CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for motor vehicle towing companies in Des Moines, IA
Motor vehicle towing companies in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area: 19 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs an 8-person team.
- Establishments
- 19CBP 2023
- Employees
- 152mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 2.5U.S. 3.1
- Rank
- 85th of 511areas by count
How many motor vehicle towing companies are in Des Moines, IA?
There were 19 motor vehicle towing companies in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 488410, Motor Vehicle Towing). Together they reported 152 mid-March employees and $8,934,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 85th of the 511 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 754,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 2.5 motor vehicle towing companies per 100,000 people, 18.9% below the national rate of 3.1. Establishments average 8.0 employees, 15.3% above the U.S. average of 6.9. Payroll per employee comes to $58,776, 13.8% above the national $51,644.
| Measure | Des Moines, IA | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 19 | 96 | 10,566 |
| Mid-March employees | 152 | 671 | 73,320 |
| Annual payroll | $8,934,000 | $37,950,000 | $3,786,569,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 8.0 | 7.0 | 6.9 |
| Payroll per employee | $58,776 | $56,557 | $51,644 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 2.5 | 3.0 | 3.1 |
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.
Team sizes at motor vehicle towing companies in Des Moines, IA
Of the motor vehicle towing companies in Des Moines, IA that had employees in March 2023, 66.7% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 60.5%). When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 10 | 66.7% | 60.5% |
| 5–9 employees | not published | — | 19.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 5 | 33.3% | 12.4% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 6.6% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 1.2% |
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 motor vehicle towing companies in Des Moines, IA
Towing is dispatched by phone at all hours, and the company that answers gets the tow. Dispatchers coordinate drivers, customers and repair shops. That holds for motor vehicle towing companies in Des Moines, IA as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to motor vehicle towing companies in Des Moines, IA:
- A stranded driver calls for a tow.
- A property manager calls about an illegally parked car.
- The dispatcher calls a customer with an arrival time.
After-hours calls
Nights and weekends are core hours, so after-hours routing to drivers is essential.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
What a phone system costs a towing company in Des Moines, IA
The average towing company in Des Moines, IA has 8.0 employees, so an 8-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 8 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $240.00 a month and 8 on Ooma Office Pro cost $199.60. On Callata the same 8 people cost $159.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $972. 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 | $159.00 | $1,908.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $152.00 | $1,824.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $184.00 | $2,208.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $199.60 | $2,395.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $216.00 | $2,592.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $240.00 | $2,880.00 |
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.
Getting a local number in Des Moines, IA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 515 has the most, with 342 of 395 exchanges (87%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your drivers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 515 | 342 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 641 | 52 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 712 | 1 | Central | 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.
What motor vehicle towing companies in Des Moines, IA get with Callata
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.
If you already have a number in Des Moines, IA, 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.
Frequently asked questions
How many motor vehicle towing companies are there in Des Moines, IA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 19 motor vehicle towing companies in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area in 2023. They employed 152 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for an 8-person towing company?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 8 users cost $240.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $199.60 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $159.00.
What area code should a towing company in Des Moines, IA use?
Area code 515 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 641 and 712. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a towing company?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.