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Business phone system for tax preparation services in Minnesota

546 tax preparation services operated in Minnesota in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.

Establishments
546CBP 2023
Employees
2,479mid-March 2023
Per 100k residents
9.4U.S. 8.5
State rank
19th of 51by count

How many tax preparation services operate in Minnesota

Minnesota had 546 tax preparation services in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 541213, Tax Preparation Services). They employed 2,479 people in mid-March and reported $69.0 million in annual payroll. That is the 19th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Tax preparation services make up 0.35% of the 154,455 business establishments in the state.

Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Minnesota has 9.4 tax preparation services, 11.4% above the national rate of 8.5. The average establishment has 4.5 employees against 4.7 nationally. Payroll per employee is $27,844, 11.8% above the U.S. figure of $24,908.

Tax preparation services: Minnesota compared with the U.S., 2023
MeasureMinnesotaUnited States
Establishments54628,762
Mid-March employees2,479133,868 (moderate noise)
Annual payroll$69,025,000$3,334,416,000
Employees per establishment4.54.7
Payroll per employee$27,844$24,908
Establishments per 100,000 residents9.48.5

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.

Where tax preparation services in Minnesota are concentrated

Census published tax preparation office counts for 23 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Minnesota. The largest is Minneapolis, MN-WI, with 359 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 21% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.

Tax preparation services by metro or micropolitan area, Minnesota, 2023
AreaEstablishmentsEmployeesPer 100k residents
Minneapolis, MN-WI3591,6399.6
Sioux Falls, SD-MN241107.8
Rochester, MN238910.0
Duluth, MN-WI221977.8
Fargo, ND-MN17746.3
St. Cloud, MN17758.3
La Crosse, WI-MN11—6.4
Red Wing, MN9—18.8
Mankato, MN8367.6
Grand Forks, ND-MN7476.7
Faribault, MN72210.1
Bemidji, MN6—12.8
Brainerd, MN5165.0
Grand Rapids, MN51211.0
Austin, MN5—12.2
Hutchinson, MN5—13.6
Albert Lea, MN5—16.5
Winona, MN4—8.0
Fergus Falls, MN3—4.9
Willmar, MN3—6.7
Owatonna, MN3—8.0
Marshall, MN3—11.7
Fairmont, MN3—15.3

Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.

Team sizes at tax preparation services in Minnesota

68.6% of Minnesota's tax preparation services with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 69.1% nationally. 89.7% 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.

Tax preparation services in Minnesota by employment size, 2023
Employment sizeEstablishmentsShareU.S. share
1–4 employees37468.6%69.1%
5–9 employees11521.1%20.9%
10–19 employees407.3%7.3%
20–49 employees162.9%2.3%
50 or more employees00.0%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.

What tax preparation services in Minnesota use the phone for

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.

Calls a tax preparation office in Minnesota might handle in a typical week include:

What tax preparation services text about

Preparers text appointment confirmations and lists of documents to bring.

Texting from a local number in Minnesota requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.

What a phone system costs a tax preparation office in Minnesota

Tax preparation services in Minnesota average 4.5 employees, so the comparison uses a 5-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 5 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $150.00 a month and 5 on Ooma Office Pro cost $124.75. Callata comes to $99.00 a month for 5 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.

Over a year, that is $612 less than RingCentral for a tax preparation office in Minnesota of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.

Monthly list price for a 5-person tax preparation office
Provider (plan)Pricing basisPer monthPer year
Callata (Callata Office)$99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user$99.00$1,188.00
Quo (Starter)$19.00 per user$95.00$1,140.00
Nextiva (Core)$23.00 per user$115.00$1,380.00
Ooma (Office Pro)$24.95 per user$124.75$1,497.00
Dialpad (Standard)$27.00 per user$135.00$1,620.00
RingCentral (RingEX Core)$30.00 per user$150.00$1,800.00

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 Minnesota

Minnesota has 8 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 codes in Minnesota by assigned exchanges
Area codeExchangesTime zoneIn service sinceOverlay with
507765Central1954924
218708Central1947none
612590Central1947none
320511Central1996none
651474Central1998none
763367Central2000none
952340Central2000none
9240Central2024507

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 Minnesota

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.

Porting a number you already use in Minnesota 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 Minnesota?

546 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 2,479 people in mid-March.

Which Minnesota metro area has the most tax preparation services?

Minneapolis, MN-WI, with 359 establishments in 2023.

What does a phone system cost a 5-person tax preparation office?

$150.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $124.75 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 Minnesota 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.