Florence, SC business phone guide
Population, businesses by sector and industry, area codes and local numbers for the Florence, SC metro area.
- Population
- 200,0002024 est.
- Establishments
- 4,403CBP 2023
- Counties
- 2
- Area codes
- 2
The Florence, SC area
The Florence, SC metro area covers 2 counties in South Carolina and had 200,000 residents in July 2024, up 0.3% since April 2020. The U.S. population grew 2.6% over the same period. Florence County, SC is the most populous, with 138,000 people. By population it ranks 236th of the 925 metro and micropolitan areas and 246th by business establishments.
| County | Population (2024) |
|---|---|
| Florence County, SC | 138,049 |
| Darlington County, SC | 62,425 |
Source: Census Vintage 2024 metropolitan and micropolitan area estimates.
Businesses in Florence, SC
County Business Patterns counted 4,403 establishments in the area in 2023, employing 83,945 people in mid-March with $4.5 billion in annual payroll. That is an average of 19.1 employees per establishment. 48.7% of establishments with employees had fewer than five people. By establishment count, the largest sectors are retail trade (912), health care and social assistance (568), and other services (except public administration) (496).
| Sector (NAICS) | Establishments | Employees | Annual payroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Trade (44) | 912 | 11,504 | $357,307,000 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance (62) | 568 | 21,228 | $1,155,008,000 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) (81) | 496 | 3,250 | $106,877,000 |
| Accommodation and Food Services (72) | 469 | 9,678 | $179,667,000 |
| Finance and Insurance (52) | 293 | 2,708 | $153,158,000 |
| Construction (23) | 271 | 1,913 | $120,951,000 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54) | 269 | 2,953 | $321,535,000 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (56) | 219 | 5,012 | $162,559,000 |
| Wholesale Trade (42) | 210 | 4,168 | $255,577,000 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (53) | 168 | 599 | $31,359,000 |
| Transportation and Warehousing (48) | 148 | 3,314 | $140,119,000 |
| Manufacturing (31) | 145 | 12,053 | $1,024,622,000 |
| Information (51) | 56 | 527 | $28,502,000 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71) | 47 | 668 | $12,226,000 |
| Educational Services (61) | 46 | 929 | $29,681,000 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11) | 32 | 254 | $12,386,000 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises (55) | 26 | 2,272 | $262,409,000 |
| Utilities (22) | 20 | 873 (high noise) | $106,590,000 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (21) | 3 | 27 (high noise) | $1,552,000 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023, two-digit NAICS sectors. Manufacturing, retail and transportation span several two-digit codes; CBP reports them under 31, 44 and 48.
Florence, SC compared with the U.S.
Florence, SC has 22.0 business establishments per 1,000 residents, 10.7% below the U.S. figure of 24.6. Establishments average 19.1 employees against 16.7 nationally, and payroll per employee is $53,156 (22.2% below the U.S. $68,342). 48.7% of establishments with employees have fewer than five people (U.S.: 55.5%), while 6.0% have 50 or more. Because a handful of large employers lift the average, the share of very small establishments says more about who buys a small-business phone system.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 2,146 | 48.7% | 55.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 917 | 20.8% | 17.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 643 | 14.6% | 12.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 435 | 9.9% | 9.1% |
| 50 or more employees | 262 | 6.0% | 5.4% |
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.
Small-business industries in Florence, SC
Of the 141 industries these guides cover, 108 have a published Census count in Florence, SC. The largest are limited-service restaurants (182), full-service restaurants (147), and physician practices (101). Relative to population, funeral homes and funeral services are the most over-represented: 10.5 per 100,000 residents against 4.5 nationally.
Selected small-business industries (six-digit NAICS) covered by these guides. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Which area codes serve Florence, SC
The area's named cities and towns have 128 NANPA-assigned exchanges across 2 area codes; 843 has the most (81%). 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 7 cities and towns in the area list their area codes, prefixes and carriers.
| Place | Population (2024) | Area codes | Exchanges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florence, SC | 40,923 | 843, 854 | 68 |
| Hartsville, SC | 7,360 | 843, 854 | 15 |
| Darlington, SC | 6,045 | 843, 854 | 7 |
| Lake City, SC | 5,916 | 843, 854 | 7 |
| Timmonsville, SC | 2,117 | 843, 854 | 6 |
| Johnsonville, SC | 1,350 | 843, 854 | 7 |
| Pamplico, SC | 1,061 | 843, 854 | 3 |
Phone costs for a typical Florence, SC business
A 19-person team is the benchmark here, the rounded average establishment size in Florence, SC. Billed per seat at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026), RingCentral RingEX Core costs $570.00 a month and Ooma Office Pro $474.05. Callata comes to $379.00 a month for 19 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $379.00 | $4,548.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $361.00 | $4,332.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $437.00 | $5,244.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $474.05 | $5,688.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $513.00 | $6,156.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $570.00 | $6,840.00 |
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.
Callata in Florence, SC
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 Florence, SC 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.
Frequently asked questions
What area codes serve Florence, SC?
843 and 854, by NANPA-assigned exchanges in the area's named places.
How many businesses are in the Florence, SC area?
4,403 establishments in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns.
How much does a business phone system cost in Florence, SC?
Callata is $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user; for a 19-person team that is $379.00 a month. The same team on Ooma Office Pro lists at $474.05 a month (checked September 28, 2026).