CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for tax preparation services in Rhode Island
92 tax preparation services operated in Rhode Island in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 92CBP 2023
- Employees
- 402mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 8.3U.S. 8.5
- State rank
- 43rd of 51by count
How many tax preparation services operate in Rhode Island
The Census Bureau counted 92 tax preparation services in Rhode Island in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 541213). They employed 402 people in mid-March and reported $9,064,000 in annual payroll. That is the 43rd highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Tax preparation services make up 0.31% of the 29,510 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Rhode Island has 8.3 tax preparation services, 2.2% below the national rate of 8.5. The average establishment has 4.4 employees against 4.7 nationally. Payroll per employee is $22,547, 9.5% below the U.S. figure of $24,908.
| Measure | Rhode Island | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 92 | 28,762 |
| Mid-March employees | 402 | 133,868 (moderate noise) |
| Annual payroll | $9,064,000 | $3,334,416,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 4.4 | 4.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $22,547 | $24,908 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 8.3 | 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 Rhode Island
Census published tax preparation office counts for 1 metro or micropolitan area that include part of Rhode Island. The largest is Providence, RI-MA, with 144 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans).
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI-MA | 144 | 691 | 8.5 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at tax preparation services in Rhode Island
65.2% of Rhode Island's tax preparation services with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 69.1% nationally. 89.1% 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 | 60 | 65.2% | 69.1% |
| 5–9 employees | 22 | 23.9% | 20.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 10 | 10.9% | 7.3% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 2.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 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.
Why the phone matters for tax preparation services in Rhode Island
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. That holds for tax preparation services in Rhode Island as much as anywhere.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for tax preparation services in Rhode Island:
- A new client calls to ask what documents to bring.
- The office calls a client about a missing document.
- A returning client calls to book an appointment.
Business texting for tax preparation services
Preparers text appointment confirmations and lists of documents to bring.
Texting from a local number in Rhode Island requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for tax preparation services in Rhode Island
Tax preparation services in Rhode Island average 4.4 employees, so the comparison uses a 4-person team. Priced per seat, 4 users would run $120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $99.80 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $99.00 a month for 4 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $252 less than RingCentral for a tax preparation office 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 | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $76.00 | $912.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $92.00 | $1,104.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $99.80 | $1,197.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $108.00 | $1,296.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $120.00 | $1,440.00 |
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 tax preparation office 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 tax preparation services in Rhode Island
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 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.
Avoid sending Social Security numbers or full tax documents by text.
Frequently asked questions
How many tax preparation services are in Rhode Island?
92 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 402 people in mid-March.
Which Rhode Island metro area has the most tax preparation services?
Providence, RI-MA, with 144 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 4-person tax preparation office?
$120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $99.80 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 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.