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Houzz Pro

Houzz Pro is a lead and project management solution that streamlines processes for businesses of all sizes by centralizing all needs into one place. Key features include project management, lead management with client dashboards, ...Read more about Houzz Pro

4.4 (734 reviews)

323 recommendations

Knowify

Knowify helps contractors Budget, manage, and invoice every construction project and service job with precision, and get insights to grow their business along the way. All work happens in one intuitive platform that integrates sea...Read more about Knowify

4.5 (90 reviews)

100 recommendations

ConstructionOnline

UDA Technologies’ ConstructionOnline offers a web-based, integrated approach to project management, project scheduling, and customer management. Designed for emerging construction businesses in the homebuilding and remodeling indu...Read more about ConstructionOnline

4.5 (514 reviews)

49 recommendations

Buildxact

Is estimating taking weeks when it should only take hours? Optimize your residential construction estimating, quoting and project management with Buildxact. Buildxact is a Software Advice Front Runner, noted by users for its eas...Read more about Buildxact

4.6 (155 reviews)

41 recommendations

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PropertyIntel

PropertyIntel, an Aspire solution, is a cloud-based takeoff and enhancement design software explicitly crafted for landscape and irrigation contractors to bid, win, and service more jobs in less time. Upload your landscape plan ...Read more about PropertyIntel

4.5 (61 reviews)

32 recommendations

BuildBook

BuildBook is construction management software that enables residential home builders and remodelers to streamline projects, improve team collaboration, simplify scheduling, elevate the client experience, create better estimates & ...Read more about BuildBook

4.5 (99 reviews)

25 recommendations

ComputerEase

Deltek ComputerEase provides powerful job cost accounting and construction management software to help contractors outpace their competition. This innovative, user-friendly software not only improves the way contractors run their ...Read more about ComputerEase

4.2 (127 reviews)

22 recommendations

WinEx

Roctek’s WinEx Grade is a quantity takeoff and analysis tool. This solution allows you to take a PDF or other supported image formats and import PDF linework, import CAD linework, or use assisted-drawing tools to enter linework in...Read more about WinEx

4.6 (69 reviews)

19 recommendations

JobNimbus

JobNimbus is a CRM and project management software wrapped up in one application. The platform is an end-to-end solution designed to help contractors (roofing and construction professionals) streamline their communication and bett...Read more about JobNimbus

4.6 (475 reviews)

16 recommendations

Estimating Link

Estimating Link software is designed specifically for heavy civil construction estimating and bidding. This easy-to-use program helps you centralize your data, increase your speed & accuracy, and increase profit margins. Estima...Read more about Estimating Link

4.9 (33 reviews)

16 recommendations

JOBPOWER

JOBPOWER is an integrated construction accounting management system. JOBPOWER includes accounting, detailed job costing, construction oriented billing, payroll by job, and many additional features designed for contractors. JO...Read more about JOBPOWER

4.4 (51 reviews)

14 recommendations

Contractors Software Group

Contractors Software Group (CSG) offers three series of integrated but modular CRM, estimating, scheduling and job cost accounting applications that can be installed on-premise or be hosted in the cloud on a monthly basis. They i...Read more about Contractors Software Group

4.1 (17 reviews)

11 recommendations

SharpeSoft Estimator

SharpeSoft Estimator is an on-premise cost estimating software for contractors and sub-contractors in the construction industry. Offered on a best-of-breed basis, SharpeSoft provides integrated tools for labor and equipment costin...Read more about SharpeSoft Estimator

4.6 (23 reviews)

9 recommendations

RedTeam Flex

RedTeam is a project management, construction financials and document control solution suited for midsize commercial general contractors. It is a cloud-based application developed by contractors to manage pre-construction, constru...Read more about RedTeam Flex

4.2 (196 reviews)

8 recommendations

Best Bid Electrical Estimating

Best Bid Electrical Estimating Software gives electrical contractors the ability to complete detailed estimates for commercial, industrial and residential projects. There are special assemblies for lighting, switches, recepta...Read more about Best Bid Electrical Estimating

4.9 (29 reviews)

8 recommendations

Visual Planning

Visual Planning is a hybrid resource management and scheduling platform that helps businesses to manage their assets and day-to-day operations. The solution can be deployed on-premise or hosted in the cloud. Visual Planning o...Read more about Visual Planning

4.6 (38 reviews)

6 recommendations

CMiC

For over 30 years, CMiC has delivered state-of-the-art software solutions, purpose-built for the construction industry. Since its inception, CMiC has maintained a laser focus on automating essential back-office functions – such as...Read more about CMiC

4.2 (170 reviews)

5 recommendations

VPO

In Microsoft 365, VPO offers construction managers and owners a single, secure, customizable collaboration platform for the whole project team. All internal and external participants can work "at" the same cloud-based project offi...Read more about VPO

4.2 (64 reviews)

5 recommendations

PMWeb

PMWeb is an all-in-one portfolio, program and project management construction software solution geared toward enterprise-level owner organizations. PMWeb serves organizations worldwide across a broad spectrum of industries includi...Read more about PMWeb

4.3 (8 reviews)

5 recommendations

eSUB

eSUB is a mobile application and cloud-based project management solution that helps commercial subcontractors across various trades to manage day-to-day operations. eSUB offers tools to connect field workers with office managers a...Read more about eSUB

4.4 (245 reviews)

4 recommendations

Buyers Guide

Last Updated: March 16, 2023

Subcontractors that stand above their competition and routinely manage to secure lucrative contracts have the following things in common:

  • Reputation for on-time delivery of services/goods and high quality of work.

  • Knack for producing detailed job quotes, which includes project schedules, staff capabilities, task timelines and cost estimation reports.

  • Impeccable record-keeping with up-to-date compliance certificates, financial statements and licenses.

It's a challenge to realize all of these traits, so many businesses use subcontractor software to manage the relevant processes. This type of software comes with specialized features to help subcontractors automate project planning, task tracking, cost reporting and document management.

Subcontractors relying on manual methods alone, such as Excel, will invariably create inaccurate project schedules and cost estimates. This will result in project delays and budget overruns, which will tarnish their reputation and hinder their chances of securing future contracts.

We created this Buyer's Guide to help small businesses understand the software market landscape and select a solution that meets their requirements. It lists the common features, key considerations and chief concerns of subcontractor software buyers. It is intended to help both first-time buyers and those looking to switch their existing software.

Here's what we'll cover:

What Is Subcontractor Software?

Common Features of Subcontractor Software

What Type of Buyer Are You?

Key Considerations

What Is Subcontractor Software?

Subcontractor software is designed for contractors that offer specialized services such as plumbing, electrical work and roofing.

It helps you create proposals with cost estimates (materials and labor costs) when your business is bidding for a contract. After you win the contract, it helps you track the daily tasks of your employees to ensure that the project is progressing as expected and is on schedule.

eSUB-project-summary-dashboard

Tracking projects in eSUB (Source)

Subcontractor software helps you manage both pre- and post-contract activities. We'll look into the details of the features offered in the next section.

Common Features of Subcontractor Software

Subcontractor software is a specialized type of software that falls into the larger ecosystem of construction management software. These tools help you with task scheduling, equipment tracking, document management and cost estimating.

Let's take a closer look at the common features of these solutions:

Document management

Build a central repository to track different versions of documents such as construction plans, RFIs, change orders, submittals and compliance certificates.

Project tracking

Assign and track the people, resources and equipment involved in a project.

Project scheduling

Track a job's progress and ensure that the project stays on track, with regard to the budget and timeline.

Equipment tracking

Track which employees have signed out specific equipment. Also, keep a detailed account of the equipment maintenance history.

Proposal generator

Review your cost estimates and create an accurate and professional-looking bid proposal.

Job costing reports

Track actual project costs compared with the initial estimates, create and send purchase orders, execute change orders, schedule and track payments/invoices as well as submit and approve time sheets.

API integration

Integrate third-party tools and API extensions such as accounting software and customer relationship management (CRM) solutions.

What Type of Buyer Are You?

Subcontractor software has different capabilities, from managing project proposals to tracking on-site crew activities. However, having the most features doesn't necessarily make a tool the best one—for your business.

The software must offer adequate functionality to automate existing manual (and often error-prone) processes. But you also need to ensure that you don't overpay for features that you won't use.

Below, we've broken down the three most common buyer types, their chief concerns and the main functionality they should seek in subcontractor software:

Large subcontractors. These buyers (businesses with more than $100 million in annual revenue) typically want solutions that offer all the common features listed above and integrations with their existing accounting and CRM software. They typically require built-in project management functionality with planning and scheduling capabilities, such as Gantt charts, to chart a project's critical path.

Small and midsize subcontractors. These buyers (businesses with $100 million or less in annual revenue) are primarily concerned with the solution's price and ease of use. Such buyers seek cloud-based tools with monthly and annual subscription plans. They also need an intuitive system with features such as a drag-and-drop interface, so they don't have to spend a long time learning how to use the tool.

Best-of-breed buyers. With the many available construction management systems, there has been a rise in stand-alone systems. These tools can be a good option if you're trying to automate a specific business process. For instance, if you're an electrical or flooring contractor struggling to calculate the costs of material and labor, you need an electrical estimating software or flooring estimating software, respectively.

To learn more about such best-of-breed solutions, read our Buyer's Guide on construction management solutions. You can also call us at (844) 847-3290 for a no-obligation and free consultation with a software advisor.

Key Considerations

When purchasing subcontractor software, businesses should also consider factors such as total software ownership costs, deployment and mobile accessibility. Doing so will help them thoroughly analyze the software's suitability to their needs.

Let's look at some of these considerations more closely.

Depth of functionality. Subcontractors need to closely examine the features that a vendor offers. For instance, the ability to upload and edit images on a mobile device is a key need for many construction teams.

In this case, the ideal solution would be a cloud-based one, as real-time document sharing isn't possible with on-premise tools. Likewise, check to see if the tool offers native mobile apps for both iOS and Android devices, so that users don't face any device compatibility challenges.

Another example of a capability to look for is task tracking. This can be as simple as listing which employee is doing what on a spreadsheet. But, if you have large teams, tracking can quickly get out of hand. In such cases, you need detailed tracking with automated reminders, and maybe even time tracking functionality.

Total costs. The cost of software depends largely on its deployment model—whether it's cloud-based or on-premise. A cloud-based solution usually has a monthly or annual subscription fee. Small businesses tend to prefer this over the on-premise model, where they have to pay a one-time license fee, data backup costs and maintenance charges.

However, software costs are not so cut and dry. Businesses should check whether cloud-based solutions charge for training and phone support (they often don't). Further, if a large part of the software functionality depends on third-party add-ons, then the total costs of implementation and customization will increase considerably.