CallataGuidesLakeland, FL business phone guide
Population, businesses by sector and industry, area codes and local numbers for the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area.
- Population
- 853,0002024 est.
- Establishments
- 13,992CBP 2023
- Counties
- 1
- Area codes
- 1
The Lakeland, FL area
The Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area covers 1 county in Florida and had 853,000 residents in July 2024, up 17.6% since April 2020. The U.S. population grew 2.6% over the same period. By population it ranks 73rd of the 925 metro and micropolitan areas and 98th by business establishments.
| County | Population (2024) |
|---|---|
| Polk County, FL | 852,878 |
Source: Census Vintage 2024 metropolitan and micropolitan area estimates.
Establishments and employment in Lakeland, FL
County Business Patterns counted 13,992 establishments in the area in 2023, employing 232,278 people in mid-March with $11.7 billion in annual payroll. That is an average of 16.6 employees per establishment. 58.1% of establishments with employees had fewer than five people. By establishment count, the largest sectors are retail trade (1,916), construction (1,823), and health care and social assistance (1,384).
| Sector (NAICS) | Establishments | Employees | Annual payroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Trade (44) | 1,916 | 34,212 | $1,225,422,000 |
| Construction (23) | 1,823 | 14,609 | $803,755,000 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance (62) | 1,384 | 32,530 | $1,973,880,000 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) (81) | 1,372 | 9,129 | $328,958,000 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54) | 1,271 | 8,622 | $559,932,000 |
| Accommodation and Food Services (72) | 1,107 | 22,244 | $469,826,000 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (56) | 991 | 15,314 | $559,507,000 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (53) | 936 | 4,810 | $222,263,000 |
| Transportation and Warehousing (48) | 722 | 23,241 | $1,109,413,000 |
| Finance and Insurance (52) | 703 | 12,001 | $958,247,000 |
| Wholesale Trade (42) | 621 | 10,096 | $686,750,000 |
| Manufacturing (31) | 440 | 17,816 | $1,212,726,000 |
| Information (51) | 197 | 2,887 | $166,067,000 |
| Educational Services (61) | 178 | 5,338 | $205,359,000 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71) | 166 | 3,297 | $90,901,000 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises (55) | 57 | 14,550 (high noise) | $909,168,000 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11) | 42 | 238 | $12,836,000 |
| Utilities (22) | 32 | 481 (high noise) | $61,603,000 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (21) | 22 | 853 (high noise) | $92,966,000 |
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.
Business density and team size in Lakeland, FL
Lakeland, FL has 16.4 business establishments per 1,000 residents, 33.3% below the U.S. figure of 24.6. Establishments average 16.6 employees against 16.7 nationally, and payroll per employee is $50,155 (26.6% below the U.S. $68,342). 58.1% of establishments with employees have fewer than five people (U.S.: 55.5%), while 5.4% 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 | 8,129 | 58.1% | 55.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 2,266 | 16.2% | 17.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 1,655 | 11.8% | 12.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 1,180 | 8.4% | 9.1% |
| 50 or more employees | 762 | 5.4% | 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 Lakeland, FL
Of the 141 industries these guides cover, 135 have a published Census count in Lakeland, FL. The largest are limited-service restaurants (482), landscaping services (343), and physician practices (304). Relative to population, other services to buildings and dwellings are the most over-represented: 9.0 per 100,000 residents against 5.3 nationally.
Selected small-business industries (six-digit NAICS) covered by these guides. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Area codes in Lakeland, FL
The area's named cities and towns have 301 NANPA-assigned exchanges across 1 area code; 863 has the most (100%). Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a business serving several parts of the area can hold a number in each.
| Area code | Exchanges in named places | Share | Time zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 863 | 301 | 100% | Eastern |
Exchanges in rate centers matched to Census places in the area. Source: NANPA.
Local numbers by city
Pages for 9 cities and towns in the area list their area codes, prefixes and carriers.
| Place | Population (2024) | Area codes | Exchanges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland, FL | 124,990 | 863 | 114 |
| Winter Haven, FL | 59,975 | 863 | 77 |
| Haines City, FL | 42,073 | 863 | 27 |
| Bartow, FL | 22,084 | 863 | 22 |
| Lake Wales, FL | 17,798 | 863 | 27 |
| Fort Meade, FL | 5,341 | 863 | 5 |
| Mulberry, FL | 4,488 | 863 | 13 |
| Frostproof, FL | 3,467 | 863 | 7 |
| Polk City, FL | 3,076 | 863 | 9 |
Phone costs for a typical Lakeland, FL business
The comparison below uses 17 users, the rounded average establishment size in Lakeland, FL. At list prices checked September 28, 2026, that is $424.15 a month on Ooma Office Pro and $510.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core. Callata comes to $339.00 a month for 17 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 | $339.00 | $4,068.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $323.00 | $3,876.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $391.00 | $4,692.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $424.15 | $5,089.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $459.00 | $5,508.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $510.00 | $6,120.00 |
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 Lakeland, FL
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.
Porting a number you already use in Lakeland, FL 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 Lakeland, FL?
863, by NANPA-assigned exchanges in the area's named places.
How many businesses are in the Lakeland, FL area?
13,992 establishments in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns.
How much does a business phone system cost in Lakeland, FL?
Callata is $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user; for a 17-person team that is $339.00 a month. The same team on Ooma Office Pro lists at $424.15 a month (checked September 28, 2026).