CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for sporting goods stores in Billings, MT
Sporting goods stores in the Billings, MT metro area: 26 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 25-person team.
- Establishments
- 26CBP 2023
- Employees
- 658mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 13.5U.S. 6.0
- Rank
- 152nd of 665areas by count
The sporting goods store market in Billings, MT
County Business Patterns counts 26 sporting goods stores (NAICS 451110, Sporting Goods Stores) in the Billings, MT metro area for 2023. They employed 658 people in mid-March and paid $19.9 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 152nd out of 665 areas with published figures for sporting goods stores.
Measured against its 193,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 13.5 sporting goods stores per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 6.0, so Billings, MT is 125.4% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 25.3 employees, compared with 12.4 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $30,283, 2.9% above the national $29,426.
| Measure | Billings, MT | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 26 | 194 | 20,373 |
| Mid-March employees | 658 | 2,998 | 252,338 |
| Annual payroll | $19,926,000 (moderate noise) | $86,640,000 | $7,425,397,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 25.3 | 15.5 | 12.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $30,283 | $28,899 | $29,426 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 13.5 | 17.1 | 6.0 |
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 sporting goods stores in Billings, MT
Of the sporting goods stores in Billings, MT that had employees in March 2023, 45.5% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 49.2%). 81.8% had fewer than ten. Small teams usually share the phone: the person who answers is often also serving a customer or doing the job, which is when calls get missed.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 10 | 45.5% | 49.2% |
| 5–9 employees | 8 | 36.4% | 20.8% |
| 10–19 employees | 4 | 18.2% | 15.9% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 8.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 5.9% |
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.
Why the phone matters for sporting goods stores in Billings, MT
Sporting goods stores take calls about stock, team orders and services such as bike or ski tuning. Team and school orders involve many follow-up calls.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for sporting goods stores in Billings, MT:
- A coach calls about team uniforms.
- A customer calls about a fishing license.
- A customer calls to check stock.
Business texting for sporting goods stores
Stores text order updates.
Texts sent from a local business number in Billings, MT have to be registered with carriers first (10DLC); on Callata that is a one-time $49 fee, after which the whole team can text from the shared number.
Phone system pricing for a 25-person sporting goods store
The average sporting goods store in Billings, MT has 25.3 employees, so a 25-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 25 users would run $750.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $623.75 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $499.00 a month for 25 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $3,012 less than RingCentral for a sporting goods store in Billings, MT 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 | $499.00 | $5,988.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $475.00 | $5,700.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $575.00 | $6,900.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $623.75 | $7,485.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $675.00 | $8,100.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $750.00 | $9,000.00 |
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 sporting goods stores in Billings, MT
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 406 (98 exchanges in NANPA's file). A local number lets customers in Billings, MT 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 406 | 98 | Mountain | 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.
What sporting goods stores in Billings, MT 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 Billings, MT 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 sporting goods stores are there in Billings, MT?
Census County Business Patterns counted 26 sporting goods stores in the Billings, MT metro area in 2023. They employed 658 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 25-person sporting goods store?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 25 users cost $750.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $623.75 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $499.00.
What area code should a sporting goods store in Billings, MT use?
Area code 406 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a sporting goods store?
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.