Business phone system for used merchandise stores in Montana

The used merchandise store industry in Montana

County Business Patterns counts 136 establishments in Montana classified as Used Merchandise Stores (NAICS 453310) for 2023. They employed 1,042 people in mid-March and reported $24.2 million in annual payroll. That is the 40th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Used merchandise stores make up 0.32% of the 42,566 business establishments in the state.

Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Montana has 12.0 used merchandise stores, 108.9% above the national rate of 5.7. The average establishment has 7.7 employees against 11.4 nationally. Payroll per employee is $23,197, 5.4% below the U.S. figure of $24,523.

Used merchandise stores by metro area in Montana

Census published used merchandise store counts for 7 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Montana. The largest is Bozeman, MT, with 23 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 75% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.

Team sizes at used merchandise stores in Montana

54.1% of Montana's used merchandise stores with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 43.2% nationally. 78.5% 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.

Why the phone matters for used merchandise stores in Montana

Thrift, consignment and resale stores take calls about donations, consignment terms and stock. Consignors call to check on their items. That holds for used merchandise stores in Montana as much as anywhere.

Typical inbound and outbound calls for used merchandise stores in Montana:

• A customer calls about pickup service.
• A customer calls about donation drop-off hours.
• The store calls a consignor about payout.

Business texting for used merchandise stores

Stores text consignor updates.

Texting from a local number in Montana requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.

Phone system pricing for an 8-person used merchandise store

Used merchandise stores in Montana average 7.7 employees, so the comparison uses an 8-person team. 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. Callata comes to $159.00 a month for 8 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.

Over a year, that is $972 less than RingCentral for a used merchandise store in Montana of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.

Area codes in Montana

Montana has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a used merchandise store can hold a number in more than one of them.

How Callata works for used merchandise stores in Montana

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 Montana 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.