CallataGuidesHays, KS business phone guide
Population, businesses by sector and industry, area codes and local numbers for the Hays, KS micropolitan area.
- Population
- 29,0072024 est.
- Establishments
- 1,110CBP 2023
- Counties
- 1
- Area codes
- 1
About the Hays, KS micropolitan area
The Hays, KS micropolitan area covers 1 county in Kansas and had 29,007 residents in July 2024, up 0.2% since April 2020. The U.S. population grew 2.6% over the same period. By population it ranks 832nd of the 925 metro and micropolitan areas and 622nd by business establishments.
| County | Population (2024) |
|---|---|
| Ellis County, KS | 29,007 |
Source: Census Vintage 2024 metropolitan and micropolitan area estimates.
Hays, KS's business base
County Business Patterns counted 1,110 establishments in the area in 2023, employing 12,808 people in mid-March with $588.9 million in annual payroll. That is an average of 11.5 employees per establishment. 54.2% of establishments with employees had fewer than five people. By establishment count, the largest sectors are retail trade (162), construction (121), and health care and social assistance (120).
| Sector (NAICS) | Establishments | Employees | Annual payroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Trade (44) | 162 | 2,069 | $64,840,000 |
| Construction (23) | 121 | 709 | $37,122,000 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance (62) | 120 | 2,950 | $165,990,000 |
| Accommodation and Food Services (72) | 113 | 1,899 | $35,288,000 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) (81) | 98 | 613 | $19,818,000 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (21) | 78 | 541 | $33,749,000 |
| Finance and Insurance (52) | 68 | 431 | $33,637,000 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54) | 65 | 372 | $19,561,000 |
| Wholesale Trade (42) | 58 | 620 | $36,494,000 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (53) | 55 | 139 | $4,911,000 |
| Transportation and Warehousing (48) | 48 | 388 | $20,186,000 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (56) | 39 | 188 (high noise) | $4,797,000 |
| Manufacturing (31) | 28 | 1,043 | $60,025,000 |
| Information (51) | 23 | 314 | $19,968,000 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71) | 14 | 104 | $1,567,000 |
| Educational Services (61) | 7 | 120 (high noise) | $2,590,000 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11) | 5 | 26 | $409,000 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises (55) | 5 | 79 (high noise) | $5,712,000 |
| Utilities (22) | 3 | 203 (high noise) | $22,231,000 |
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.
Hays, KS compared with the U.S.
Hays, KS has 38.3 business establishments per 1,000 residents, 55.7% above the U.S. figure of 24.6. Establishments average 11.5 employees against 16.7 nationally, and payroll per employee is $45,979 (32.7% below the U.S. $68,342). 54.2% of establishments with employees have fewer than five people (U.S.: 55.5%), while 3.3% 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 | 600 | 54.2% | 55.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 207 | 18.7% | 17.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 163 | 14.7% | 12.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 100 | 9.0% | 9.1% |
| 50 or more employees | 37 | 3.3% | 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 Hays, KS
Of the 141 industries these guides cover, 63 have a published Census count in Hays, KS. The largest are full-service restaurants (35), insurance agencies and brokerages (34), and limited-service restaurants (32). Relative to population, site preparation contractors are the most over-represented: 44.8 per 100,000 residents against 12.3 nationally.
| Industry | Establishments | Employees | Employees per establishment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurants | 35 | 746 | 21.3 |
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 34 | — | — |
| Limited-service restaurants | 32 | 525 | 16.4 |
| Law offices | 19 | 84 | 4.4 |
| Offices of real estate agents and brokers | 17 | — | — |
| Residential remodelers | 17 | — | — |
| Hotels and motels | 17 | 313 | 18.4 |
| Landscaping services | 16 | 61 | 3.8 |
| Physician practices | 15 | 67 | 4.5 |
| General automotive repair shops | 15 | 75 | 5.0 |
| Plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors | 13 | 129 | 9.9 |
| Site preparation contractors | 13 | 82 | 6.3 |
| Dental offices | 12 | 114 | 9.5 |
| Electrical contractors | 12 | 59 | 4.9 |
| New single-family housing construction contractors | 10 | 31 | 3.1 |
| Automotive body, paint and interior repair shops | 10 | 33 | 3.3 |
| Beauty salons | 10 | — | — |
| All other specialty trade contractors | 9 | 63 | 7.0 |
| Roofing contractors | 8 | 54 | 6.8 |
| Drinking places | 8 | 77 | 9.6 |
| Beer, wine and liquor stores | 8 | — | — |
| Agencies providing services for the elderly and persons with disabilities | 7 | — | — |
| Child day care services | 7 | 94 | 13.4 |
| Chiropractic offices | 6 | 20 | 3.3 |
| Mental health practices | 6 | 7 | 1.2 |
Selected small-business industries (six-digit NAICS) covered by these guides. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Phone numbers in the Hays, KS area
The area's named cities and towns have 21 NANPA-assigned exchanges across 1 area code; 785 has the most (100%). A local number in the code your customers know is the simplest signal that you are nearby; Callata's plan includes up to 3.
| Area code | Exchanges in named places | Share | Time zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 785 | 21 | 100% | Central and Mountain |
Exchanges in rate centers matched to Census places in the area. Source: NANPA.
Local numbers by city
Pages for 3 cities and towns in the area list their area codes, prefixes and carriers.
| Place | Population (2024) | Area codes | Exchanges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hays, KS | 21,213 | 785 | 16 |
| Ellis, KS | 1,918 | 785 | 2 |
| Victoria, KS | 1,129 | 785 | 2 |
Phone costs for a typical Hays, KS business
The comparison below uses 12 users, the rounded average establishment size in Hays, KS. At list prices checked September 28, 2026, that is $299.40 a month on Ooma Office Pro and $360.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core. On Callata the same 12 people cost $239.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $239.00 | $2,868.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $228.00 | $2,736.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $276.00 | $3,312.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $299.40 | $3,592.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $324.00 | $3,888.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $360.00 | $4,320.00 |
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 Hays, KS
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.
If you already have a number in Hays, KS, 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
What area codes serve Hays, KS?
785, by NANPA-assigned exchanges in the area's named places.
How many businesses are in the Hays, KS area?
1,110 establishments in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns.
How much does a business phone system cost in Hays, KS?
Callata is $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user; for a 12-person team that is $239.00 a month. The same team on Ooma Office Pro lists at $299.40 a month (checked September 28, 2026).