Here is a list of Top Construction Accounting Software Programs. These are the best small construction accounting software programs to use in your business for simple and accurate bookkeeping.
If you’re a contractor or a construction company owner, you must have a good accounting software. In fact, that’s a necessary condition to run your company because accounting is one of the basic business operations. Let’s learn more about the top best construction accounting software programs in 2021!
Jonas Premier. Best cloud-based accounting software for large companies.
Jonas Premier is an ideal solution for large companies managing multiple large construction projects simultaneously. Jonas Premier offers many features, all available from various devices—from laptops using a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, and Edge) to mobile phones (using the Jonas mobile apps for iPhone and Android). However, these features come with a hefty price tag, relegating this option to large enterprises exclusively.
ZipBooks. Best free or low-cost construction accounting software.
Understandably, free options for construction accounting software are significantly limited in both availability and features. Nevertheless, for a small contractor getting a business off the ground, there are a few options, with the best being ZipBooks. ZipBooks is not specifically geared toward construction but can be used as a starter option for any industry and offers features such as invoicing, reports, and balance sheets. ZipBooks also provides additional features for incremental costs, or a paid version of ZipBooks is available.
CoConstruct + QuickBooks Online.
CoConstruct is a cloud-based offering used extensively by small to midsize construction firms that are also using QuickBooks Online. Like many up-and-coming cloud solutions, it offers various features ranging from budgeting and timesheets to cost tracking and proposals. As with other cloud-based solutions, construction managers can access the application via a web browser or an iOS or Android device. Additionally, the service has a starting price under $100USD a month, making CoConstruct an attractive solution for many companies, even with the added QuickBooks subscription.
Sage 300 CRE Connector by Procore
The main feature offered by this software is the incorporation of project management and accounting needs within one comprehensive could-based platform. Through its use of cloud technology, Procore allows for seamless communication between financial teams and field employees.
BuilderTREND
This is another web-based construction management system for homebuilders, project managers, remodelers and design/build companies. Targeting small to mid-size construction contractors, BuilderTREND is capable of scheduling, tracking and accepting payments entirely online. In addition, job costing, creating change orders and mobile touch signatures make this software a convenient solution.
Spectrum Construction Software by Dexter + Chaney
This construction software combines accounting, job cost and project management in a single cloud-based application. This easy-to-use, customizable app provides only the necessary functionalities needed by all types of contractors, and in addition to accounting, provides job costing and project management capabilities.
Acumatica
Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, Acumatica develops enterprise resource planning software for small and medium businesses including construction companies and contractors. Acumatica is used by construction, manufacturing, distribution, retail, and e-commerce companies and offers an industry-specific version of their software to construction companies.
There are no per-user fees so you can collaborate with teams and share documents. Acumatica supports integrations with programs including Microsoft Office, DocuSign, and Procore.
You can manage labor, budgets, and schedules with the software and allocate revenue and expenses to certain job sites.
Additional features of Acumatica include:
- Job cost accounting
- Project management
- Inventory control
- Service management
- Project reports and budgets
- Forecast and manage costs
- Calculate taxes accurately
- Complete contract accounting
The software is designed to be easy to use with no accounting or bookkeeping background necessary.
Pricing is set according to the features you need rather than the number of users. Features that are factored into the cost include the applications you want to use, type of license you need, business volume, and data storage. To get the most accurate price for your company, you will need to contact Acumatica.
Since Acumatica offers a complete real-time view of your business anytime and anywhere, we chose it as the best construction accounting software program on the go. All of the features are available on a cloud and on your mobile device and are set up with an all-inclusive user licensing model.
Foundation
Foundation was started in 1985 and focuses exclusively on the construction industry. Its accounting and management software is built with Microsoft SQL Server database technology and updated as industry needs change.
The software is typically used for commercial, industrial, and government work. It’s used by small companies with 10 employees and large construction companies with over 1,000 employees. It’s easily integrated with timekeeping, project management, and estimating apps you might already use. It also has a separate section specifically for CPAs including audit review modules.
Some of Foundation’s main features include:
- Job costing
- General ledger
- Purchase Order
- Accounts payable and receivable
- Scheduling
- Project management and inventory tracking
- Unit price billing
Beginners can use the software and don’t need an accounting background. Additionally, payroll is easy with Foundation. All you need to do is submit the time and it does the rest including calculating payroll taxes, prevailing wage rates, union fringe benefits, and more.
Foundation does not offer pricing tiers. Instead, custom prices are offered based on the type and size of your company and what functions you need the software to perform.
Foundation is our choice for construction accounting software that can be customized because it allows you to easily design and customize accounting reports and construction statements, thanks to its integration DataGenie.
AccuBuild.
Offering both an on-premise and a cloud-based option, AccuBuild can manage construction company accounting needs and provide many features like project and document management for day-to-day operations. Companies can calculate the cost for use by the number of users per month, suggesting AccuBuild can be used by companies both large and small.
CMiC.
CMiC is a cloud-hosted, web-based accounting and financial analytics platform. It boasts a variety of features capable of making it an excellent fit for small businesses and contractors to large companies. CMiC has all the functionality needed from bid to project completion.
Sage 100 Contractor
Best overall accounting software for construction companies.
Sage 100 Contractor is an ideal package for small contractors. This feature-rich, on-premises application provides the tools any construction firm requires to ensure a company completes projects profitably. The cost of Sage 100 Contractor is very reasonable, making profitability significantly more likely.
Key functionality:
For a small construction company, successfully estimating project cost is vital to the bottom line. Sage 100 Contractor is ideal as it can rapidly generate accurate bids for any size project. The estimating function provides various templates, formulas, and variables to expedite the estimate process needed to bid on projects rapidly. Furthermore, as a Microsoft Windows-based application, Windows functionality—such as cut and paste and Excel compatibility—greatly expand Sage 100 Contractor’s ease of use.
A valuable function for contractors to ensure a profit is the application’s import feature, which allows the construction company to import information from local suppliers, including updated lists of available materials and costs. If local suppliers do not provide import information, Sage 100 Contractor provides an updated list of prices from the Trade Service Corporation.
Sage 100 Contractor includes a robust general ledger feature ensuring additional accounting software is not needed to track project costs. The general ledger function provides the accounting insight a small company requires to track payroll, accounts receivable, and accounts payable. The application comes with a variety of standard reports and allows the creation of custom financial reports and a check reconciliation option to compare bank statements to current balances.
One of the most challenging aspects of running a small construction business is juggling an always shifting schedule. However, scheduling supplies, locations, and subcontractors is significantly less stressful using Sage 100 Contractor’s scheduling function. The schedule function is easily managed through a graphic user interface (GUI), which means moving tasks, dates, and inventory is simple. Additionally, Sage maintains the original schedule as well for reference.
Access & users:
Although Sage provides a cloud-based Field Operations component at an extra cost, the current offering is an on-premises Windows application. The Admin user can manage security in the Sage 100 Contractor application. The administrator can create Security User Groups based on user or employee position. Each group can have specific permissions based on a user’s job function, such as saving, deleting voided, or even printing checks. The admin console allows for granular permissions to be applied, but Sage documentation suggests caution when setting permission to avoid locking users out of the application.
Ease of use:
Ease of use is a primary goal of Sage 100 Contractor as small business owners do not have an abundance of free time to master a complicated software package. The application is a menu-driven application allowing a user to easily navigate, especially if the user has had only rudimentary computer experience. For users who need a little extra help getting started, Sage offers comprehensive and detailed documentation and a variety of webinars and videos on how to perform many of the Sage 100 Contractor functions. Sage also provides in-person training at a cost for larger companies and online support to assist if needed.
Cost:
Although Sage 100 Contractor does not offer a free trial period, a guided demo is available on the Sage website. If the demo meets a company’s needs, Sage 100 Contractor’s pricing is extremely reasonable, making the investment significantly less stressful than for other software. Sage 100 Contractor uses a subscription service. An initial subscription fee is required, and then there is a low monthly fee per user. The per-user fee means access to all the functionality at a minimal cost for small companies with few users. Thus, Sage is a financially feasible application to maintain as a company grows.
Things we liked:
- Low monthly cost ideal for contractors and small businesses
- Easy to use GUI and menu-driven functionality
- Ability to import local supplier price-lists
- Job estimating and general ledger functions
- Powerful project scheduling capabilities
Things we didn’t like:
- Rapidly growing companies may outgrow the software quickly
- Report templates may not cover all needs
- Costs increase as users added
Conclusion
We’ve narrowed down the list to the top construction accounting software programs on the market today. To assist you in your quest for finding the best contractor accounting software, we’ve compared all of them and highlighted their features.