CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for exam preparation and tutoring services in North Carolina
267 exam preparation and tutoring services operated in North Carolina in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 267CBP 2023
- Employees
- 5,194mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 2.4U.S. 2.9
- State rank
- 9th of 51by count
Exam preparation and tutoring services in North Carolina by the numbers
The Census Bureau counted 267 exam preparation and tutoring services in North Carolina in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 611691). They employed 5,194 people in mid-March and reported $100.1 million in annual payroll. That is the 9th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Exam preparation and tutoring services make up 0.10% of the 258,169 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) North Carolina has 2.4 exam preparation and tutoring services, 16.3% below the national rate of 2.9. The average establishment has 19.5 employees against 11.1 nationally. Payroll per employee is $19,270, 30.5% below the U.S. figure of $27,718.
| Measure | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 267 | 9,820 |
| Mid-March employees | 5,194 (moderate noise) | 108,755 |
| Annual payroll | $100,088,000 (moderate noise) | $3,014,523,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 19.5 | 11.1 |
| Payroll per employee | $19,270 | $27,718 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 2.4 | 2.9 |
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.
North Carolina's largest markets for exam preparation and tutoring services
Census published tutoring center counts for 14 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of North Carolina. The largest is Charlotte, NC-SC, with 90 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 60% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC-SC | 90 | 831 | 3.1 |
| Raleigh, NC | 62 | 596 | 4.0 |
| Virginia Beach, VA-NC | 35 | 275 | 2.0 |
| Durham, NC | 29 | 225 | 4.7 |
| Wilmington, NC | 13 | 72 | 2.7 |
| Asheville, NC | 13 | 76 | 3.1 |
| Winston, NC | 11 | — | 1.6 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 7 | 50 | 1.8 |
| Greensboro, NC | 6 | 77 | 0.7 |
| Greenville, NC | 5 | 52 | 2.8 |
| Burlington, NC | 4 | — | 2.2 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 4 | 67 | 2.7 |
| Hickory, NC | 3 | — | 0.8 |
| New Bern, NC | 3 | — | 2.4 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at exam preparation and tutoring services in North Carolina
53.6% of North Carolina's exam preparation and tutoring services with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 46.9% nationally. 70.7% 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.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 141 | 53.6% | 46.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 45 | 17.1% | 20.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 44 | 16.7% | 20.0% |
| 20–49 employees | 33 | 12.5% | 10.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 2.3% |
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 exam preparation and tutoring services in North Carolina
Tutoring centers handle enrollment calls, scheduling and parent updates, with peaks before exams and school terms. Parents call several centers when looking for help. That holds for exam preparation and tutoring services in North Carolina as much as anywhere.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for exam preparation and tutoring services in North Carolina:
- A student calls to reschedule a session.
- A parent calls about SAT preparation.
- A school counselor calls with a referral.
Texting families
Centers text session reminders.
Texting from a local number in North Carolina requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Phone system pricing for a 19-person tutoring center
Exam preparation and tutoring services in North Carolina average 19.5 employees, so the comparison uses a 19-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 19 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $570.00 a month and 19 on Ooma Office Pro cost $474.05. Callata comes to $379.00 a month for 19 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $2,292 less than RingCentral for a tutoring center in North Carolina 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 | $379.00 | $4,548.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $361.00 | $4,332.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $437.00 | $5,244.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $474.05 | $5,688.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $513.00 | $6,156.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $570.00 | $6,840.00 |
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 North Carolina
North Carolina has 10 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a tutoring center can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 910 | 785 | Eastern | 1993 | 472 |
| 336 | 783 | Eastern | 1997 | 743 |
| 704 | 782 | Eastern | 1947 | 980 |
| 919 | 781 | Eastern | 1954 | 984 |
| 828 | 724 | Eastern | 1998 | none |
| 252 | 695 | Eastern | 1998 | none |
| 980 | 463 | Eastern | 2001 | 704 |
| 984 | 295 | Eastern | 2012 | 919 |
| 743 | 160 | Eastern | 2016 | 336 |
| 472 | 106 | Eastern | 2022 | 910 |
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 exam preparation and tutoring services in North Carolina
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.
Porting a number you already use in North Carolina 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 exam preparation and tutoring services are in North Carolina?
267 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 5,194 people in mid-March.
Which North Carolina metro area has the most exam preparation and tutoring services?
Charlotte, NC-SC, with 90 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 19-person tutoring center?
$570.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $474.05 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $379.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a North Carolina 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.