CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for sporting goods stores in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Sporting goods stores in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area: 22 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 10-person team.
- Establishments
- 22CBP 2023
- Employees
- 226mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 9.4U.S. 6.0
- Rank
- 185th of 665areas by count
Sporting goods stores in Fort Smith, AR-OK by the numbers
There were 22 sporting goods stores in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 451110, Sporting Goods Stores). Together they reported 226 mid-March employees and $6,408,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 185th of the 665 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 233,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 9.4 sporting goods stores per 100,000 people, 57.7% above the national rate of 6.0. Establishments average 10.3 employees, 17.1% below the U.S. average of 12.4. Payroll per employee comes to $28,354, 3.6% below the national $29,426.
| Measure | Fort Smith, AR-OK | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 22 | 212 | 20,373 |
| Mid-March employees | 226 (moderate noise) | 2,405 | 252,338 |
| Annual payroll | $6,408,000 | $67,037,000 | $7,425,397,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 10.3 | 11.3 | 12.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $28,354 | $27,874 | $29,426 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 9.4 | 6.9 | 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.
How big sporting goods stores in Fort Smith, AR-OK are
Of the sporting goods stores in Fort Smith, AR-OK that had employees in March 2023, 76.5% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 49.2%). 100.0% 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 | 13 | 76.5% | 49.2% |
| 5–9 employees | 4 | 23.5% | 20.8% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 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.
What sporting goods stores in Fort Smith, AR-OK use the phone for
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK:
- A customer calls about a fishing license.
- A customer calls to check stock.
- The store calls a customer when an order arrives.
After-hours calls
After-hours calls are mostly stock questions.
Callata transcribes voicemail and triages it for urgency, so the first callback in the morning can go to the caller who needs it most.
Phone system pricing for a 10-person sporting goods store
The average sporting goods store in Fort Smith, AR-OK has 10.3 employees, so a 10-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $249.50 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $300.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 10 people cost $199.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,212. 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 | $199.00 | $2,388.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $190.00 | $2,280.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $230.00 | $2,760.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $249.50 | $2,994.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $270.00 | $3,240.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $300.00 | $3,600.00 |
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 479 has the most, with 137 of 160 exchanges (86%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your customers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 479 | 137 | Central | 2002 | none |
| 918 | 16 | Central | 1953 | 539 |
| 539 | 7 | Central | 2011 | 918 |
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK get with Callata
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Fort Smith, AR-OK, 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 sporting goods stores are there in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Census County Business Patterns counted 22 sporting goods stores in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area in 2023. They employed 226 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 10-person sporting goods store?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 10 users cost $300.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $249.50 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $199.00.
What area code should a sporting goods store in Fort Smith, AR-OK use?
Area code 479 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 918 and 539. 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.