Subcontractor software is a project management tool designed to help optimize processes like project tracking, bidding, and collaboration with general contractors. We used our advanced review methodology to evaluate top solutions for specialty contractors.
- Procore: Best Overall
- BuilderTrend: Best Mobile App
- Houzz Pro: Best for Home Builders and Remodelers
- Bluebeam: Best Communication Tools
- PlanHub: Best Bidding System
- JobNimbus: Best for Roofing
- Viewpoint Spectrum: Best for Large Subcontractors
- Sage Construction Management: Best Integration Options
- eSUB: Best Automation Tools
- STACK: Best Takeoff Tools
- Raken: Best for Risk Management
1 Procore - Best Overall
Why We Chose It: We put Procore at the top of our list because of its comprehensive construction management solutions and ability to streamline projects. Overall, the platform allows subcontractors to meet specifications for each project and connects them with clients and general contractors for easy communication, allowing for efficient and accurate jobs.
We found Procore’s financial management module effective for subcontractors looking to organize their costs and expenses. The fully scalable suite can handle unlimited documents, photos, and data, ensuring complete documentation of projects. Procore’s invoice management simplifies invoicing with the line-by-line approval and rejection feature, which results in faster payments. Procore combines functionality, collaboration, and usability, making it our best overall pick for subcontractors.
2 BuilderTrend - Best Mobile App
Why We Chose It: We put BuilderTrend in the number two spot because of its strong mobile app and usability. BuilderTrend’s mobile app allows users to jump back and forth between different jobs, look at schedules, and upload photos or documents from their phones. The on-the-go convenience helps subcontractors perform essential tasks without leaving the job site. It also has offline capabilities like adding daily logs and time tracking if no service is available.
We found BuilderPro best for home builders and remodelers looking to automate financial tasks and project workflows. The software’s accounting module includes features like bid management, cost tracking, and budget management. With over one million users globally, BuilderPro is an effective and established solution for subcontractors.
3 Houzz Pro - Best for Home Builders and Remodelers
Why We Chose It: Houzz Pro is our top pick for home remodelers, featuring a wide range of features that automate estimates, invoicing, and proposals. The digital takeoff tool enables fast and accurate estimates sent straight to clients. The click-and-drag measuring is easy to use for subcontractors transitioning from paper measurements.
On the financial side, Houzz Pro offers a financial reports module that provides insights into business performance, payment tracking, and transaction reports. Also, it easily integrates with Quickbooks Online, syncing invoices and documents like purchase and expense orders. The integration option is ideal for subcontractors already using Quickbooks who want to avoid double entries.
4 Bluebeam - Best Communication Tools
Why We Chose It: We picked Bluebeam because of its extensive communication and markup tools. Their PDF creation and markup module lets users fully edit and track changes on documents like layouts and blueprints with team members, making collaboration from the field to the office faster. This is great for architects and engineers needing quick and accurate measurements on the go.
Bluebeam’s construction site logistics tool ensures that all subcontractors have access to important information about their jobs, such as detailed site logistics plans. Their 30-day free trial lets those on the fence try out all their features, like PDF markup and Bluebeam Studio.
5 PlanHub - Best Bidding System
Why We Chose It: PlanHub made our list because of its strong pre-construction bid management tools. PlanHub reviews all projects posted to ensure they are budgeted and ready to be bid on. Subcontractors also get notified about projects that match their profile, making finding quality leads easier and optimizing the bidding process.
Planhub’s search filters help narrow project searches to specific parameters like construction type, building use, and trades. It also shows if there are multiple bidders and a breakdown of what subcontractors are needed. This functionality automates the search process so users can only find quality projects that are relevant to them.
6 JobNimbus - Best for Roofing
Why We Chose It: We found JobNimbus an effective subcontractor software for roofers because of its strong sales and automation capabilities. The sales module features smart roof estimating, automatically calculating required materials and quantities based on job measurements. Other automation includes scheduling, lead tracking, and custom sales workflows.
JobNimbus’s production management software can help roofers streamline production. Their task and activity management tool lets users track job progress to ensure they are going as planned. We also like their reporting and analytics function that tracks productivity and identifies pain points so companies can see where to improve.
7 Viewpoint Spectrum - Best for Large Subcontractors
Why We Chose It: We found Viewpoint Spectrum best for large subcontracting companies because of its extensive feature set supporting more complex operations. It features a strong construction ERP system and a comprehensive project management module. The ERP includes budgeting, reporting, and job costing, helping companies better maintain financial goals.
We like its customizable dashboard, which allows users to pick which data they want to see, like cash flow, unapproved invoices, or all active jobs. Within its project management module, Its team communication tool is useful for subcontractors who need to efficiently contact project managers or general contractors all in one place.
8 Sage Construction Management - Best Integration Options
Why We Chose It: We added Sage Construction Management because of its streamlined integration options for accounting software. The Sage brand is best known for its ERP software, Sage Intacct, which can easily integrate with its construction management system to create seamless usability, reducing manual data entry. It also integrates easily with QuickBooks and other accounting software.
This software has a modern interface paired with a clear navigation structure featuring module-based menus that allow users to learn quickly. It features advanced project management tools such as bid management, procurement, and estimating, enabling subcontractors to perform jobs more efficiently and land quality leads. Sage Construction Management also helps organize projects and contracts, with features like lead tracking and support for multiple contract types.
9 eSUB - Best Automation Tools
Why We Chose It: eSUB is a software designed for subcontractors aiming to automate workflows and manage projects efficiently. The system can automatically generate submittal logs, which helps users stay on top of deadlines by tracking the status of each submittal. Its reporting and analytics module is a key functionality, as it creates reports on labor, costs, equipment, and materials. The analytics help identify trends and aim to predict project outcomes with current data.
The eSUB Cloud mobile app is another highlight. The app helps field teams update job progress with notes on issues or delays, material shipments, and safety hazards. Quick note-taking can optimize communication between PMs and field teams, ensuring timely action on problems and better management.
10 STACK - Best Takeoff Tools
Why We Chose It: We put STACK on our list because of its effective takeoff and estimating module that helps subcontractors save time on pre-construction. It includes accurate and efficient measuring tools that allow for easy digital measurements. Organization tools like the template library, grouping, and labeling keep data sorted for easy access.
STACK is best suited for small to mid-size subcontractors requiring a simple pre-construction process solution. Its cost-estimating module aims to help businesses through the bidding process and submit bids faster. It features customized estimates, specific filters, and an Excel plugin.
11 Raken - Best for Risk Management
Why We Chose It Raken made our list because its risk management tools help workers identify and resolve safety risks. The construction checklist app can ensure compliance with regulations on the job site. Checklists come pre-built, or companies can customize their own, allowing flexibility for specific projects. Crews can upload photos and videos to further collaborate with office management.
Raken’s time and production module enables tracking of many sections of each project, including time, production, and materials. It also includes extensive management tools like equipment, budget, project, and labor, helping businesses organize processes.
What is Subcontractor Software?
Subcontractor software is a collection of industry-specific applications for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, roofers, HVAC technicians, and other independent construction workers. As opposed to general contractor software, this solution lets subcontractors control projects from sourcing the bid to taking the job to depositing the final invoice.
As a specialty contractor, you’ll often have to deal with construction companies, general contractors, and other subcontractors on most of the jobs you take. Management software can keep all your different communications in order, so you know who sent an invoice, who received a bid, and which employees have their latest pay stubs.
When you’re working out in the field, cloud-based construction software can streamline communications between on-site work and your office headquarters.
Key Features
- Project Tracking and Scheduling: Streamline projects from the initial bid to the final invoice. Update your project schedule based on the general contractor and your own work schedule.
- Bid Generator: Design custom bids to give all your job proposals a professional, polished look. Build different forms to fit various proposal types. Incorporate official RFI data and change orders into your bids.
- Job Costing: Review job costs from materials and labor to determine if a job is worth bidding for. Input real-time material costs for up-to-date pricing during the bid process.
- Construction Accounting & Payroll: Keep a general ledger listing income, purchase orders, payroll, and other construction expenses. Match accounts payable to accounts receivable to stay on top of your finances.
- Time Clock/Sheet: Let workers clock in, clock out, take breaks, or schedule vacations online. Monitor who’s on time, putting in extra hours on their time card. Then, see who is out in the field or the office at any given time with a mobile app.
- Document Management and Storage: Create, update, and organize documents like invoices, work orders, change orders, bids, and proposals. Arrange documents based on whether they’re from vendors, contractors, companies, or specific jobs.
Primary Benefits
Here are some of the main benefits of subcontractor software:
Effective Communication with General Contractors
When you work for a general contractor, you’re often dependent on learning job details from their offices. They are responsible for telling you the job’s RFIs, so you better have a clear channel of communication to avoid discrepancies. Project management software has tools for organizing documents like work orders, proposals, and invoices between multiple parties.
If multiple subcontractors are working the same job, you can use management software to communicate between all the different team members. Web-based applications keep you in contact even when you’re out on the jobsite.
Streamline the Bid Estimating Process
Human error is one of the main causes of inaccurate estimates during the bid process. And the construction industry already has razor-thin margins. Lower the risks of a costly mistake by double-checking your work with a job-costing software application. Just plug in all the numbers for labor, material, equipment, and additional subcontractors to get a final project cost.
Once you have all the numbers, you can generate a custom proposal using the same software. No copy/pasting between spreadsheets and word processors! You can even use a mobile app to create new bids on a current job site. Then, manage all your bids from your phone or tablet without having to stop into the office.
Finally, use your estimating and job costing historical data for long-term budgeting and forecasting on upcoming bids. The data you track with a cloud-based option is accessible from any mobile device in real-time, so you can stay on top of all your proposals.
Coordinate Job and Team Member Scheduling
Small delays can add up fast during construction jobs. One hassle is getting all workers to show up on time, especially if people forget to check the posted schedule each day. Or maybe the general contractor forgot to print off the newest schedule in the first place, leaving your team unsure about when they’re next coming in. Mobile scheduling applications let workers check their schedules from their phones wherever they are.
Some general contractors hire multiple subcontractors on a single job. If you’re managing HVAC and different companies are handling electrical work and plumbing, you need an easy way to keep scheduling between all parties organized. After all, you can’t get started until those other contractors are done. Project tracking modules can keep everyone on the same schedule by sending out reminders to the entire team.
Digital timesheets make it easy to track your own workers when it’s time to handle payroll. Your team can punch in or out with online timecards so you get a 100% accurate log of hours.
Pricing Guide
Subscription rates for subcontractor software start at $7 per month on a per-user basis. More expensive plans reach $169 per month per user. The varying costs usually come down to scale: a lower cost is usually for a single app like estimating software; more expensive software may be a full ERP business suite. Some software allows annual payments instead of monthly ones, resulting in a single payment of $999 per year, roughly 12 payments of $84. Setup fees, training, and implementation will add to the initial costs.
Perpetual license fees begin at $3,000. As with subscription plans, this does not cover implementation or training. Technical support and updates for these software solutions are usually covered for a certain amount of time after initial installation.
What Type of Subcontractor Software Do You Need?
- Electricians are one of the later specialty contractors on a site. They usually need software that handles communication between various contractors so they can stay up-to-date on how construction is progressing.
- HVAC technicians generally rely on subcontractor software focused on scheduling. This makes coordinating with property owners and general contractors easy when installing new HVAC systems.
- Plumbers have to deal with local plumbing codes when working in new construction. A document management and storage system can keep those codes close at hand.
- Roofers often need a full ERP software to keep up with big jobs. Submit bids, collect invoices, and balance your books with a single solution.
- Carpenters and masons can depend on software applications to track changing material costs. Keeping tabs on the current price of exotic woods or authentic brick can help you plan when to order more.
- Painters, as one of the last subcontractors to visit a property, should use a project tracking module to know when it’s time to get to work.
Pain Points
Subcontractors face a few unique problems on the job:
Dependence on General Contractors
The biggest downside of working as a subcontractor is having to depend on general contractors, third-party project managers, or construction companies for work. And if they mess up a job, they can leave you high and dry.
The good news? You’ll have records of any bids you submitted to them, which you can use to prove you did your due diligence. And you can use subcontracting software to keep track of which construction businesses to avoid in the future.
Submitting Bids Missing Critical Information
Every bid you make needs to contain the right information before you submit. If you forget to include overtime estimates or equipment requirements, your proposal could be tossed out and the job lost. Yet every construction business you encounter will have its own ideas about what’s “required” for the bid process. A generator module can make a custom bid with all the required fields, so you don’t miss any vital information.
Relying on general contractors for work means you have to go through them for job information. Your request for RFIs can go ignored for weeks, leaving you scrambling to create an accurate bid. With a bid generator, you can plug in what information you have and save the document in progress. Once the RFI comes in, simply fill in the remaining fields and send it off. You’ll have a faster turnaround time than your competitors, who can’t start their proposal until they have all the information.
Chasing Big Projects Outside Your Capabilities
Another big mistake subcontractors make is chasing after a big project, which isn’t feasible for your business. A job costing application can show you from the start whether a job is too big to turn a profit so you can move on to better opportunities.
