Business phone system for used car dealers in Michigan
790 used car dealers operated in Michigan in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 790CBP 2023
- Employees
- 4,217mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 7.8U.S. 7.4
- State rank
- 10th of 50by count
Used car dealers in Michigan by the numbers
The Census Bureau counted 790 used car dealers in Michigan in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 441120). They employed 4,217 people in mid-March and reported $218.5 million in annual payroll. That is the 10th highest count among the 50 states and DC with published figures. Used car dealers make up 0.34% of the 229,564 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Michigan has 7.8 used car dealers, 5.4% above the national rate of 7.4. The average establishment has 5.3 employees against 6.4 nationally. Payroll per employee is $51,813, 7.2% below the U.S. figure of $55,819.
| Measure | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 790 | 25,147 |
| Mid-March employees | 4,217 | 162,048 |
| Annual payroll | $218,497,000 | $9,045,411,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 5.3 | 6.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $51,813 | $55,819 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 7.8 | 7.4 |
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 used car dealers in Michigan are concentrated
Census published used car dealership counts for 32 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Michigan. The largest is Detroit, MI, with 387 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 92% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 387 | 1,670 | 8.8 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 97 | 860 | 8.2 |
| South Bend, IN-MI | 36 | 226 | 11.1 |
| Flint, MI | 33 | 282 | 8.2 |
| Lansing, MI | 27 | 115 | 5.6 |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 20 | 157 | 7.6 |
| Holland, MI | 19 | — | 15.5 |
| Muskegon, MI | 14 | 98 | 7.9 |
| Traverse City, MI | 13 | 73 | 8.3 |
| Saginaw, MI | 11 | — | 5.9 |
| Battle Creek, MI | 10 | — | 7.5 |
| Monroe, MI | 8 | — | 5.1 |
| Niles, MI | 8 | — | 5.2 |
| Cadillac, MI | 8 | 42 | 16.1 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 7 | — | 1.9 |
| Bay City, MI | 7 | — | 6.8 |
| Marquette, MI | 6 | — | 8.8 |
| Sturgis, MI | 6 | — | 9.8 |
| Jackson, MI | 5 | 25 | 3.1 |
| Adrian, MI | 5 | — | 5.1 |
| Owosso, MI | 5 | 58 | 7.4 |
| Marinette, WI-MI | 5 | — | 7.6 |
| Coldwater, MI | 5 | 13 | 10.8 |
| Escanaba, MI | 5 | 21 | 13.6 |
| Mount Pleasant, MI | 4 | — | 6.1 |
Top 25 of 32 areas by establishments. Source: Census CBP 2023.
Team sizes at used car dealers in Michigan
68.9% of Michigan's used car dealers with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 68.9% nationally. 86.9% 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 | 543 | 68.9% | 68.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 142 | 18.0% | 17.7% |
| 10–19 employees | 70 | 8.9% | 8.4% |
| 20–49 employees | 29 | 3.7% | 3.5% |
| 50 or more employees | 4 | 0.5% | 1.5% |
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.
Calls a used car dealership in Michigan has to catch
Independent used car dealers sell through inbound calls about specific vehicles, often with a small staff. Missing a shopper's call can lose a sale to another lot.
Calls a used car dealership in Michigan might handle in a typical week include:
- A wholesaler calls about inventory.
- A buyer calls about financing.
- A shopper calls to ask whether a car is still available.
After-hours calls
Evening calls about specific vehicles are common.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Phone system pricing for a 5-person used car dealership
Used car dealers in Michigan average 5.3 employees, so the comparison uses a 5-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 5 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $150.00 a month and 5 on Ooma Office Pro cost $124.75. On Callata the same 5 people cost $99.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $612. 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 | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $95.00 | $1,140.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $115.00 | $1,380.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $124.75 | $1,497.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $135.00 | $1,620.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $150.00 | $1,800.00 |
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. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your customers know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| 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 used car dealers in Michigan
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Michigan, 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 used car dealers are in Michigan?
790 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 4,217 people in mid-March.
Which Michigan metro area has the most used car dealers?
Detroit, MI, with 387 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 5-person used car dealership?
$150.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $124.75 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 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.