CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for motion picture and video production companies in Charlotte, NC-SC
Motion picture and video production companies in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area: 120 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 13-person team.
- Establishments
- 120CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,565mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 4.2U.S. 5.1
- Rank
- 24th of 269areas by count
Motion picture and video production companies in Charlotte, NC-SC by the numbers
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 120 establishments classified as Motion Picture and Video Production (NAICS 512110) in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area. Together they reported 1,565 mid-March employees and $172.6 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 24th of the 269 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 2.9 million residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 4.2 motion picture and video production companies per 100,000 people, 18.5% below the national rate of 5.1. Establishments average 13.0 employees, 42.8% above the U.S. average of 9.1. Payroll per employee comes to $110,263, 27.8% above the national $86,308.
| Measure | Charlotte, NC-SC | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 120 | 335 | 17,366 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,565 (moderate noise) | 2,338 | 158,632 |
| Annual payroll | $172,561,000 (moderate noise) | $212,872,000 (moderate noise) | $13,691,268,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 13.0 | 7.0 | 9.1 |
| Payroll per employee | $110,263 | $91,049 | $86,308 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 4.2 | 3.0 | 5.1 |
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 motion picture and video production companies in Charlotte, NC-SC
Of the motion picture and video production companies in Charlotte, NC-SC that had employees in March 2023, 88.6% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 85.4%). 93.9% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 101 | 88.6% | 85.4% |
| 5–9 employees | 6 | 5.3% | 7.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 4 | 3.5% | 3.6% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 2.0% |
| 50 or more employees | 3 | 2.6% | 1.7% |
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 motion picture and video production companies in Charlotte, NC-SC
Video producers juggle shoots, edits and client reviews, and are often on set when calls come in. Inquiries for commercial and event work need fast follow-up.
A few of the calls that come in to motion picture and video production companies in Charlotte, NC-SC:
- A crew member calls about call times.
- The producer calls a client to plan a shoot.
- A location manager calls about a shoot date.
Calls after closing time
Late-day calls about next-day shoots benefit from a prompt reply.
Business-hours routing in Callata sends calls to voicemail, a teammate's cell or an AI agent once the day ends, and voicemails arrive transcribed with an urgency flag.
What a phone system costs a video production company in Charlotte, NC-SC
The average video production company in Charlotte, NC-SC has 13.0 employees, so a 13-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 13 users would run $390.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $324.35 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 13 people cost $259.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,572. 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 | $259.00 | $3,108.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $247.00 | $2,964.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $299.00 | $3,588.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $324.35 | $3,892.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $351.00 | $4,212.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $390.00 | $4,680.00 |
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.
Which area code to use in Charlotte, NC-SC
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 5 area codes. 704 has the most, with 690 of 1,239 exchanges (56%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your clients recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 704 | 690 | Eastern | 1947 | 980 |
| 980 | 394 | Eastern | 2001 | 704 |
| 803 | 114 | Eastern | 1947 | 839 |
| 839 | 35 | Eastern | 2020 | 803 |
| 828 | 6 | Eastern | 1998 | 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 motion picture and video production companies in Charlotte, NC-SC get with Callata
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.
If you already have a number in Charlotte, NC-SC, 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 motion picture and video production companies are there in Charlotte, NC-SC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 120 motion picture and video production companies in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area in 2023. They employed 1,565 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 13-person video production company?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 13 users cost $390.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $324.35 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $259.00.
What area code should a video production company in Charlotte, NC-SC use?
Area code 704 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 980 and 803. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a video production 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.