Des Moines, IA business phone guide

Des Moines, IA at a glance

The Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area covers 6 counties in Iowa and had 754,000 residents in July 2024, up 6.3% since April 2020. The U.S. population grew 2.6% over the same period. Polk County, IA is the most populous, with 516,000 people. By population it ranks 82nd of the 925 metro and micropolitan areas and 73rd by business establishments.

Establishments and employment in Des Moines, IA

County Business Patterns counted 18,946 establishments in the area in 2023, employing 364,757 people in mid-March with $23.9 billion in annual payroll. That is an average of 19.3 employees per establishment. 53.1% of establishments with employees had fewer than five people. By establishment count, the largest sectors are retail trade (2,187), professional, scientific, and technical services (2,098), and health care and social assistance (2,060).

How Des Moines, IA's businesses compare

Des Moines, IA has 25.1 business establishments per 1,000 residents, 2.2% above the U.S. figure of 24.6. Establishments average 19.3 employees against 16.7 nationally, and payroll per employee is $65,623 (4.0% below the U.S. $68,342). 53.1% of establishments with employees have fewer than five people (U.S.: 55.5%), while 6.2% have 50 or more. Averages are pulled up by large employers; the size table is the better guide to what a typical business here looks like.

Small-business industries in Des Moines, IA

Of the 141 industries these guides cover, 137 have a published Census count in Des Moines, IA. The largest are full-service restaurants (531), limited-service restaurants (524), and offices of real estate agents and brokers (474). Relative to population, siding contractors are the most over-represented: 6.4 per 100,000 residents against 2.7 nationally.

Phone numbers in the Des Moines, IA area

The area's named cities and towns have 395 NANPA-assigned exchanges across 3 area codes; 515 has the most (87%). Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a business serving several parts of the area can hold a number in each.

Local numbers by city

Pages for 19 cities and towns in the area list their area codes, prefixes and carriers.

Phone costs for a typical Des Moines, IA business

The comparison below uses 19 users, the rounded average establishment size in Des Moines, IA. At list prices checked September 28, 2026, that is $474.05 a month on Ooma Office Pro and $570.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core. Callata comes to $379.00 a month for 19 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.

Callata in Des Moines, IA

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.

Porting a number you already use in Des Moines, IA 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.