New Orleans, LA business phone guide

The New Orleans, LA area

The New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area covers 7 counties in Louisiana and had 966,000 residents in July 2024, down 4.1% since April 2020. The U.S. population grew 2.6% over the same period. Jefferson Parish, LA is the most populous, with 427,000 people. By population it ranks 59th of the 925 metro and micropolitan areas and 55th by business establishments.

Businesses in New Orleans, LA

County Business Patterns counted 25,133 establishments in the area in 2023, employing 413,445 people in mid-March with $25.6 billion in annual payroll. That is an average of 16.5 employees per establishment. 51.7% of establishments with employees had fewer than five people. By establishment count, the largest sectors are retail trade (3,418), professional, scientific, and technical services (3,262), and accommodation and food services (3,170).

Business density and team size in New Orleans, LA

New Orleans, LA has 26.0 business establishments per 1,000 residents, 5.8% above the U.S. figure of 24.6. Establishments average 16.5 employees against 16.7 nationally, and payroll per employee is $61,922 (9.4% below the U.S. $68,342). 51.7% of establishments with employees have fewer than five people (U.S.: 55.5%), while 5.9% 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 New Orleans, LA

Of the 141 industries these guides cover, 139 have a published Census count in New Orleans, LA. The largest are law offices (1,053), full-service restaurants (1,012), and limited-service restaurants (916). Relative to population, drinking places are the most over-represented: 38.4 per 100,000 residents against 12.0 nationally.

Area codes in New Orleans, LA

The area's named cities and towns have 544 NANPA-assigned exchanges across 3 area codes; 504 has the most (98%). 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 3 cities and towns in the area list their area codes, prefixes and carriers.

Phone costs for a typical New Orleans, LA business

A 16-person team is the benchmark here, the rounded average establishment size in New Orleans, LA. Billed per seat at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026), RingCentral RingEX Core costs $480.00 a month and Ooma Office Pro $399.20. Callata comes to $319.00 a month for 16 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.

Callata in New Orleans, LA

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 New Orleans, LA 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.