CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for temporary help services in Rhode Island
130 temporary help services operated in Rhode Island in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 130CBP 2023
- Employees
- 6,664mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 11.7U.S. 11.2
- State rank
- 42nd of 51by count
Temporary help services in Rhode Island by the numbers
The Census Bureau counted 130 temporary help services in Rhode Island in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 561320). They employed 6,664 people in mid-March and reported $342.3 million in annual payroll. That is the 42nd highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Temporary help services make up 0.44% of the 29,510 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Rhode Island has 11.7 temporary help services, 3.9% above the national rate of 11.2. The average establishment has 51.3 employees against 95.3 nationally. Payroll per employee is $51,370, 5.6% above the U.S. figure of $48,635.
| Measure | Rhode Island | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 130 | 38,254 |
| Mid-March employees | 6,664 | 3,645,678 |
| Annual payroll | $342,328,000 | $177,308,415,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 51.3 | 95.3 |
| Payroll per employee | $51,370 | $48,635 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 11.7 | 11.2 |
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.
Rhode Island's largest markets for temporary help services
Census published temporary staffing agency counts for 1 metro or micropolitan area that include part of Rhode Island. The largest is Providence, RI-MA, with 202 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans).
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI-MA | 202 | 9,422 | 11.9 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at temporary help services in Rhode Island
36.7% of Rhode Island's temporary help services with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 37.2% nationally. 46.9% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 47 | 36.7% | 37.2% |
| 5–9 employees | 13 | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| 10–19 employees | 12 | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 23 | 18.0% | 14.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 33 | 25.8% | 30.7% |
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 temporary staffing agency in Rhode Island has to catch
Staffing agencies fill shifts on short notice, so the phone is constantly in use with workers and clients. Early-morning call-outs require quick action.
A few of the calls that come in to temporary help services in Rhode Island:
- A client calls for extra workers tomorrow.
- A worker calls out sick before a shift.
- A worker calls about a paycheck.
Texting workers and clients
Agencies text shift offers and confirmations to workers who opted in.
Texting from a local number in Rhode Island requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
What a phone system costs a temporary staffing agency in Rhode Island
Temporary help services in Rhode Island average 51.3 employees, so the comparison uses a 51-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $1,272.45 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $1,530.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $1,019.00 a month for 51 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $6,132 less than RingCentral for a temporary staffing agency in Rhode Island 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 | $1,019.00 | $12,228.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $969.00 | $11,628.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $1,173.00 | $14,076.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $1,272.45 | $15,269.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $1,377.00 | $16,524.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $1,530.00 | $18,360.00 |
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 Rhode Island
Rhode Island has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a temporary staffing agency can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 401 | 581 | Eastern | 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.
How Callata works for temporary help services in Rhode Island
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.
Porting a number you already use in Rhode Island 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 temporary help services are in Rhode Island?
130 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 6,664 people in mid-March.
Which Rhode Island metro area has the most temporary help services?
Providence, RI-MA, with 202 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 51-person temporary staffing agency?
$1,530.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $1,272.45 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $1,019.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Rhode Island 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.