Best Job Costing Software
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PRODUCTS
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BUYER'S GUIDE
Buyer's Guide
By Gerrad Frei, Technical Content Writer at SelectHub
Monitoring the cash flow of a construction project is tricky. From varying material and labor costs to unexpected change orders, countless stumbling blocks can break your budget. Construction management solutions like job costing software help you track and manage every dollar you spend from one day to the next while contextualizing how those expenses impact the profitability of the project and your business.
Executive Summary
- Job costing software organizes and provides valuable insight into the expenses and finances of a construction project.
- Key features include financial planning, risk management, document management and automated alerts.
- Ask critical questions about your operation and team to ensure you find the right platform.
What Is Job Costing Software?
Job costing software is a set of digital tools that helps you track, maintain and recognize the impact of all expenses incurred during a project and throughout your business. It provides granular spending data for direct and indirect costs, including materials, labor, overhead and more. Real-time financial data allows you to identify potential cost overruns and make budget-saving adjustments before they impact profitability.
Primary Benefits
Increase Financial Visibility
Job costing software lets you view your finances from the top down, breaking down expenses and income at both the macro- and micro-levels. This financial granularity and real-time data enable you to monitor daily project profitability instead of waiting until project completion and payment to find out if you’re in the black.
Track Every Expense
Track every dollar across multiple projects as spending happens, from heavy-equipment leases to the number of screws used. Mobile features allow contractors to update timesheets or punch in and punch out from the job site, giving you an accurate picture of your most significant expense.
For those jobs where the customer pays project expenses, the solution keeps detailed and transparent expense records of each project, ensuring full reimbursement and improving client relationships.
Make Smart, Data-driven Decisions
Regardless of how much planning and preparation take place during the preconstruction phase, a project will never go perfectly. And in construction, change orders can quickly break your budget.
With job costing software, you can monitor the additional labor, material and other expenses associated with change orders and accurately estimate how it will affect your budget. Combined with a comprehensive overview of a project’s finances, this information allows you to efficiently reallocate portions of your budget to protect your bottom line.
Boost Profitability & Win Jobs
With increased materials costs and shrinking labor pools, determining a potential project’s viability is difficult. Job costing solutions utilize historical and current expenses to create precise estimates so you know whether a job is worth a bid.
Plus, it helps generate detailed and accurate bids, so customers know exactly how much they can expect to spend, which is essential to winning over hesitant clients.
Key Features & Functionality
Financial Planning | Plan and manage finances of multiple projects simultaneously. Estimate the cost of various project areas to ensure sufficient funding. Compare actual costs to estimates to monitor the viability and profitability of a project in real time. |
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Risk Management | Plan for possible budget-altering events, like delays, change orders, tax changes and adverse weather. Some platforms have digital tools to inspect and report on environmental and safety risks to reduce on-site incidents. |
Inventory Management | Track and monitor all inventory, equipment and material needed for a project, as well as their associated expenses. View up-to-date location and inventory stock levels and automatically receive alerts when levels are low. |
KPI Reporting | Generate in-depth reports about any data point, from finances to performance. View reports as charts, tables, graphs and other visualizations. Export reports as PDFs, spreadsheets and other document types. Send directly to clients via email. |
Document Management | Create, edit and manage all documents from a central digital location. Quickly find documents by searching by name, type, creation date, author and more. Store every document from each build, even post-completion, to utilize historical data or for thorough auditing. |
Automated Alerts & Communication | Set up automatic alerts for events that can impact your bottom line, such as profit falling below a certain percentage point, unbilled jobs, scheduling delays and bottlenecks, low inventory levels and more. Send updates to all stakeholders, including the client, upon assignment or phase completion. |
Timesheets | Capture labor hours daily and view their total cost and impact on the budget. Some platforms allow contractors and subcontractors to submit their time using a browser or mobile application. Information from timesheets automatically transfers to payroll and billing. |
Third-party Integration | Eliminate redundant data entry and create a single location to store, view and manage all information by integrating with CRM, BIM, scheduling and other third-party platforms. |
Software Comparison Strategy
For a quick overview of software comparison strategy, it’s essential to start by examining your operations and finding areas that need the most improvement. During this process, reaching out to your team is beneficial, as they may have a different view or be more informed of specific functions. With this information, look at the platforms that address your business’s issues but still meet budget and scalability restrictions.
For a more detailed and comprehensive job costing software comparison strategy, check out our software selection guide, which leverages lean selection to help you find the best solution for your company.
Cost & Pricing Considerations
Though various factors affect the price of job scheduling software, the most significant is deployment.
Cloud-based
Cloud-based platforms leverage internet and data connectivity to provide users with access to tools from anywhere at any time through a mobile device. These solutions are the most popular options, especially among small businesses, due to the low upfront cost and subscription payment model. The vendor handles all backend services, like security, updates and maintenance, saving you money and stress.
However, some software solutions lock certain features or services behind a paywall, requiring a larger monthly payment to access them. Vendors also commonly charge more for the number of users and projects or stored data, further increasing costs.
On-premise
Instead of depending on an online or data connection, on-premise systems are stored on your company’s premises, allowing you superior customization options and direct control over who accesses the solution. Unfortunately, the lack of internet connectivity limits or prevents some features, like mobile capability.
On-premise platforms usually have a large one-time payment or significant annual licensing fee, making them unrealistic options for small and medium-sized businesses. Plus, you’re on the hook for backend services, inflating the system’s lifetime cost.
Hybrid
Combining features from cloud-based and on-premise solutions, the price of hybrid solutions varies based on the included capabilities.
The Most Popular Job Costing Software
To kickstart your job costing software search, take a look at a few of the most popular options in the list below.
CMiC
CMiC is an end-to-end solution that allows you to manage and track expenses across multiple projects using real-time data. Deployable as both cloud-based and on-premise, it provides a single source of truth for all stakeholders and deters data silos from impacting your bottom line. Use up-to-date and historical information to create accurate estimates, bids and proposals.
Contractors and subcontractors can update timesheets using mobile devices.
Procore
Procore is a cloud-based platform that helps you manage any-sized construction projects from conception to delivery. Create accurate visual representations of daily and lifetime expenses. Granular and top-down views of finances allow you to make better business decisions and find areas of improvement to boost profitability. Mobile capabilities provide access to critical documents and information from any location.
Manage and track all change orders from one digital location.
ConstructionOnline
Built to handle mid- to large-sized projects, ConstructionOnline helps you monitor cash flow and tackle issues that can impact your financial viability, like change orders, delays and stock levels. Use comprehensive templates to quickly generate accurate estimates, bids and proposals to win more jobs. Integrate with hundreds of third-party applications and consolidate your data in one location to improve financial visibility.
Track and store every expense across the lifetime of a project.
Questions to Ask
As you begin shopping for job costing software, ask these questions about your company and your team to create a shortlist of viable options.
- How much am I willing to spend?
- What problems am I hoping to solve?
- Do I need a solution that can handle multiple projects at once?
- Am I looking to expand the business soon?
- What deployment option is preferable?
Knowing what your team needs, ask clarifying questions about the vendor and their platform to find the best solution.
- Are there any recurring or extra fees for certain features?
- How easy is it to learn and implement?
- What training and customer support options do you offer?
- What mobile devices and browsers are compatible with it?
- Have you worked with businesses like mine in the past?
Next Steps
Integrating job costing software into your operation allows you to streamline workflows and make smart, money-saving decisions through increased financial visibility and automated digital tools. Plus, data analysis features let you see which areas of your operation adversely or positively impact cash flow.
Check out our decision platform to comprehensively compare and find the right solution.
Product Comparisons
- Top CMiC Alternatives and Competitors
- Top Procore Alternatives and Competitors
- Top ConstructionOnline Alternatives and Competitors
- Procore vs. CMiC
- CMiC vs. ConstructionOnline
- Procore vs. ConstructionOnline
Additional Resources
Products found for Job Costing Software
Procore
Designed for projects of all sizes, Procore aims to streamline communication, track finances and resources and handle projects from planning to delivery. Real-time data accessibility gives users actionable insights from a centralized dashboard. Users can leverage hundreds of integrations to boost efficiency. It allows construction firms, contractors, architects and engineers to share data in the field, edit designs and provide up-to-date reports of a project’s life cycle. Manage multiple construction projects efficiently. Businesses can create and manage construction project schedules and filter information according to summary tasks and resources. Its product portfolio supports project management, quality and safety measures, construction finances and field productivity.
Buildertrend
Buildertrend is a construction ERP that streamlines business practices and assists builders, contractors and clients. Leverage bid requests, email marketing and leads in one centralized pre-sales process module. Initiates budgets, invoices, lien waivers and time clocks. Maintain various activities in daily logs, to-do lists, schedules and messages. It’s also available as a mobile app for iOS and Android devices. Master project management, client relationship management, financial management, estimates and change orders are some notable features.
PlanGrid
PlanGrid is a mobile-enabled management suite that gives users the ability to store blueprints and documents in the field. Its collaborative framework boosts field team efficiency, and an easy-to-use design gives users intuitive control over a wide array of helpful capabilities. It provides access to all critical project-wide documents, photos and drawings through a single source of truth so that everyone is always on the same page. Built for projects of all sizes, it is a valuable inclusion for anyone looking to raise productivity and strengthen communication on the job site.
e-Builder
e-Builder provides an integrated, cloud-based platform with a focus on capital planning and bidding. It is designed for construction professionals and facility owners. It keeps teams connected while providing configurable inclusions to support facility owners. Several modules are available out of the box so users can design their project management experience. Users can manage project data with its suite of modules. The functionality to improve planning, design and many other key construction processes provides a collaborative project environment. It is used by over 400 professionals and has supported over $300 billion in capital programs.
Assemble
Assemble is a SaaS solution with a central hub that stores drawings, building information, models and point clouds. It lets construction workers connect, query and condition data for key workflows like estimating, scheduling, finance, bid management, project management and site management. It is web-based and helps users add intelligence, extract building information model (BIM) data, collaborate for better decision making and deliver projects within a set budget and on time. Its flagship product, Assemble Insight, is a cloud-based inclusion that lets AEC businesses use BIM data for project collaboration, better decision making and improved projects.
CoConstruct
CoConstruct is a management system focused on remodeling and custom home building. It streamlines complex management processes, including financial and project management. It puts communication at the forefront to keep clients happy and construction teams working smoothly. It simplifies sifting through changing construction schedules and missed deadlines while offering predictability to building routines.Construction or remodeling projects are kept on track while accounting practices are streamlined. It integrates with several third-party packages like QuickBooks to keep things simple and comfortable for project leaders. It supports small- to medium-sized operations.
Acculynx
Acculynx is an all-in-one software designed for exterior and roofing contractors. It handles business aspects like production, sales, finances, collections and supplementing. It lets businesses of all sizes, from start-ups and businesses with multi-location operations, provide excellent customer service and streamline processes. It also connects users’ teams, unifies projects and boosts profits. It brings the entire business together by letting users improve productivity, save time, make informed decisions and win more jobs. Users can view their sales tools and pipeline to close a deal. It keeps everyone in the team connected, lets users view job statuses and shows in-progress tasks. It also has mobile access that helps business owners manage labor crews.
eSUB
eSUB is a cloud-based management system that focuses on mobility while providing subcontractors with a solid set of digital tools. It offers multiple avenues to connect field workers and project managers while helping subcontractors manage their daily business processes. Automation of labor tracking and paperless documentation helps speed up daily tasks.It centralizes information letting team members work efficiently with the requisite information. It provides an integrated work environment for construction firms to efficiently plan and schedule projects while keeping stakeholders in the loop.
Aconex
Aconex, along with Oracle Construction and Engineering Cloud, serves as a comprehensive tool for construction project delivery and management. Designed for delivery teams and owners, it helps increase control and visibility, connect teams and reduce risk. It connects teams and project members, streamlines time-intensive tasks, promotes collaboration and encourages data visibility. It lets users increase efficiency in construction and design coordination, cost, field and document management, and project control. All project members can interact and participate in an operation’s phases. The data and connected processes it offers help project managers make educated decisions and prevent issues before they occur.
Corecon
Corecon is a fully integrated cloud-based platform that focuses on organizing and streamlining tasks such as estimating, project oversight, job costing and more. Additional modules help users handle lead tracking, bid management and communication with the inclusion of the TeamLink Portal. It helps estimators track and manage opportunities through dashboards. Connect internal and external users with mobile flexibility and browser-based access.
Sage 300 Construction
Sage 300 is a construction and real estate focused software solution with project-wide organizational capabilities. Its cloud-based integration connects all points of a construction project to an easily accessible location. It helps project managers control and view the entirety of a project’s lifecycle. It streamlines and organizes accounting processes and is suited for operations of all sizes. Multiple accounting modules let project owners tackle financial tasks in a comfortable way, cutting down on process time. It pairs well with several industries ranging from general contracting to homebuilding and residential remodeling.
Jonas Construction Software
Jonas Construction offers integrated solutions to mechanical, general, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and specialty trade contractors, home builders, real estate and land developers. Its inclusions help users grow and manage operations. Its modules include dispatch and job scheduling, accounting, job costing, invoicing, payroll and reporting. It’s customizable to business needs and provides Enterprise and Premier packages. It is suitable for mechanical, electrical, HVAC and plumbing, excavators and general, heavy highway and special contractors. The Premier package is designed for general contractors, home builders and land developers.
UDA ConstructionSuite
UDA ConstructionSuite is a combination of three platforms — ConstructionSuite, ConstructionOnline and OnSite Mobile Applications. It helps users combine estimating and project management modules along with CRM support.Users can track site operations and business KPIs using dashboards. QuickBooks integration helps users create accurate estimates. Managers can access project documents off-site using mobile devices.
PASKR
Paskr is a cloud-based, all-in-one solution focused on simplifying, standardizing and automating projects. It is mobile, collaborative and supports the entire lifecycle of a project. Users can gain visibility and boost efficiency by tracking every step of a project and streamlining communication between office and field team members. It includes CRM support, bid management, estimating, change orders, billing support and more. It helps share access to critical project information with teams, stakeholders, engineers and more using version control options. It also manages overall construction project portfolios by maintaining stakeholder, supplier and departmental schedules while ensuring that deadlines are met.
Quickbase
Quickbase facilitates application development enabling problem solvers of any technical background to solve business issues. The low-code development maximizes the effectiveness, improves speed and agility to innovate and reduces IT complexity and costs. It provides advanced integration capabilities and automates workflows using simple business logic. It empowers stakeholders to get real-time visibility and insights into day-to-day business operations and make data-driven decisions to minimize risks and maximize profits.Law firms can utilize it to build personalized case management solutions aimed to simplify legal database organization, dynamic reporting and workload management. Effortlessly manage a centralized database of case files, client information and legal documents and ensure coordination between stakeholders.
Vista by Viewpoint
Vista by Viewpoint is a construction accounting solution. It is integrated and can be scaled and configured according to the requirements of the business. It reports time-critical financial data to decision makers and connects field personnel, office staff and extended teams seamlessly. It makes it easy for managers to view the real-time status of the current project. It maintains RFIs and critical tasks from all stakeholders while managing risk and tracking revenue. Its support team helps migrate from outdated software platforms by helping at every stage of deployment.
HCSS
HCSS (Heavy Construction Systems Specialists) provides integrated software solutions designed to manage daily operations in the field, ensure worker safety and track labor and equipment. It helps managers streamline their activities by providing project management inclusions.Each piece of its suite can be purchased separately as per project requirements. Users can make strategic decisions that save time and reduce inventory costs with the combined power of business intelligence and data warehouse modules.
Penta Construction
Penta Technologies is a construction accounting and operations tool that incorporates industry best practices by providing standardized processes. It is available for commercial and industrial contracting, field service and engineering firms. It brings accounting and project management together. It simplifies inter multi-company management and makes collecting field data easier. It also provides daily analytics to decision makers. It is also available on mobile for more efficient and flexible field data collection. It has cloud hosting capabilities, which gives teams the ability to access data on their devices. Users also benefit from 24/7 data security features.
Knowify
Knowify is a cloud-based platform that helps reduce the time and effort spent on administrative tasks like contract management, bidding and change orders. Scheduling and tracking modules allow administrators to see exactly when and how long employees work.Mobile access lets managers and forepersons do their jobs in the field while sending critical data back to the home office. It offers integration with QuickBooks so that users can retain their accounting workflows.
ComputerEase
ComputerEase is an accounting and project management platform for contractors of all sizes. It includes fully integrated job costing, contractor management, equipment management, accounting and more to better serve daily field-to-office processes on and off the job site. The Red Flag inclusion provides everything needed to see if subcontractors have the required liability insurance for their jobs. Dispatch boards let project owners and forepersons assign the most capable employees to relevant tasks and jobs. Leverage modules like profit and loss let users see where a project is succeeding or failing.
RedTeam
RedTeam is a cloud-based software solution that focuses on optimizing and streamlining project management for infrastructure operations. Managers can control the project’s entire lifecycle from preconstruction to final product delivery.It helps connect project team members through robust communication while also promoting data visibility across the enterprise. It offers support for scheduling, preconstruction, estimating and equipment management to manage the daily operations of a construction business.
CMiC
CMiC is an end-to-end management platform built to handle the complexities of larger projects and the challenges of smaller ones. It focuses on bringing teams together with a suite that helps automate daily tasks while providing seamless integrations. Deployable both on-premise and as a cloud-based solution, it meets unique business requirements.It has comprehensive inclusions that tackle various aspects of the entire project lifecycle, such as budgeting, forecasting, change orders, bidding, procurement, document management, business intelligence and much more. It helps construction firms to create resource plans with dynamic timelines and interactive schedules. Updated and accurate information keeps construction projects on schedule and prevents budget overshoots.
Fieldwire
Fieldwire is a field management module suitable for projects of all sizes. It helps construction crews capture, organize and access vital project information. It tracks all aspects of construction projects while making it simple for contractors to coordinate work and visualize crucial paths.It’s user-friendly and operates with or without an internet connection. It incorporates a robust suite of inclusions focused on streamlining field projects.
Sage X3 Construction
Sage X3 is a mobile-first tool built for construction professionals. It is data-driven and gives users end-to-end control over complex projects. It lowers overruns and increases profitability by using work-in-progress data captured via mobile device in the field. It is available in the United States and the AAMEA region. However, some inclusions may not be available in select countries. It helps users gain a competitive advantage by implementing integrated and customized ERP.
BuildTools
BuildTools by ECI is a construction project management module designed for remodelers, specialty contractors, home builders and custom builders. It is cloud-based and helps organize and keep track of project data such as documents, scheduling, communication and budgeting in a single centralized location. It lets users create and customize quotes while sending and managing proposals. It also includes bid management, scheduling, budgeting and daily logs. It supports tracking change orders, purchase orders and financial statements while generating financial statements and work-in-progress reports. Its integrations let users track and control costs across all budget codes. Its modules let users boost accountability and reduce errors.
ProjectTeam
ProjectTeam is an easy-to-use cloud-based project collaboration system that allows companies to connect with other organizations and share information. It helps create forms, files, dashboards, reports and photos. Built with modern and secure cloud technologies, it simplifies installation, deployment and hardware management.It provides complete visibility into the project performance from the office and remote locations. Solves project issues, modernizes processes and helps in attaining corporate objectives.
Projectmates
Projectmates is a management software solution focused on capital construction operations. It helps save time on projects through the automation of resource-consuming processes. It brings communication to the forefront with modules that promote team collaboration. Generate and analyze reports to predict trends and resolve issues. Customize project workflows to save time and focus on important tasks. Take control of complex tasks like bidding, planning and maintenance with its available offerings. It offers capabilities like schedule management, field reports, cost tracking and punch lists for construction projects.
ClickHome
ClickHome is a web-based solution designed to manage construction processes from inquiry to managing various processes and handling suppliers, trades and subcontractors. It is built specifically for the residential construction segment. It takes care of all steps from sales to warranty. Procedures become easy to implement as clients, staff and leads are on the same page. It helps control the quality of all of users’ projects and automates tasks, helping users save money and time. It supports iOS devices and can be installed on Windows desktops.
Contractor Foreman
Contractor Foreman is a cloud-based, full-service solution designed for general contractors and subcontractors. Its online panel and apps enable contractors to access data from anywhere via web browsers and internet-enabled devices. It supports over 35 modules like project, document, contact and safety management along with reporting, accounting and financials.It helps create accurate estimates and invoices and process payments electronically. Additionally, it integrates with QuickBooks to reduce data entry errors.
eCMS
eCMS is a cloud-based platform that leverages financial and project management tools to bring organization and efficiency to your daily processes. Contractors of all sizes can gain actionable insights by tapping into their data with a foundation of information management software. Its cloud-based deployment gives users secure access to their data while providing mobile, browser-based tools to view your information on the move. Save time and money by automating many of the non-productive tasks that use up valuable employee time.
SAP Business ByDesign
SAP Business ByDesign centralizes workflows such as supply chain management, customer relationship management and financial services. It uses real-time data analysis and visualization to streamline processes such as demand planning and bank reconciliation. It offers a range of integrations, allowing users to configure it to meet their specific needs. It’s intended for small and medium-sized companies. It’s hosted in the cloud, meaning that it can be accessed, anytime and anywhere, as long as an internet connection is available. It uses encryption and highly secure data facilities to ensure that client information is protected.
VPO
VPO provides a single platform to manage a construction project’s complete life cycle — from inception to completion. It is designed for architects, engineers, suppliers, vendors, owners, contractors and construction management firms. It is an easy-to-use, secure and cloud-based workspace used by project stakeholders to view, publish and measure progress. It leverages Microsoft’s cloud-based modules and combines them with project management, providing a scalable workspace that works for small and large scale operations.
Roots Software
Roots Software is an estimating, accounting and project management tool for subcontractors and general and government contractors. It provides estimation and helps anticipate work procurement requirements, track progress analytics and other business management processes. It has a built-in CRM and manages leads for contractors allowing them to manage their bids and allocate resources accordingly. It also has budgeting inclusions that allow for predicting expenses and recording financial transactions. Integrating it with third-party services to maintain records and accounting details is easy and according to industry standards. It has templates for labor and compliance reports, among others.
iSqFt
iSqFt is a web-based management suite that works with contractors of all sizes. It brings together every piece of the bidding, pre-construction and takeoff processes to streamline and optimize them. Contractors can track all relevant information about a project up to bid day and easily share information with interested bidders. Subcontractors can also benefit from modules that give them access to prequalification inclusions based on ConsensusDocs. General contractors, construction managers, utility contractors and design firms can leverage multiple modules concentrated on creating an effective and streamlined bidding process. It helps users discover and lockdown commercial leads while building relationships.
JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software designed to streamline business processes and facilitate data-driven decision-making. It is predominantly used by medium to large enterprises looking to manage various aspects of their operations, including finance, manufacturing, and human resources. Key features include financial management, supply chain management, and mobile applications for remote access. Users appreciate its robust functionality, scalability, and ability to support multi-country and multi-language operations. Compared to similar products, JD Edwards EnterpriseOne is often favored for its adaptability and the breadth of modules available, but it may require more extensive IT support and resources for implementation and maintenance. Pros Robust Functionality Scalability Multi-Country Support Cons Complex Implementation Resource-Intensive Extensive IT Support
SAMPro Enterprise
SAMPro Enterprise, by Data-Basics Inc., is an end-to-end integrated field service and construction module that automates and streamlines field operations while increasing revenue and lowering costs. It offers contractors workspaces to accommodate all of their daily processes in a single package. It has management functions and analytics to improve business efficiency and increase profits. It eliminates compatibility issues and creates a single-source module for contractors. It ties multiple aspects of the user's service and management tasks into a single package.
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