Are you still creating invoices in Word and tracking expenses in Excel? Your construction accounting software choices can do so much more.
The global construction accounting software market reached USD 1.5 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow 5% each year. The 3.7 million construction businesses in the US need specialized financial tools to survive. Companies that skip proper accounting software risk making expensive mistakes, face payment delays, and run into serious compliance issues.
Quality construction accounting software goes beyond number crunching. The right system makes job costing simple, handles billing automatically, and works seamlessly with field teams to keep projects profitable. You'll finally start saving real money and stop burning through your day. Best of all, you'll gain a complete understanding of your company's financial standing.
After checking out the best ways to handle things right now, it's clear. Expect nothing less than outstanding support from our team. Contractors, no matter their size, pick this as their go-to tool. Since every business has unique requirements, we've put together this list of the 5 best options to help you find your perfect match.
Premier Construction Software
Premier Construction Software leads our list of the construction accounting software for contractors of all sizes. Imagine handling all your finances, tracking project costs, and managing jobs, all from one spot online.
Premier Construction Software Key Features
Premier Construction Software makes accounting efficient through automation. The accounts payable system has customizable workflows that route invoices based on job, cost item, vendor, and thresholds. The software provides complete project billing options, progress billing (AIA), cost-plus, lender draws, and time and materials.
Construction companies managing multiple projects will appreciate Premier's cost control capabilities. Handling change orders, subcontractor deals, and purchase requests becomes instant. Just one click gets it done. Profit protection comes from up-to-the-minute alerts that help keep budgets on track.
Field teams connect to office operations directly through the mobile app. Teams collaborate better with the drawing management system that stores project documents in PDF format and tracks revision history.
Premier CS also employs AI to optimize these tasks:
- Bank feeds automate transaction imports and matching
- Invoice automation eliminates manual data entry
- WIP (Work in Progress) automation matches incurred costs with estimated completion revenue
Premier Construction Software Pros:
- Complete integration of accounting and project management with up-to-the-minute updates
- Customer support excels with a 4.8/5 rating
- Great value for money (4.7/5 rating)
- Teams save 15-25 hours weekly during busy periods
- Full financial capabilities with detailed job costing reports
A complete certification program guides the 6-week implementation process. Data migration uses Excel templates for charts of accounts, customer lists, and vendor information.
CMiC
CMiC helps construction firms by providing an all-in-one financial solution. It makes managing simple. Yearly, the construction business pulls in over USD 100 billion. People often choose us first.
CMiC Key Features
CMiC's Single Database Platform™ stands out by removing data silos. You'll see all your money, operations, and project updates in one place.
This construction accounting software provides:
- Complete financial management with tools built for construction companies. These include accounts payable, accounts receivable, billing, and consolidated general ledger applications
- Revenue management that helps users track contractor invoices, cash receipts, and revenue projections
- Cost management tools track job costs, labor, inventory, equipment, materials, and subcontracts
- Project management connects field operations with back-office functions
- Up-to-the-minute financial reporting delivers detailed cost analysis and cash flow projections
CMiC eliminates duplicate data entry, which is a significant advantage. Information flows into both the general ledger and job costing simultaneously. Companies save countless hours through this automation. Traditional spreadsheet-based systems need 12-18 hours of updates monthly.
The good stuff:
- Industry-specific design built specifically for construction companies
- Single platform integration connects financial data with project execution
- Customizable workflows adapt to company processes
- Mobile capabilities let teams access data from anywhere
- Expandable architecture grows with your business
Construction companies using spreadsheets can boost productivity by 14-15% by switching to specialized construction accounting software like CMiC. The switch also reduces costs by 4-6% through fewer errors.
Foundation
FOUNDATION has become a top-notch tool used specifically in keeping building project finances in order. This market has almost 40 years of industry smarts. Users rate this construction-focused accounting solution at 4.3/5 stars.
FOUNDATION Key Features
FOUNDATION combines basic accounting tasks with construction-specific functions. You'll find it gives:
- Job costing - Track every dollar, hour, and quantity with custom detail while receiving automated alerts to prevent cost overruns
- Financial management - Integrated accounts payable, accounts receivable, and general ledger modules with construction-specific features
- Payroll processing - Handles complex construction payroll, including certified payroll, widespread wage rates, workers' compensation tracking, and union compliance.
- CPA tools - Quick access to key reports, journal adjustments, and fast data exports
The software also provides specialized tools like time & material billing, unit price billing, inventory control, equipment tracking, fixed assets management, project management, scheduling, and service dispatch. Contractors really like how the software changes for their exact work.
FOUNDATION Pricing
FOUNDATION doesn't list specific pricing on its website. Even so, the software is built in separate pieces. Companies simply choose and pay for only the features they need. The base package has essential modules like job costing, accounts payable, general ledger, payroll, accounts receivable, purchase orders, subcontracts, and CPA audit tools.
Businesses simply pick the specific tools they need. Small companies without IT departments find value in FOUNDATION's hosted cloud option that manages updates and backups.
FOUNDATION Pros:
- Construction-specific design - Built exclusively for the construction industry's needs
- Strong job costing capabilities - Tracks costs against estimates with flexible reporting
- Excellent customer support - Users consistently rate it 9/10, with management by construction experts
- Integration capabilities - Works as an all-in-one platform, eliminating multiple software programs
- Powerful payroll system - Users rate it "one of the best" for handling complex construction payroll requirements
FOUNDATION works best for small to medium-sized, labor-intensive contractors, though larger construction businesses with revenues up to USD 250 million also use it successfully.
Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate
Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate (CRE), formerly Sage Timberline Office, helps contractors, developers, and property managers run their businesses. About 15,830 companies use this system, with most users based in the United States. The software works best for businesses making USD 1-10 million yearly.
Sage 300 CRE Key Features
Sage 300 CRE links people, projects, processes, and properties in unique ways. You'll find this software loaded with key capabilities:
- Financial management - Built-in tools and custom reports work with add-ons like MyAssistant and Office Connector to improve decision-making
- Project management - Spot potential issues early to boost profitability and cut risks
- Service operations - Makes dispatch more efficient, speeds up response times, and lets technicians update work orders from the field.
- Document control - Sage Paperless Construction helps organize and route drawings, RFIs, invoices, lease agreements, and contracts.
- Property management - Makes lease documents a dynamic source of information.
Users can access over 1,400 ready-made report formats plus custom options to get vital business data quickly.
Sage 300 CRE Pros:
- Complete job costing and accounting tools built for construction companies
- Works well with third-party apps
- Field teams can access it on mobile devices
- 83% of users praise its custom reporting options
- MyAssistant saves up to 20 hours weekly through automation
Construction businesses looking for complete construction accounting software should consider Sage 300 CRE. You'll find this program capable, but it demands practice. A happy user states, "This program captures a lot of data that can be used to evaluate the business".
Jonas Enterprise
Jonas Enterprise has 30 years in the construction business. They provide smart solutions for any contractor, no matter their trade. If your business deals with heating, wiring, pipes, or large-scale construction projects, you'll find our experienced team understands your needs.
Jonas Enterprise Key Features
Jonas Enterprise distinguishes itself with more than 50 integrated modules.
Its essential capabilities are:
- All-in-one integration - The system connects project management, service management, and customer management directly with accounting
- Mobile capabilities - Web-enabled solutions help field teams access data from anywhere
- Document management - Complete with workflow approvals and electronic signatures
- Executive dashboard - Shows immediate insights into customer performance, supplier obligations, and department profitability.
The software makes payroll simple through direct deposit features that automatically send money to employee accounts. Service contractors benefit from the dispatching system and customer-facing portal that improve operations.
Jonas Enterprise Pros:
- Easy-to-use interface, particularly the admin dashboard
- Excellent invoicing management capabilities
- Strong customer support with a 4.1/5 user rating
- Paperless office capabilities through eMobile and Field Time applications
- The Data Mart feature enables detailed SQL reporting
A user's experience after seven years with the system: "We appreciate the support and professionalism we receive from Jonas Software representatives".
Conclusion
Premier CS emerges as the best tool for contractors of all sizes after we review the top 5 construction accounting software options. Running a construction business gets simpler with this software. It pulls together everything from your budget and individual job costs to the full project timeline, helping you run a much tighter ship.
Get the right accounting program. Watch your construction company work faster and bring in bigger profits. Word-created invoices and Excel-tracked expenses are now outdated.
Modern specialized software saves 15-25 hours weekly during peak times, cuts down errors, and delivers up-to-the-minute data analysis.
Every software program we tried had its own set of strong points. Small operations just starting will find QuickBooks useful. Sage products offer strong capabilities. Mid-sized businesses often find them very helpful. Larger organizations with complex needs turn to enterprise solutions like CMiC and Procore.
Let your own needs lead the way when you pick. Questions about user access needs, integration capabilities, and the team's work location will point you toward the right choice.
Platform implementation time and training needs vary between solutions. Some platforms become operational quickly, while others need weeks or months for full deployment. How long everything is set to last will affect what you choose.
What you pay drives your choice. Don't let the purchase price trick you. Always check for ongoing monthly fees, how many users are allowed, and any one-time setup costs. The cheapest option might not be the most affordable long-term.
The right construction accounting software must evolve with your business growth.
Construction companies often wrestle with billing each project, handling client changes, and sorting out tricky payroll. Your software should handle these tasks quickly while giving you clear financial visibility.
Many vendors provide demos or free trials. You can truly try out each system. See how it fits your exact needs before you decide. Carefully review the accounting program you pick.
