Quickbooks Contractor Version

Builder1624

Hello,

I'm wondering if anyone can provide some feedback on the Quickbooks Contractor version. I'm currently using the standard Quickbooks and am considering upgrading, as this version forces me to do job costing manually. However, I have read about construction programs such as Masterbuilder, Timberline, etc. in these forums. Are there any issues to be aware of with the Quickbooks upgrade? Any areas where the Quickbooks Contractor version falls short?


Thanks in advance,

Phil

Mike Finley

You get a crap load of useless reports.

The only feature I have seen worth a damn in the contractor version is the ability to put in a GL insurance experation date for subs and have it prompt you not to write them a check if it expires.

orson

I agree with Mike.

It would have been far easier to build brand new item lists than try to deal with the pre-loaded BS lists in Contractor Pro.

__________________
Lancaster Remodeling Contractor - Lancaster Remodeling
Kitchen & Bath Remodeling PA- Bathroom Remodeling Lancaster PA
Custom Kitchen Remodeling PA - Ruby Construction FaceBook-Lancaster Bathroom Remodeling

Double-A

First off, upgrading might not be the right word, as QB no longer offers true upgrades. They offer new versions.

I would recommend the Accountant's Version, as it will do all of the other versions. No, you don't have to be an accountant to buy it.

This way, if you don't like the contractor version, you can run in the accountant version or the standard version.

As for the contractor version, I think there is more going for it than just the date reminders. Understand, however, that if you don't set up properly from the start to do what you need/want to do with the software, you're going to be disappointed.

Consider hiring a ProAdvisor with construction experience to help you decide and set up your new software. We have a few of them lurking around here with good experience and the proper background to help.

__________________
"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006

Builder1624

Thanks for the info. I understand that it may not be the greatest program, but I'm looking for more of a comparison to construction programs like the Masterbuilders of the world. A few specifics - does it do AIA billing? Does it track subcontracts? How detailed is the job costing? Can I use phases or cost codes to break jobs down into detail?

I should have been a bit more specific initially. I suppose the best feedback would be from a current or former user that has also used a construction program. Any suggestions and\or comments?


Thanks again,

Phil

Mike Finley

Phil, comparing Quickbooks to all those other higher end programs designed specifically for construction is like comparing a rock and a hammer. You can drive nails with a rock, but it won't be easy, won't be as effective will be frustrating and where as you can pull nails with hammer and do many other things you won't be able to do them with a rock.

Quickbooks blows if truth is told. It's strengths lies in it's a easier way to get your books together to keep on the right side of the IRS, but for running a business -- big thumbs down it's very juvenile, it's good at being an average and half way decent book keeper for a lot of general applications. It's a nightmare and totally under powered for doing anything complex.

asnider

To answer some of your questions:

1. No, it does not have AIA billing
2. You can track subcontracts, but it can become a pretty big headache
3. The job cost reports (if you can even call them job cost reports) are pretty weak
4. It comes with pre-built phases, and I believe you can add to the list, but once again it was built in as an after thought so it's not as straight forward as you would like

I would agree with Mike. You cannot even compare Quickbooks Contractor to the job cost accounting systems created specifically for construction.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

__________________
Adam Snider
Opus Magnum Software - Creators of EZJOB
Construction Software Reviews & Articles

Marette

Having survived 4 different accounting programs, some of which were high dollar programs, we have now been on Quickbooks Enterprise Solutions for a year and a half. The price is enticing compared to other systems.

Overall for the money you invest I think it is a good deal. It has Pro's and Cons.

You can do Progress Invoices but not true AIA billing. There are several plug in software systems that allow you connect with QB and produce and AIA billing. We do not have any of these plug ins because we simply do our AIA's on an excel spreadsheet that calculates for us very simply. It does require two steps doing it this way but seems to work. Our category break downs internally are far different that what we would ever send to our GC so it works out well in this respect. We have set up a standard template for all estimates that get entered into the system. This way my estimators can set up their own job costs and it still be uniform for the company.
It tracks change orders pretty well off the estimate as well so I am always able to tell what our backlog is currently and if a change order has come in on a project and my salesman forgot to make me aware of it.
As with all systems, garbage in equals garbage out. I agree that sitting down with a professional advisor that understands your type of business and the things you need to get out it are critical. That inital investment will pay off handsomely. Having gone through several time consuming learning processes along the way I wish we had. On a positive note, QB is extremely flexible and, gasp, lets you delete something and start over making the true audit trail for an accountant to squirm. But then past information can be in in a meaningful way.
BIGGEST drawbacks:
PO system. We have had to develop several workarounds because our large PO's come in several stages, not just one lump sum. So knowing how much an original PO was written for and how much is yet to be received on that PO has caused us to develop several workarounds. It definately takes more time to do these processes than the fancier systems that seem to understand how a true contracting business operates. Despite repeated requests to QB and numerous support phone calls they still don't have it right.
PAYROLL- In order to jobcost properly you must run payroll in house. We always outsourced this part so doing it inhouse caused us to hire an extra individual to do it. They offer support programs but our they do not offer complete payroll processing in our state. And if you put someones time on the wrong job you must correct not only the paycheck but also the timesheet. Why things are linked tighter is beyond me. Opening yourself up the liability of payroll issues is A HUGE thing to consider.
SPEED- Perfomance issues in some of the version has caused this system to be SLOW. That is unacceptable. They have improved on this but every time a new upgrade comes out I cringe.
Support- While occassionaly you do get an a true english speaking individual, more times than not you get someone whose first language is not English. This makes for some frustration at times.
Time Tracking: Currently their upgrade cause our report that shows estimated time for a job and total actual time worked at any given date to not work. One must go to two separate reports and combine the two. Ridiculous defect when this is one area contractors regularly have potential to put themselves out of business by not watching their workforce closely.

Positives:
Easy to change incorrect entries
Credit card processing easy and integrated
Integrated Check Registers
Messenger feature allows you to ask a coworker a question via computer
My boss can get the reports and information he needs himself without having much accounting software experience. He is actively involved it in daily.

greg24k

I have to agree with Double-A, if a program not set up right, it is useless. I don't use it myself, my wife does and she never had a problem, they also offer excellent support, when tax season comes,she got everything ready for our accountant and with online banking its a smooth sailing. I don't know about billing, I don't bill anyone. I also don't use QB for contracts,I am old school when it comes to that and I use self-made contract templates, but she posting every job in QB so if I go back to any project I did a few years back, I can have a detailed print-out of everything was spent on that job with a click. She also upgrades to keep the program up to date when a new version becomes available. She been using it for many years and she helped set QB up for my electrician a few years back (he loves it), so I never heard her or anyone else say anything negative about the program. You got my

__________________

greg24k

I also want to add, that the Bank of America was not comparable with QB, but they said they are working on it. So before anyone is going to purchase QB and plans using online banking, stop at you bank and ask if they are comparable.

__________________

Lighting Retro

I sure appreciate the posts here. We're looking at options for software, and currently have the QB regular addition I guess. Didn't know they had a contractor's version, but glad to know it's not worth pursuing. Hoping to find a software on here you guys use that is worth a darn.

Ideally I'd like to be able to run multiple companies off of it, as well as use it for CRM capabilities. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

__________________
Lighting Retrofit Company | Fort Worth Electrician | Generator Installation | Lighting Retrofit

jimmys

Marette- you can change the payroll details, like from one job to another, if you don't change the total payroll amounts, deductions, etc. It'll give you a warning window saying you're screwing things up, but if the dollar amounts don't change, your PR will be fine.
I agree about the contractor version, just fluff unless you're starting from scratch and know nothing. Which means you'll stay scratching.
Jim

ClosetPro

Don't know what the rules here say - but I "find" lots of useful software in places most people don't go. PM me if anyone has any requests.