CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for tax preparation services in Georgia
1,042 tax preparation services operated in Georgia in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 1,042CBP 2023
- Employees
- 3,641mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 9.3U.S. 8.5
- State rank
- 5th of 51by count
The tax preparation office industry in Georgia
County Business Patterns counts 1,042 establishments in Georgia classified as Tax Preparation Services (NAICS 541213) for 2023. They employed 3,641 people in mid-March and reported $70.4 million in annual payroll. That is the 5th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Tax preparation services make up 0.40% of the 261,320 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Georgia has 9.3 tax preparation services, 10.2% above the national rate of 8.5. The average establishment has 3.5 employees against 4.7 nationally. Payroll per employee is $19,324, 22.4% below the U.S. figure of $24,908.
| Measure | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 1,042 | 28,762 |
| Mid-March employees | 3,641 | 133,868 (moderate noise) |
| Annual payroll | $70,358,000 | $3,334,416,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 3.5 | 4.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $19,324 | $24,908 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 9.3 | 8.5 |
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.
Tax preparation services by metro area in Georgia
Census published tax preparation office counts for 28 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Georgia. The largest is Atlanta, GA, with 678 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 87% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 678 | 2,091 | 10.6 |
| Augusta, GA-SC | 56 | 198 | 8.8 |
| Savannah, GA | 42 | 125 | 9.7 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 34 | 263 | 10.5 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 28 | 141 | 4.8 |
| Macon, GA | 24 | 123 | 10.1 |
| Athens, GA | 21 | 62 | 9.4 |
| Valdosta, GA | 15 | 46 | 9.8 |
| Gainesville, GA | 14 | 34 | 6.3 |
| Albany, GA | 13 | — | 8.9 |
| LaGrange, GA-AL | 13 | 39 | 12.3 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 12 | — | 5.9 |
| Rome, GA | 12 | — | 11.8 |
| Hinesville, GA | 12 | — | 13.5 |
| Dalton, GA | 8 | — | 5.5 |
| Brunswick, GA | 7 | 33 | 6.0 |
| Cedartown, GA | 6 | — | 13.4 |
| Thomasville, GA | 5 | — | 6.9 |
| Tifton, GA | 5 | 18 | 9.9 |
| Jefferson, GA | 4 | — | 4.3 |
| Dublin, GA | 4 | — | 6.7 |
| Kingsland, GA | 4 | — | 6.8 |
| Vidalia, GA | 4 | 7 | 11.1 |
| Statesboro, GA | 3 | — | 3.1 |
| Calhoun, GA | 3 | 7 | 4.9 |
Top 25 of 28 areas by establishments. Source: Census CBP 2023.
Team sizes at tax preparation services in Georgia
79.2% of Georgia's tax preparation services with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 69.1% nationally. 94.9% 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 | 824 | 79.2% | 69.1% |
| 5–9 employees | 164 | 15.8% | 20.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 37 | 3.6% | 7.3% |
| 20–49 employees | 13 | 1.2% | 2.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 3 | 0.3% | 0.5% |
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 tax preparation office in Georgia has to catch
Tax preparers do much of their year's business in a few months, and a missed call in March is often a lost return. Seasonal staff need to share one business number without giving out personal phones.
A few of the calls that come in to tax preparation services in Georgia:
- The office calls a client about a missing document.
- A new client calls to ask what documents to bring.
- A client calls about a letter from the IRS.
What tax preparation services text about
Preparers text appointment confirmations and lists of documents to bring.
Texting from a local number in Georgia requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for tax preparation services in Georgia
Tax preparation services in Georgia average 3.5 employees, so the comparison uses a 3-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $74.85 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $90.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata costs $99.00 a month ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), so at this team size both per-seat plans are cheaper; Callata drops below them from 4 users.
At this team size the per-seat plans cost less than Callata's $99 base price, which already covers 5 users; Callata becomes the lower price from 4 users.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $57.00 | $684.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $69.00 | $828.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $74.85 | $898.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $81.00 | $972.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $90.00 | $1,080.00 |
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 Georgia
Georgia has 10 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a tax preparation office can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 470 | 786 | Eastern | 2010 | 404, 678, 770, 943 |
| 678 | 785 | Eastern | 1998 | 404, 470, 770, 943 |
| 404 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 470, 678, 943 |
| 770 | 784 | Eastern | 1995 | 470, 678, 943 |
| 706 | 777 | Eastern | 1992 | 762 |
| 912 | 729 | Eastern | 1954 | 565 |
| 229 | 683 | Eastern | 2000 | none |
| 478 | 445 | Eastern | 2000 | none |
| 762 | 376 | Eastern | 2006 | 706 |
| 943 | 152 | Eastern | 2022 | 404, 470, 678, 470, 678, 770 |
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 tax preparation services in Georgia
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 Georgia 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.
Avoid sending Social Security numbers or full tax documents by text.
Frequently asked questions
How many tax preparation services are in Georgia?
1,042 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 3,641 people in mid-March.
Which Georgia metro area has the most tax preparation services?
Atlanta, GA, with 678 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 3-person tax preparation office?
$90.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $74.85 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $99.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Georgia 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.