What Contractors Should Look For
Start with your billing methods and reporting needs, then make sure the software supports your field-to-office workflows without spreadsheets.
- Job costing by project, phase, and cost code
- Support for AIA/progress and T&M billing (incl. retainage)
- Real-time field time capture and materials tracking
- Clean integration to your GL (e.g., QuickBooks Online)
Must-Have Features Checklist
These features protect cash flow, accuracy, and customer trust on every project.
- AIA/Progress billing with SOV and retainage
- T&M billing with billable items and markups
- Mobile time tracking tied to jobs/phases
- Online payment processing (collect faster)
- Change orders, stored materials, and documentation attachments
- Role-based permissions and audit trails
Integration & Data Flow (QuickBooks)
Keep project truth in your operations system and your official books in QuickBooks—without rekeying.
- QuickBooks integration for customers, invoices, payments
- Item/account mapping to preserve your chart of accounts
- AR aging that reflects retainage and open pay apps
- Configurable detail level (summary vs. detailed job-cost sync)
Implementation, Training & Support
Smooth onboarding matters as much as features—set standards once, then scale.
- Cost-code and SOV templates provided or imported
- Data migration for customers, items, and open invoices
- Field training for time capture and change order approvals
- Responsive support with construction expertise
Pricing & Total Cost of Ownership
Compare more than subscription price—consider time savings and faster collections.
- Per-user or per-company pricing, plus payment fees if applicable
- Time saved vs. spreadsheets and double entry
- Impact on DSO (days sales outstanding) with online payments
- Included integrations vs. paid add-ons
Red Flags to Avoid
If you spot these, expect errors, rework, or slow billing.
- No native SOV/retainage or AIA-style billing
- Limited T&M workflows or no mobile time tracking
- Weak QuickBooks integration (manual exports/imports)
- Heavy reliance on spreadsheets for core processes
Why Werx Fits Contractor Workflows
Werx was built for small-to-midsized contractors: it handles project billing, time, and payments in one place—then syncs to QuickBooks for clean financials.
- Create SOVs, manage retainage, and generate AIA/progress invoices
- Bill service/remodel work with flexible T&M
- Capture labor in the field with the Werx Field App
- Collect faster with built-in online payments (Stripe)
FAQs About Choosing Construction Accounting Software
Do I need a full ERP or QuickBooks + specialized software?
Most small-to-midsized contractors succeed with project/billing software like Werx plus QuickBooks for the GL. You get construction workflows without ERP complexity or cost.
How do I compare vendors quickly?
Run the same mini-scenario with each: create an SOV, issue an AIA/progress invoice with retainage, log field time, and sync to QuickBooks. Time the steps and check data quality.
How long does implementation take?
With templates and guided onboarding, many teams are live in days—not months. The biggest time-saver is standardizing cost codes/SOV before you start.
TL;DR Recap
- Pick software that matches contractor workflows: SOV, retainage, AIA/progress, T&M, job costing
- Require strong QuickBooks integration to eliminate double entry
- Weigh total cost vs. time saved and faster collections
- Werx unifies billing, time, and payments—then syncs cleanly to QuickBooks
