CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for motion picture and video production companies in Chattanooga, TN-GA
Motion picture and video production companies in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area: 15 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 28-person team.
- Establishments
- 15CBP 2023
- Employees
- 419mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 2.6U.S. 5.1
- Rank
- 100th of 269areas by count
How many motion picture and video production companies are in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
County Business Patterns counts 15 motion picture and video production companies (NAICS 512110, Motion Picture and Video Production) in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area for 2023. Together they reported 419 mid-March employees and $12.4 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 100th of the 269 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 588,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 2.6 motion picture and video production companies per 100,000 people, 50.0% below the national rate of 5.1. Establishments average 27.9 employees, 205.8% above the U.S. average of 9.1. Payroll per employee comes to $29,616, 65.7% below the national $86,308.
| Measure | Chattanooga, TN-GA | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 15 | 221 | 17,366 |
| Mid-March employees | 419 (moderate noise) | 1,814 | 158,632 |
| Annual payroll | $12,409,000 (moderate noise) | $129,650,000 | $13,691,268,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 27.9 | 8.2 | 9.1 |
| Payroll per employee | $29,616 | $71,472 | $86,308 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 2.6 | 3.1 | 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.
Establishment size: motion picture and video production companies in Chattanooga, TN-GA
Of the motion picture and video production companies in Chattanooga, TN-GA that had employees in March 2023, 100.0% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 85.4%). 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 | 11 | 100.0% | 85.4% |
| 5–9 employees | not published | — | 7.3% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 3.6% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 2.0% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 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.
What motion picture and video production companies in Chattanooga, TN-GA use the phone for
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.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for motion picture and video production companies in Chattanooga, TN-GA:
- A location manager calls about a shoot date.
- A crew member calls about call times.
- A client calls with edit notes.
After-hours calls
Late-day calls about next-day shoots benefit from a prompt reply.
Callata transcribes voicemail and triages it for urgency, so the first callback in the morning can go to the caller who needs it most.
What a phone system costs a video production company in Chattanooga, TN-GA
The average video production company in Chattanooga, TN-GA has 27.9 employees, so a 28-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 28 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $840.00 a month and 28 on Ooma Office Pro cost $698.60. On Callata the same 28 people cost $559.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $3,372. 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 | $559.00 | $6,708.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $532.00 | $6,384.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $644.00 | $7,728.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $698.60 | $8,383.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $756.00 | $9,072.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $840.00 | $10,080.00 |
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.
Getting a local number in Chattanooga, TN-GA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 423 has the most, with 203 of 236 exchanges (86%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 423 | 203 | Eastern and Central | 1995 | 729 |
| 706 | 26 | Eastern | 1992 | 762 |
| 762 | 7 | Eastern | 2006 | 706 |
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.
Setting up Callata for a video production company in Chattanooga, TN-GA
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 Chattanooga, TN-GA, 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 15 motion picture and video production companies in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area in 2023. They employed 419 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 28-person video production company?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 28 users cost $840.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $698.60 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $559.00.
What area code should a video production company in Chattanooga, TN-GA use?
Area code 423 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 706 and 762. 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.