Handyman business software has come a long way since I started my business in 2011.
There used to be just a few handyman estimating software options available. Now there are dozens, maybe even hundreds. It can be overwhelming to find the right one.
That’s why I recently asked over 100 pro handymen what handyman business software they use and why. In this article, I will share what I learned from them and from my own business to help you pick the best software for your unique situation.
Some of the products featured here are from companies who compensate me. This may influence which products I write about and where and how the product appears on the page. However, this does not influence my evaluations. My opinions are my own.
Table of Contents
- Essential handyman software features
- Key takeaways from the feedback of pro handymen
- The top 5 most popular handyman business apps
- Best overall handyman business software
- Best free software for the handyman business
- Best handyman estimating software
- Best handyman accounting software
Essential handyman software features
There are five main categories of software that most handymen will want.
- Estimating and Invoicing – For sending professional estimates and invoices with ease and even collecting payment via credit card directly from those invoices.
- Customer management – For storing customer information such as contact info and past jobs.
- Scheduling – For keeping track of where you (and your team if you have one) need to be and when.
- Credit card processing – For processing credit cards.
- Accounting – For bookkeeping, profit and expense analysis, and staying organized, so tax time isn’t a nightmare.
You could use endless app combinations to accomplish all of these tasks, and some apps will handle multiple. For example, two of the apps I talk about below can handle everything except for accounting. Most accounting software can handle everything except scheduling. So, you don’t need five different pieces of software to run your handyman business efficiently.
Lessons from the pros
In April of 2021, I emailed some of my email subscribers (a mix of current pros and people who want to start a business) and asked them what business software they use and why. 105 people responded. 85 of those responses were valid, meaning they were currently running a business.
This is a relatively small sample size, but the feedback I received was detailed and informative. Some people wrote several hundred words sharing their journey to find the perfect software. Despite being a small sample size, I found the data insightful and useful. I think you will too.
Here are a few takeaways…
Everyone’s needs are different.
There is a huge variety of software combinations that handymen use. Some use the latest and most streamlined software (listed below), while some don’t use any software at all. I had at least two handymen say they just write things down on paper or use old school paper planners. Some don’t even have a smartphone.
According to my survey, 16% of handymen don’t use any software at all.
Then, other people don’t use software specifically created for the handyman business but instead rely on software like Excel, Google Calendar, Pages, Word, and other common software that comes pre-loaded on most computers.
This surprised me since many of these options are tedious and inefficient to work with. But I think there are two reasons for this. First, some simply aren’t aware of what’s available. Second, some aren’t interested in changing how they’ve been doing it for years.
Either way, I was surprised to see how many people are using different apps in different ways.
Most handymen use accounting software.
By far, the most common category of software mentioned was accounting software, with the majority using Quickbooks.
32% of handymen said they used some accounting software. Of those, 59% are using Quickbooks.
I assume the percentage of handymen using accounting software is actually higher than 32%, though, since some respondents simply didn’t mention it because they thought I was asking about only handyman-specific software and didn’t think their accounting software was relevant.
Syncing with Quickbooks is an important feature.
Several handymen mentioned that they liked the handyman estimating software they use because it syncs with Quickbooks, allowing them to save time on bookkeeping. I always wondered if this feature was actually worth the setup time, and apparently, it is.
If you’re a solo handyman, you can get by with less.
Some of the handymen who responded had tried several more advanced handyman-specific apps, only to decide to downgrade to simpler options (from Markate to Joist, for example). This was because they weren’t using all of the features they were paying for. They mentioned that if they had employees, more advanced features would be essential but overkill for a one-man operation.
The top 5 MOST POPULAR handyman business software options
Based on respondent feedback, here are the top five apps that are actually used by pro handymen every day, starting with the most common and working down. Of course, there are many more, but these are by far the most common based on my survey.
#1 – Quickbooks
19% of respondents said they used Quickbooks. Some pros use it simply for accounting and bookkeeping purposes, while others also use invoicing features to bill their clients.
Pricing: Starts at $25 per month for a basic subscription.
#2 – Wave
This is another accounting software that has one huge advantage – it’s FREE. 12% of respondents said they used Wave, and one mentioned how it’s almost exactly like Quickbooks. The only difference is the mobile app isn’t quite as good. Some mentioned they also used this for invoicing and estimates.
Pricing: FREE (They make money on credit card processing fees and payroll)
#3 – Markate
This is an app designed specifically for running a handyman or other home service business. It’s designed as an all-in-one option, and it has a wide range of features. It handles scheduling, custom estimates and invoices, field tech management, email marketing, and more. Plus, it syncs with Quickbooks.
11% of respondents said they use Markate. All of the feedback about Markate was positive, with one respondent mentioning how he had tried everything and then said, “I finally found the best one by far called Markate.”
Pricing: Starts at $29.95 per month (or $25.95 is paid yearly) with available add-ons.
#4 – Breezeworks
This is another app designed specifically for running a handyman or other home service business and is comparable to Markate. It also has a wide range of features and does pretty much everything except accounting. And yes, it syncs with Quickbooks.
9% of respondents said they use Breezeworks, and the feedback was also very positive.
Pricing: starts at $25.59/month for Breezeworks Solo and $33.59/month for Team, but you can use this link (affiliate link) to save 50% on your first three months.
#5 – Joist
Joist is primarily an estimating and invoicing app. While Breezeworks and Markate handle scheduling and have lots of other useful business growth features and automation, Joist just focuses on doing one thing well: creating custom estimates and invoices. For some smaller operations, that is all they need.
9% of respondents said they use Joist, and all of the feedback was positive.
Pricing: Joist Basic is FREE. Joist Pro is $12/month.
BEST OVERALL handyman business software
Winner: Breezeworks
While Breezeworks and Markate are both very similar and awesome apps, Breezeworks wins by a small margin since it’s slightly cheaper, and I can personally attest to it since I’ve actually used it.
You can use Breezeworks for everything from estimating to scheduling and even set up automatic text reminders to customers to remind them of upcoming appointments. It will track all of your previous jobs and customer information and even alert you when it’s time to leave. There are a lot more features I could mention, but I’m not going to for the sake of brevity. It’s a great app that can be used for a solo handyman or a business owner with several techs in the field.
You can save 50% on your first three months of Breezeworks through this link.
Markate wins an honorable mention here since it also received positive feedback and is very similar to Breezeworks. I’ll be testing Markate soon, and I’ll update this article once I’ve personally used it.
BEST FREE software for a handyman business
Best free #1 – Joist Basic
Joist Basic is an estimating software for sending custom estimates and invoices, allowing you to keep track of your customer information. The Basic option is great to test out the software, but if you want to add your logo to your estimates and use some of the other features, you’ll need to fork over $12 per month.
Best free #2 – Wave
Wave is free accounting software that makes money from credit card processing fees when you invoice your customer using their system. Since you have to pay credit card processing fees anyway, this is a great option for any pros on a budget.
Some pros use a combo of Joist and Wave, and some just use one or the other. It’s up to you and your needs, but it’s pretty cool you can use such powerful software for no cost.
Best free #3 – Square
Square is primarily a point of sale software that allows you to accept credit cards, but they’ve recently upgraded their software to include other features like scheduling and analytics. The software is free, and they make money off of credit card processing fees (which you have to pay no matter what system you use to process credit cards).
BEST handyman ESTIMATING software
Winner – Joist Pro
This software is designed to do one thing really well: create and send custom estimates and invoices. It has all kinds of features that help make this easier and faster, so if you are sending a lot of estimates, this is an excellent software to test for your handyman or other construction business.
Best handyman ACCOUNTING software
Winner – Quickbooks
It’s hard to beat software that has been a market leader for fifteen-plus years. Although Wave sounds like an excellent option based on the feedback from pros and the fact that it’s free, Quickbooks is still the most popular and most refined option. It’s the one that most people use, and it’s most likely what your bookkeeper uses if you decide to hire one down the road. Based on the feedback from my readers, it also has a much superior mobile app compared to Wave.
Conclusion
Handyman business software saves you time, keeps you organized, makes you look more professional, and even gives you new abilities that can make your business more profitable. And it keeps getting better every year.
Yes, it does take time to learn. But that investment can pay off big in the long run, both in terms of increased profits and time savings.
While I don’t recommend overthinking the process of choosing software, I do recommend exploring your options until you find the one that is best for your individual situation.
I’m curious, what software do you use and why? Please leave a comment to let me know and share any additional insights you may have.