9 nationally. Payroll per employee is $163,158, 31.3% above the U.S. figure of $124,254.
| Measure | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 1,736 | 68,051 |
| Mid-March employees | 34,618 | 1,012,250 |
| Annual payroll | $5,648,213,000 | $125,775,835,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 19.9 | 14.9 |
| Payroll per employee | $163,158 | $124,254 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 24.3 | 20.0 |
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.
Massachusetts's largest markets for custom computer programming services firms
Census published custom software firm counts for 8 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Massachusetts. The largest is Boston, MA-NH, with 1,483 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 16% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA-NH | 1,483 | 27,075 | 29.5 |
| Providence, RI-MA | 212 | 2,608 | 12.5 |
| Worcester, MA | 163 | 5,290 | 18.5 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 34 | 402 | 14.6 |
| Amherst Town, MA | 33 | 85 | 20.0 |
| Springfield, MA | 31 | — | 6.7 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 14 | — | 10.9 |
| Greenfield, MA | 9 | — | 12.7 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at custom computer programming services firms in Massachusetts
65.7% of Massachusetts's custom computer programming services firms with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 72.0% nationally. 77.2% 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.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 1,140 | 65.7% | 72.0% |
| 5–9 employees | 199 | 11.5% | 10.1% |
| 10–19 employees | 131 | 7.6% | 7.0% |
| 20–49 employees | 132 | 7.6% | 5.9% |
| 50 or more employees | 132 | 7.6% | 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 Massachusetts 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. That holds for custom computer programming services firms in Massachusetts as much as anywhere.
Calls a custom software firm in Massachusetts might handle in a typical week include:
- A client calls to report a bug in production.
- A client calls to schedule a demo.
- A partner agency calls about a subcontract.
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 20-person custom software firm
Custom computer programming services firms in Massachusetts average 19.9 employees, so the comparison uses a 20-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 20 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $600.00 a month and 20 on Ooma Office Pro cost $499.00. On Callata the same 20 people cost $399.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,412. 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 | $399.00 | $4,788.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $380.00 | $4,560.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $460.00 | $5,520.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $499.00 | $5,988.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $540.00 | $6,480.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $600.00 | $7,200.00 |
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 Massachusetts
Massachusetts has 9 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 code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 978 | 773 | Eastern | 1997 | 351 |
| 781 | 769 | Eastern | 1997 | 339 |
| 617 | 768 | Eastern | 1947 | 857 |
| 508 | 749 | Eastern | 1988 | 774 |
| 413 | 602 | Eastern | 1947 | none |
| 774 | 524 | Eastern | 2001 | 508 |
| 857 | 362 | Eastern | 2001 | 617 |
| 339 | 104 | Eastern | 2001 | 781 |
| 351 | 92 | Eastern | 2001 | 978 |
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 Massachusetts
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
If you already have a number in Massachusetts, 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 Massachusetts?
1,736 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 34,618 people in mid-March.
Which Massachusetts metro area has the most custom computer programming services firms?
Boston, MA-NH, with 1,483 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 20-person custom software firm?
$600.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $499.00 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $399.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Massachusetts 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.