CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for motor vehicle towing companies in Michigan
313 motor vehicle towing companies operated in Michigan in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 313CBP 2023
- Employees
- 2,288mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 3.1U.S. 3.1
- State rank
- 11th of 51by count
How many motor vehicle towing companies operate in Michigan
The Census Bureau counted 313 motor vehicle towing companies in Michigan in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 488410). They employed 2,288 people in mid-March and reported $121.0 million in annual payroll. That is the 11th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Motor vehicle towing companies make up 0.14% of the 229,564 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Michigan has 3.1 motor vehicle towing companies, in line with the national rate of 3.1. The average establishment has 7.3 employees against 6.9 nationally. Payroll per employee is $52,895, 2.4% above the U.S. figure of $51,644.
| Measure | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 313 | 10,566 |
| Mid-March employees | 2,288 | 73,320 |
| Annual payroll | $121,024,000 | $3,786,569,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 7.3 | 6.9 |
| Payroll per employee | $52,895 | $51,644 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 3.1 | 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.
Where motor vehicle towing companies in Michigan are concentrated
Census published towing company counts for 20 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Michigan. The largest is Detroit, MI, with 136 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 85% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 136 | 1,067 | 3.1 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 32 | 209 | 2.7 |
| South Bend, IN-MI | 14 | 39 | 4.3 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 13 | 120 | 3.5 |
| Lansing, MI | 12 | 108 | 2.5 |
| Flint, MI | 9 | 109 | 2.2 |
| Muskegon, MI | 8 | 43 | 4.5 |
| Battle Creek, MI | 7 | 55 | 5.2 |
| Saginaw, MI | 6 | 68 | 3.2 |
| Niles, MI | 5 | — | 3.3 |
| Holland, MI | 5 | 24 | 4.1 |
| Midland, MI | 5 | — | 6.0 |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 4 | 50 | 1.5 |
| Jackson, MI | 4 | 73 | 2.5 |
| Traverse City, MI | 4 | 23 | 2.6 |
| Monroe, MI | 4 | — | 2.6 |
| Bay City, MI | 4 | — | 3.9 |
| Adrian, MI | 3 | 9 | 3.1 |
| Hillsdale, MI | 3 | — | 6.6 |
| Sault Ste. Marie, MI | 3 | — | 8.3 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at motor vehicle towing companies in Michigan
56.3% of Michigan's motor vehicle towing companies with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 60.5% nationally. 75.2% 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 | 175 | 56.3% | 60.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 59 | 19.0% | 19.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 53 | 17.0% | 12.4% |
| 20–49 employees | 24 | 7.7% | 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.
Calls a towing company in Michigan has to catch
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 Michigan as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to motor vehicle towing companies in Michigan:
- A repair shop calls about a vehicle drop-off.
- A stranded driver calls for a tow.
- A property manager calls about an illegally parked car.
What motor vehicle towing companies text about
Towing companies text driver arrival times and location requests.
Texting from a local number in Michigan requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
What a phone system costs a towing company in Michigan
Motor vehicle towing companies in Michigan average 7.3 employees, so the comparison uses a 7-person team. Priced per seat, 7 users would run $210.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $174.65 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $139.00 a month for 7 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $852 less than RingCentral for a towing company in Michigan 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 | $139.00 | $1,668.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $133.00 | $1,596.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $161.00 | $1,932.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $174.65 | $2,095.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $189.00 | $2,268.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $210.00 | $2,520.00 |
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 Michigan
Michigan has 13 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a towing company can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 248 | 784 | Eastern | 1997 | 947 |
| 313 | 769 | Eastern | 1947 | 679 |
| 989 | 724 | Eastern | 2001 | none |
| 734 | 701 | Eastern | 1997 | 679 |
| 517 | 616 | Eastern | 1947 | none |
| 231 | 572 | Eastern | 1999 | none |
| 586 | 546 | Eastern | 2001 | none |
| 269 | 545 | Eastern | 2002 | none |
| 616 | 545 | Eastern | 1947 | none |
| 810 | 509 | Eastern | 1993 | none |
| 906 | 360 | Eastern and Central | 1961 | none |
| 947 | 211 | Eastern | 2002 | 248 |
| 679 | 0 | Eastern | 2025 | 313 |
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 motor vehicle towing companies in Michigan
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 Michigan 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.
Frequently asked questions
How many motor vehicle towing companies are in Michigan?
313 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 2,288 people in mid-March.
Which Michigan metro area has the most motor vehicle towing companies?
Detroit, MI, with 136 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 7-person towing company?
$210.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $174.65 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $139.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Michigan 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.