CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for tax preparation services in Missouri
642 tax preparation services operated in Missouri in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 642CBP 2023
- Employees
- 5,509mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 10.3U.S. 8.5
- State rank
- 14th of 51by count
How many tax preparation services operate in Missouri
The Census Bureau counted 642 tax preparation services in Missouri in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 541213). They employed 5,509 people in mid-March. That is the 14th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Tax preparation services make up 0.42% of the 151,475 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Missouri has 10.3 tax preparation services, 21.6% above the national rate of 8.5. The average establishment has 8.6 employees against 4.7 nationally.
| Measure | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 642 | 28,762 |
| Mid-March employees | 5,509 (moderate noise) | 133,868 (moderate noise) |
| Annual payroll | $190,664,000 (high noise) | $3,334,416,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 8.6 | 4.7 |
| Payroll per employee | — | $24,908 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 10.3 | 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.
Missouri's largest markets for tax preparation services
Census published tax preparation office counts for 19 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Missouri. The largest is Kansas City, MO-KS, with 385 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 13% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 385 | — | 17.1 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 188 | 1,128 | 6.7 |
| Springfield, MO | 34 | 111 | 6.8 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | 24 | 83 | 11.6 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | 12 | — | 10.1 |
| Jefferson City, MO | 8 | 32 | 5.3 |
| Columbia, MO | 6 | — | 2.7 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | 5 | — | 5.1 |
| Farmington, MO | 4 | 26 | 5.9 |
| Branson, MO | 4 | — | 7.0 |
| Fort Leonard Wood, MO | 4 | — | 7.4 |
| Mexico, MO | 4 | — | 16.5 |
| Quincy, IL-MO | 3 | 29 | 4.1 |
| Sikeston, MO | 3 | 15 | 6.0 |
| Sedalia, MO | 3 | — | 6.9 |
| Poplar Bluff, MO | 3 | — | 7.2 |
| Kennett, MO | 3 | — | 11.1 |
| Moberly, MO | 3 | 15 | 12.5 |
| Maryville, MO | 3 | — | 14.6 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at tax preparation services in Missouri
59.8% of Missouri's tax preparation services with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 69.1% nationally. 81.0% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 384 | 59.8% | 69.1% |
| 5–9 employees | 136 | 21.2% | 20.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 54 | 8.4% | 7.3% |
| 20–49 employees | 30 | 4.7% | 2.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 38 | 5.9% | 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.
Why the phone matters for tax preparation services in Missouri
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 Missouri:
- A client calls about a letter from the IRS.
- The office calls a client about a missing document.
- A new client calls to ask what documents to bring.
When nobody can pick up
Evening and weekend calls spike in tax season, so a greeting with hours and a way to request an appointment helps.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for tax preparation services in Missouri
Tax preparation services in Missouri average 8.6 employees, so the comparison uses a 9-person team. Priced per seat, 9 users would run $270.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $224.55 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 9 people cost $179.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,092. 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 | $179.00 | $2,148.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $171.00 | $2,052.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $207.00 | $2,484.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $224.55 | $2,694.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $243.00 | $2,916.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $270.00 | $3,240.00 |
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 Missouri
Missouri has 9 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your clients know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 573 | 786 | Central | 1996 | 235 |
| 816 | 785 | Central | 1947 | 975 |
| 314 | 783 | Central | 1947 | 557 |
| 417 | 711 | Central | 1950 | none |
| 660 | 516 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 636 | 435 | Central | 1999 | none |
| 557 | 83 | Central | 2022 | 314 |
| 235 | 41 | Central | 2024 | 573 |
| 975 | 28 | Central | 2023 | 816 |
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 Missouri
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.
If you already have a number in Missouri, 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.
Avoid sending Social Security numbers or full tax documents by text.
Frequently asked questions
How many tax preparation services are in Missouri?
642 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 5,509 people in mid-March.
Which Missouri metro area has the most tax preparation services?
Kansas City, MO-KS, with 385 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 9-person tax preparation office?
$270.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $224.55 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $179.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Missouri 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.