Invoicing
Invoicing that fits the way you work
An invoice is easier to deal with while the job is still fresh. These six tools offer different ways to prepare it, collect a deposit, and keep track of what is owed. The best fit depends on whether you bill at the end of a visit or in stages as work progresses.
From deposit to final payment
For example, a $4,200 balance left unpaid after a finished job and $900 in equipment ordered before a deposit both affect the cash available for the next job. Progress billing can help spread the payments on work that takes several weeks.
For jobs like those, useful features include:
- Get a deposit collected before work starts
- Split a big job into progress bills tied to milestones
- Flag when something has aged past 30, 45, or 60 days so somebody actually calls about it
The table below compares the entry plans. Check document limits as well as the subscription price, especially if each job needs both an estimate and an invoice.
| Tool | Entry price | Card rate | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joist | $10/mo (Basics, 5 docs/mo) | up to 3.49% + $0.49 | Solo operator writing estimates and invoices from a truck |
| Invoice Simple | $4.99/mo (Essentials, 3 invoices/mo) | Not on their pricing page | Very low-volume side work, not a full-time shop |
| Wave | Free (Starter plan) | 2.9% + $0.60; Pro plan waives the flat fee on the first 10 card transactions/mo | Owner-operator who also wants free bookkeeping, not just invoices |
| FreshBooks | $23/mo (Lite, 5 billable clients) | 2.9% + $0.30 (3.5% + $0.30 for Amex/business cards) | Service pro who bills by client/project and wants real accounting under it |
| QuickBooks Online | Check Intuit's pricing page | Check Intuit's pricing page | Shops whose accountant already lives in QBO |
| Jobber | $49/mo (Core, 1 user) | 2.9% + $0.30 card; 1% ACH | Crews that need invoicing bolted to scheduling and dispatch, not standalone |
QuickBooks Online pricing is omitted from this dated comparison. Check Intuit's current plans for the subscription and payment fees that apply to your account.
Joist: estimates and invoices on your phone
Joist solves a narrow problem well: write an estimate on the driveway, flip it to an invoice, take a card payment on the spot. Basics is $10/mo and capped at five documents a month. An estimate and its invoice both count, so a five-job month can burn the plan in two and a half jobs. Pro removes the cap for $17/mo.
The listed card rate is up to 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction. Compare the processing bill at your usual volume as well as the monthly subscription.
Invoice Simple: check the invoice allowance
Invoice Simple starts at $4.99/month for three invoices. Unlimited invoicing is $19.99/month. Its pricing page did not list a card-processing rate in this comparison, so include that in any quote you request.
For work billed in stages, try a sample job with a deposit and milestone payments. Check whether the app keeps the remaining balance together or requires separate invoices.
Wave: invoicing with bookkeeping
Wave's Starter plan includes unlimited invoices with no subscription charge. Card processing is 2.9% + $0.60 per transaction at the rates recorded here. Pro at $19/mo waives the $0.60 fee on the first ten card transactions each month. That saves at most $6/month on those fees, so the waiver alone does not cover the subscription. Consider the other features when comparing the plans.
Wave lists ACH bank payments at 1% with a $1 minimum. On larger invoices that can cost less than cards; settlement time and customer preference also matter.
FreshBooks: billing by client and project
Lite starts at $23/mo, but only five billable clients. A plumber with a dozen regular commercial accounts blows past that and lands on Plus at $43/mo for 50 clients. Card rate is 2.9% + $0.30 (cheaper than Joist), with 3.5% + $0.30 for Amex and business cards. ACH is 1%, same as Wave.
For FreshBooks Select, ask for the card rate in the quote. A lower advertised rate is easier to evaluate once you can apply it to your usual payment volume.
QuickBooks Online: you're probably here for the accountant
If your bookkeeper already uses QuickBooks, keeping invoices there may save a handoff at the end of the month.
QBO puts invoicing inside an accounting system. It may suit an office that also needs reconciliation, payroll, and records for the accountant. If you mainly want to make an invoice at the end of a visit, compare that workflow with a smaller invoicing app.
Jobber: invoicing rides along with the schedule
Jobber doesn't sell invoicing by itself. It sells field service management, and invoicing comes along for the ride. Core is $49/mo for one user (quoting, scheduling, invoicing). Connect is $139/mo. Grow is $199/mo. Extra users are $29/mo each, which adds up on a five-person crew.
Card is 2.9% + $0.30, tap-to-pay 2.7% + $0.30, ACH 1%. Competitive. Instant payouts add another 1% on top of the standard deposit schedule.
If you also need scheduling and dispatch, having invoicing attached to the job record may be useful. If invoicing is your only need, the dedicated tools above have lower entry prices.
Deposits, progress billing, and the 60-day invoice
If you collect deposits, build the request into the job setup so it goes out before materials are ordered. Decide who checks the payment and what happens if it has not arrived by the planned start date.
For a $12,000 remodel billed in three stages, try recording the deposit, the work completed, and the balance left. Check which plans keep those amounts attached to the same project and which need separate invoices.
For overdue invoices, look at the aging view and reminder settings. Wave, FreshBooks, and Jobber include these tools; compare the available features and plan requirements with the simpler invoice apps. Try finding an old balance and sending a reminder during your trial.
Before choosing a plan, make a sample estimate, convert it to an invoice, and check the payment options your customers would see. Include processing and payout fees in the comparison.