16 Best Job Costing Software Tools for Construction

Category: Construction | By Cristina Johnson | 72 minute read | Updated Sep 27, 2022
Best Job Costing Software Tools for Construction

A good construction job costing software takes into account labor, materials, and overhead, as well as keeping change orders in mind since change orders are often the number one culprit when a project goes over budget. That’s why it’s important to get the best job costing software for construction.

What is Job Costing in Construction?

Construction job costing helps you keep track of your expenses and stick to a budget when working on a project. It breaks down the cost of materials, labor, and overhead of individual project tasks to help keep a project from going over budget.

Using the information collected with job costing software can help you figure out where to make adjustments to make your company more profitable. Using software helps eliminate errors in tracking expenses and is the most efficient way to do job cost.

Best Job Costing Software Tools for Construction

1. ClockShark
2. InEight
3. Workflow Max
4. eSub
5. Projul
6. Corecon
7. CoConstruct
8. Buildertrend
9. Knowify
10. Premier
11. PowerTools
12. A-Systems
13. PrioSoft
14. Tradify
15. Housecall Pro
16. Quoter

The Benefits of Implementing a Construction Job Cost Software

Job costing software makes job costing much easier and more accurate. There are many benefits to using a job costing software, even for not-so-tech-savvy people.

Track Progress on Job Details

When you have good job costing software, you can check in real-time to see where the job stands. 

Accurate Client Billing

Construction accounting is difficult without accurate information. However, using job costing software ensures you’re providing accurate invoices for your clients with transparency, which improves your customer service.

Track Profit Margin on Every Job

Cash flow is a common problem in construction and makes accurate construction accounting even more important. With job costing software, you can track your profit margins on each job, to help avoid cash flow disruptions.

Better Future Bids

Referencing previous construction jobs you can get accurate amounts to include on future bids so you don’t risk over- or under-bidding a job.

What to Look for in a Job Costing Software for Construction

There are many options out there and while some of the best construction job costing software may be out of your budget, even the most expensive ones may not have everything you need. Here are some of the things to look for when establishing your job costing system.

Enables Crew to Capture Data From the Office or the Field

Your employees need to be able to track job costs wherever they are, and this is particularly important for construction firms that often have one or more job sites and/or projects. Having to keep track of daily expenses and report at the end of the day, makes job costing difficult and increases the risk of errors. Your job costing software should allow employees in the field to record expenses

Assigns Jobs or Tasks to Specific Employees

When your job costing software allows you to assign jobs or tasks to specific employees, you get a much better picture of how much time is spent doing which jobs and tasks for each employee.

Integrates With Payroll Software

A good job costing software will integrate with your payroll software to make it easier to run payroll and do accounting activities.

Tracks Expenses

Of course, you need it to track expenses whether it be travel time, labor, or administrative tasks. 

Accurate reporting

Reports are necessary to keep track of how your business is doing. A good job costing software will allow you to run multiple types of reports based on the information you’re looking for.

What is the Best Construction Job Costing Software?

There are a lot of different types of job costing software available, but the best one for your company will depend on your needs, company size, and budget. Here are the 16 best ones we’ve found.

1. ClockShark

ClockShark is a job costing tracking app built with construction and field service businesses in mind. Its powerful job costing feature makes your job costing process simpler, yet more detailed than ever, in less than half the time.

ClockShark lets project managers and supervisors see what’s happening in real-time, so they know who’s working on what, when. Workers can share information and files so their managers can communicate more effectively.

Features

  • Cloud-based software
  • Job costing
  • File attachments
  • Labor Tracking
  • Project Oversight
  • Employee location tracking
  • Employee scheduling
  • Facial recognition
  • Reporting
  • Payroll integration with other commonly-used software

Pros

  • Easy-to-use
  • Built for construction services
  • Assign jobs or tasks to specific employees
  • Export timesheets to your accounting system
  • Available on mobile and desktop
  • Accessible from anywhere

Platform
Desktop, iOS, Android


Cost

Starts at just $8/month per user+ $7/month base fee.

Free 14-day trial.

Save Time and Money with ClockShark

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2. InEight

InEight is a cloud-based software created to help construction companies with job management. The program uses artificial intelligence to help create schedules and gauge risks and comes with project cost management tools to keep projects on budget.

Features

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Scheduling assist and risk consideration
  • Project management
  • Project data analysis
  • Report generation
  • Project cost management solution

Pros

  • Built for construction services
  • Powerful job costing tools
  • Easy-to-use

Cons

  • Limited integration with other programs
  • The learning curve can be time-consuming due to the number of features offered
  • No change order management feature

Platform

Desktop, iOS, and Android

Cost

Subscription-based varies



3. Workflow Max

Workflow Max is a widely used cloud-based software that helps many businesses, construction included, job cost. Because it’s cloud-based, job costing data can be accessed from anywhere in the world. This makes it a great choice for a mobile workforce.

Features

  • Invoicing & billing
  • Job costing
  • Job tracking
  • Custom reporting
  • Staff scheduling
  • Time tracking

Pros

  • Easy setup
  • Lots of features
  • Xero integration

Cons

  • Industry versatility means it could be more construction-centric
  • Reporting features can be difficult to use

Platform
Desktop, iOS, Android


Cost
Starts at $20/month for one user



4. eSub

Catering to contractors, eSub offers mobile and cloud-based construction management software that includes job costing features. Users can keep track of projects without the paper by accessing all documents and project management items in one central location, keeping all job costing tools right at your fingertips.

Features

  • Accounting integration
  • Change order management
  • Budget tracking
  • Job costing
  • Equipment tracking
  • Job management
  • Time tracking

Pros

  • Cloud-based and mobile access
  • User-friendly
  • Makes complex tasks simple

Cons

  • Reports are not as detailed as other software options

Platform
Desktop, iOS, Android

Cost
Starts at $39 per user, per month



5. Projul

Projul is a cloud-based construction management solution that helps users with project management, job costing, and employee scheduling. It also helps prevent projects from going over the allotted time frame and over budget by sending notifications whenever a task is due. It keeps communication clear and open between management, employees, and clients.

Features

  • Activity tracking
  • Change order management
  • Activity dashboard
  • Job costing
  • Project estimating
  • Project tracking
  • Reporting and statistics

Pros

  • Easy communication flow between management and employees
  • User-friendly and straightforward
  • Scheduling tool offers rescheduling and reassigning features to make sure shifts are covered

Cons

  • The reporting features are limited
  • The cost can be a burden for small construction businesses
  • Projul offers fewer features than other construction job costing options

Platform
Desktop, iOS, and Android


Cost
Starts at $166/mo for 3 users



6. Corecon

Corecon offers a wide range of cloud-based features designed for construction and engineering businesses. It allows mid-size firms the ability to track time, schedule employees, project management and job costing.

Features

  • Cost estimating
  • Job costing
  • Project management
  • Project tracking
  • Customizable reporting

Pros

  • Works with commonly-used programs like Quickbooks
  • Large number of features help improve project management and reporting for businesses
  • Customer support through phone and email
  • Free live webinars

Cons

  • Initial setup can be complex and time-consuming
  • The program interface can take some time to get used to

Platform
Desktop, iOS, and Android


Cost
Available upon inquiry



7. CoConstruct

Cloud-based CoConstruct is a construction management software built to tackle the needs of construction workers and the clients they work with. CoConstruct aims to simplify the workday while keeping business and project needs on track with in-depth job costing.

Features

  • Scheduling
  • Change order management
  • Budgeting
  • Estimating
  • Expense tracking
  • Job costing

Pros

  • Great client-management communication functions
  • Great client-management communication functions
  • One central website and app gives access to job information to both clients and construction employees
  • Facebook and website integration

Cons

  • Manual scheduling makes it a better choice for low-volume firms rather than larger companies.
  • Data for each job has to be manually put into the system.

Platform
Desktop, iOS, and Android


Cost
Starts at $349.00 as a flat rate, per month.



8. Buildertrend

Buildertrend was designed to help construction businesses work more efficiently. Its features are geared towards completing more projects with fewer delays, maintaining accurate communication, and increasing customer satisfaction.

Features

  • Online schedule management
  • Change order management
  • Project communication
  • Job costing
  • Estimating
  • Project tracking

Pros

  • Information sharing helps increase transparency and improve communication between clients and the business
  • Keeps track of project progress

Cons

  • The initial learning curve can be complicated
  • The user interface could be improved

Platform
Desktop, iOS, and Android


Cost
Essential: $99/mo, $399 after 2 months
Advanced: $399/mo, $699 after 2 months
Complete: $899/mo, $1,299 after 2 months



9. Knowify

Small to medium contracting businesses utilized Knowify to streamline workflow and manage projects. Offering features that improve scheduling, contracts, job costing and more, Knowify is a great tool for tracking purchases, invoices, time, and expenses in real-time with mobile access.

Features

  • Third-party integration
  • Change order monitoring feature
  • Job costing and estimating
  • Budgeting
  • Project management

Pros

  • User-friendly after the initial learning curve
  • Simple functions
  • Integrations
  • Better job tracking

Cons

  • The billing feature can be time-consuming to use
  • Inputting job costs can be tricky

Platform
Desktop, iOS, Android


Cost
Starts at $99/month



10. Premier

Premier is a cloud-based job costing software designed for contractors, subcontractors, builders, and developers. It works to make estimating, job costing, project management, purchasing, and expense tracking easy. Its robust features make it a good solution for construction companies.

Features

  • Invoicing
  • Change order management
  • Job costing and estimating
  • Inventory tracking
  • Billing
  • Accounting
  • Project management

Pros

  • Cost transparency
  • User-friendly
  • Project management and accounting integration
  • One central dashboard

Cons

  • Reporting features are limited

Platform
Desktop, iOS, Android


Cost
Pricing starts at $199/month



11. PowerTools

Features

  • Job costing
  • Change orders
  • Project management
  • Project tracking
  • Budget tracking
  • Time tracking
  • Timesheet management

Pros

  • All-in-one software providing a broad range of project management tools for construction businesses
  • Good customer support

Cons

  • Lacks data importing and exporting
  • Reporting features are lacking
  • No mobile application

Platform
Desktop


Cost
Subscription-based, price based on individual business needs.



12. A-Systems

A-Systems JobView is an accounting solution for construction companies. A-Systems allows you to track your expenses based on the jobs you set up.

Features

  • Management dashboard
  • Invoicing / Billing
  • Info for AIA Draw Request Forms
  • Manage multiple jobs simultaneously
  • Supports multiple users
  • Equipment costing
  • Warehouse management

Pros

  • Created specifically for construction
  • Integrates with Quickbooks

Cons

  • No mobile support
  • Not as scalable as other software

Platform
PC, Mac, Tablet


Cost
Starts at $249, but price will vary depending on the features needed



13. PrioSoft

PrioSoft offers Contractor’s Office, a software designed for job estimating that helps you track job costs.

Features

  • Estimating construction costs
  • Contact management (CRM)
  • Construction bid management
  • Construction project management
  • Invoicing
  • Reporting system

Pros

  • Made for construction
  • Integrates with other PrioSoft packages (at an extra cost)
  • Tracks actual costs

Cons

  • No mobile functionality
  • Can be complicated

Platform
iOS, Windows 


Cost
Different payment options:

  • Starting at $795 one time payment
  • Starting at 8 payments of $111/month
  • Support: $150 / Year



14. Tradify

Tradify is a construction management software that integrates with Xero to track job costs and manage your construction teams and jobs.

Features

  • Quoting
  • Invoicing
  • Scheduling
  • Job Tracking
  • Time tracking
  • Subcontractor management

Pros

  • Customizable
  • Unlimited number of jobs
  • No subscription; Cancel at any time

Cons

  • Limited integrations
  • Must use integration for job costing feature
  • Difficult to schedule because only one job can be viewed at a time

Platform
Desktop, iOS, Android


Cost
$29 per month, per user (they offer annual team pricing)



15. Housecall Pro

Housecall Pro is a field service management software that helps field service companies manage their teams and fleets. It includes tools needed to perform accurate job costing.

Features

  • Job management
  • Estimating
  • Invoicing
  • Instapay
  • Online Booking

Pros

  • Packed with important features for field service companies
  • Integrations available
  • Accept payments in the field

Cons

  • Comparatively costly
  • Can be complicated to use
  • Excessive sales calls

Platform
PC, iOS, Android


Cost
Basic: $22 first month, $49 per month thereafter, 1 user
Essentials: $22 first month, $129 per month thereafter, 1-5 users
MAX: Available upon inquiry
Note: Additional features available for added costs.



16. Quoter

Quoter offers a simple job costing solution to help you track your profit margins on each job. Just enter the necessary information and you’ll have a picture of how much each job is making and/or losing.

Features

  • Unlimited quotes
  • Cost & margin tracking
  • PSA & CRM integration
  • Distributor integrations
  • Product Cloud (Etilize)
  • SAML SSO
  • Avalara integration

Pros

  • Simple to use
  • Good customer service
  • Offers integrations with other tools

Cons

  • No auto-save ability when creating a quote
  • SSO security is an extra cost
  • Can get expensive with add-ons

Cost
Starts at $99.00/month billed annually, or $129/month billed monthly



Conclusion

Job costing is critical for profitability in any business, but with the many moving pieces involved in the construction industry, it’s even more important. Especially when you have multiple projects going on at once.

Choosing a construction job costing software that works best for your business is crucial for boosting your bottom line and ensuring the needs of both your business and your clients are met. That’s why it’s important to compare different job costing software to find the one that works best for your company size and needs.


Compare the Best Job Costing Software for Construction

PricingFree Trial

Starts at just $8/month per user + $7/month base fee.

Subscription-based varies

Starts at $20/month for one user

Starts at $39/month per user

Starts at $166/mo for 3 users

Available upon inquiry

Starts at $349.00 as a flat rate, per month

Starts at $399/month

Starts at $99/month

Starts at $199/month

Available upon inquiry

Starts at $249, but price will vary depending on the features needed

Different payment options:

Starting at $795 one time payment
Starting at 8 payments of $111/month
Support: $150 / Year

$29 per month, per user (they offer annual team pricing)

Starts at $49/month for 1 user

Starts at $99.00/month billed annually, or $129/month billed monthly

FAQ for Construction Job Cost Software

What is Job Costing Software?

Job costing software is a type of software specifically created for a job costing system. It helps you track your exact costs on each job and pulls all the information together in one place, so you can review your actual (true) job costs, including labor, parts, equipment, etc.

Why Do I Need a Job Costing Software?

Small business accounting software does help you tackle many accounting processes but, job costing software goes further by showing you real-time numbers on your jobs. If you don’t know how much your jobs are truly costing, you could be undermining your profits and underbidding projects.

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