As more people are creating more service-related businesses, the software industry has been scrambling to keep up with the growth. And small service businesses (equipment rentals, HVAC and home builders) continue to see growth.
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This growth has produced more demand for software that suits the needs of these specialized business types. As a result, software vendors continue to add more features and functions to their core products in order to appeal to both the traditional builder and the contracting trade.
Each industry requires its own set of functionality. Traditional construction companies need a strong job cost module, and service and repair companies need a solid service and dispatch module, with perhaps an equipment management module, as well. This is a major reason why most of the construction software products reviewed in this issue will not suit all construction-related businesses.
One of the other reasons is strictly monetary. The more robust products tend to be more expensive, and the entry-level products will easily fit the budget restraints of the smallest company.
Regular readers of The CPA Technology Advisor will know that 2010 brought in a new way of looking at and reviewing software products. The result of this new review method makes the product ratings easier to understand. So a 5-star product will contain just about every feature available for that product type, as outlined in our review criteria on this page.
However, that also might mean that a product that earns a 4-star rating could easily be the better product for a particular business than the higher-rated 5-star product based on needed functionality.
For example, a small builder may need a strong job cost module, but if he doesn’t have a service department, he would have little use for a dispatching module. The same goes for the independent HVAC repair business that really needs that module, but does not need the project management module.
The bottom line is that we provide a benchmark of what products in this genre should provide, but we recommend that anyone looking for a new product should invest the time to research the many options available in today’s market based on their individual needs. Many of the products reviewed in this issue offer free demos so those parties interested will have a better idea about the suitability of a product after seeing it perform.
Please remember that it’s only the user’s opinion of the software that really matters. The products reviewed here are all excellent in their own way and at least one is likely to be a perfect fit for your small construction industry clients.
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- A-Systems Corporation - JobView
- A-Systems JobView is an industry-specific product designed for construction companies and contractors of all sizes. Available in three distinct versions, JobView offers an easy-to-implement, easy-to-navigate system that does the job often purported by much more expensive products.
- Read Full Review
- Cougar Mountain Software - CMS Professional Accounting
- CMS Professional is celebrating over thirteen years on the market. The first Windows-based product offered by parent company Cougar Mountain Software, CMS Professional offers several specialty-based products, including its popular Job Cost software.
- Read Full Review
- CUC Software - Contractor Essentials
- Contractor Essentials from CUC Software was developed in the early 1980s by a working contracting company. Highly industry-specific, the program was developed for those in construction related trades, providing users with the specialized tools needed to run their businesses.
- Read Full Review
- CYMA Systems Inc. - Accounting For Windows Job Costing
- CYMA Accounting for Windows offers several industry-specific modules designed to integrate with the vendor’s financial suite of modules. Ideal for mid-sized construction companies, CYMA offers an array of features not frequently found in less expensive products.
- Read Full Review
- eTEK International Inc. - eTEK for Microsoft Office
- eTEK for Microsoft Office is a financial/job costing software product ideal for construction companies looking to step up from off-the-shelf products. Designed to be highly functional as well as scalable, eTEK offers solid features and an easy-to-use interface that has been designed for functionality and efficiency.
- Read Full Review
- Foundation Software - Foundation for Windows
- Foundation Software was established in 1985. Originally a DOS product, the Windows version (Foundation for Windows), which was a complete system re-write, was first introduced in 2000. A comprehensive construction industry software product, Foundation for Windows is ideal for mid to large construction-related businesses, but its customer base includes construction businesses of all sizes.
- Read Full Review
- Intuit - QuickBooks Premier 2009 Contractor Edition
- Used by millions worldwide, QuickBooks has expanded its hold on the small business industry by introducing the “Choose an Edition” option, which allows users to choose from seven different industry types when installing the software.
- Read Full Review
- MICS, Inc. - Builder Information System
- MICS has been producing construction-related software for more than 25 years. BIS for Windows was first introduced in 1997 and has continuously added system enhancements and features that the construction community has requested. Available in three editions, BIS offers construction and contracting companies a scalable product designed for businesses large and small.
- Read Full Review
- Peachtree by Sage 2011 - Peachtree Premium Accounting for Construction 2011
- With each subsequent release, Peachtree Accounting reinforces its popularity with accountants and small business owners alike. Always a favorite for the small business owner, Peachtree continues to make annual improvements to its already solid product, gaining more satisfied customers in the process. Sage Peachtree Premium Accounting for Construction 2011, designed for small construction and contractor companies, is a good example of what makes this software so popular for so many.
- Read Full Review
- Sage - Sage Master Builder
- Sage Master Builder is an integrated construction/financial product especially well-suited for mid-sized construction and contractor-related businesses. Easily navigated, with a user-friendly interface, Master Builder provides all of the features construction businesses need at an affordable price.
- Read Full Review
- Sage Software - Timberline Office
- Sage Timberline Office from Sage Software has been a solid player in the construction software arena for years. Consistently reliable and with new features added on a regular basis, Sage Timberline Office is a robust product ideally suited to larger construction and contractor businesses.
- Read Full Review
- WennSoft - WennSoft Job Cost
- WennSoft was founded in 1995 and offers enterprise-level software solutions to the construction trades, including builders, equipment managers and operators, and service contractors. Built on Microsoft Dynamics GP, WennSoft is a powerful industry-specific tool that is surprisingly easy to use.
- Read Full Review
- 2010 Review of Construction/Contractor Accounting Programs — Comparison Chart
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