- Location
- Middlebury
We are trying to find a good and affordable software for our growing tree service company. ArborGold and ArborSoftWorx are so expensive. Anyone use Jobber or KickServe?
Software
- Thread starter Kate333
- Start date
NickfromWI
Participating member
- Location
- Los Angeles, CA
Get jobber.
End thread.
love
nick
End thread.
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nick
- Location
- Newcomerstown ,Ohio
I just started a similar thread over yonder about ope management software and can't get anyone to reply.
Might be helpful to point out why jobber is so much better
OasisTree
Branched out member
- Location
- Central Missouri
Why is jobber better? For a small tree services business, I thought the $40 Jobber charged per month was plenty, but I decided to give them a try. I was going from a paper system (writing jobs in a paper calendar, and all my job profiles in a notebook), and wanting a way to keep track of jobs by client, as well as assigning jobs to different employees.
Jobber did all that and more, and gave me 30 days to try the system before I was billed. Some of the things I like about the system -
It tracks the different services I offer, and I can see what I sell most of in a years time.
It reminds me to follow up on quotes I send out.
It puts all of the bids I have out at one place.
It tracks the value of the weeks jobs, as well as the value of the coming weeks jobs.
It color codes jobs by employee, as well as job type-(i.e. crane).
It allows me to see where all my clients are located at the same time.
The Dashboard allows me to see client balances from the most to the least, as well as how late they are.
You can schedule recurring jobs, and set the date for Invoicing.
I can print a csv file at Christmastime and send it to my printing company for ease of sending Christmas cards.
It is integrated with my website, and all quote requests enter the new client into my database.
As an owner/operator, Jobber does all I ask of it, and I like its simplicity. It does take a little time for data entry, but that is true for all systems. And as a personal preference, I still use an Arc notebook with removable pages for all of my job profiles, and for making notes while bidding. I don't think that there is just one answer for client management systems, and some people's way of doing things will mesh better with different software solutions.
But if you are doing extensive tree management systems, like to track everything by reports, and have the time for that, you probably will find Jobber is too basic.
Jobber did all that and more, and gave me 30 days to try the system before I was billed. Some of the things I like about the system -
It tracks the different services I offer, and I can see what I sell most of in a years time.
It reminds me to follow up on quotes I send out.
It puts all of the bids I have out at one place.
It tracks the value of the weeks jobs, as well as the value of the coming weeks jobs.
It color codes jobs by employee, as well as job type-(i.e. crane).
It allows me to see where all my clients are located at the same time.
The Dashboard allows me to see client balances from the most to the least, as well as how late they are.
You can schedule recurring jobs, and set the date for Invoicing.
I can print a csv file at Christmastime and send it to my printing company for ease of sending Christmas cards.
It is integrated with my website, and all quote requests enter the new client into my database.
As an owner/operator, Jobber does all I ask of it, and I like its simplicity. It does take a little time for data entry, but that is true for all systems. And as a personal preference, I still use an Arc notebook with removable pages for all of my job profiles, and for making notes while bidding. I don't think that there is just one answer for client management systems, and some people's way of doing things will mesh better with different software solutions.
But if you are doing extensive tree management systems, like to track everything by reports, and have the time for that, you probably will find Jobber is too basic.
We use Arbor Gold and it's great .professional proposals .print and email to customers on the spot . It keeps track of jobs who works on the job how many hours is the profit margin what equipment was used what percentage of work in that area it keeps track of customers how much they're spending sets up recruiting contracts for yearly basis is emails monthly bills and invoices as well as newsletters if those profit margins we love it
flyingsquirrel25
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- South East, PA
I too am in the market for a software. I looked into arborsoftworks and their customer service sucked in the sales department. I spoke with the president and got nowhere.
Arborgold intrigues me and want to set up a time to go through it with them. What is its cost per month if you don't mind me asking?
Jobber frustrates me, as a couple of my contractors use it. One of them has his shit together and it works pretty good for him. The other cant get an invoice out correct half the time. As a client that would not fly for me and I don't want that for my clients.
DruidCarol
Participating member
- Location
- Rhode Island
@OasisTree, you've done a great job of thinking about the right tool for the business you're in. I am not directly knowledgeable about these tools but I have learned enough to know that one size doesn't fit all. ArborGold and Arborsoftworx make the most sense for larger enterprises with multiple crews and even a combined tree and landscape and property maintenance combo going, and likely those who can subcontract readily for an IT person to help out. You also pointed out that you have to put in the time to get it set up and maintained. No software is going to work well if you can't do that. If it is pretty much what you want but has a bit more complexity than the others you look at, see if your budget would allow you to hire a part-time expert to help keep the system groomed and maintained for you if it needs a lot of hands on.
Ideally, if you can document the tasks and information you want to track in plain ol' English (sort of write out how your paper systems work in an ideal world) and then compare the software packages to that, you should find it easier to wrap your head around. Also, if you can make a note of other software programs you already know and understand (e.g., how are you at MS Excel, how are you at bookkeeping programs like QuickBooks or Freshbooks, how are you with keeping your contacts up to date in an email list, etc...), you may be able to judge the learning curve for a new program that works in similar fashion.
One trap I've seen small professional businesses fall into is to buy a software program solely because another colleague likes it. Be sure it works for you--feedback from others is very helpful but at the end of the day, it has to work for you.
Ideally, if you can document the tasks and information you want to track in plain ol' English (sort of write out how your paper systems work in an ideal world) and then compare the software packages to that, you should find it easier to wrap your head around. Also, if you can make a note of other software programs you already know and understand (e.g., how are you at MS Excel, how are you at bookkeeping programs like QuickBooks or Freshbooks, how are you with keeping your contacts up to date in an email list, etc...), you may be able to judge the learning curve for a new program that works in similar fashion.
One trap I've seen small professional businesses fall into is to buy a software program solely because another colleague likes it. Be sure it works for you--feedback from others is very helpful but at the end of the day, it has to work for you.
- Location
- Washington DC-Metro
@flyingsquirrel25 I can help answer any of your Arborgold questions, my business manages multiple tree companies remotely using the Arborgold cloud. It's a seamless system from initial customer contact all the way thru invoicing and payments. I have also helped multiple tree guys move from low performing software solutions to Arborgold and all have been super happy at it's assistance in running their companies. From 1 owner/1 crew to multiple salespeople and multiple crews, Arborgold is a great solution, No IT support needed.
Let me know if you have time to chat on the phone and I'll reach out to let you know of our experiences working on it!
Michelle.
evo
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- My Island, WA
I've been wracking my head against a wall for the past few months trying to figure this out for myself. I use quickbooks online for my books. It's works well and nearly does everything I want, minus a few really annoying points. I am looking for a system which when I get a incoming call I can enter in the client deets, then schedule a estimate, then once approved move that estimate to a calendar date. The other is to include my page long terms and conditions as a default for every estimate.
I've been using google calendar for this, but it's annoying requiring double entry and not being able to pull up details. Apparently quickbooks is working on a google calendar integration, but they seem to deliver slowly if at all. I've looked at many apps that work with quickbooks, and Method seems to be the best for integration. Method is set up like a click and drag website builder to create custom actions, but does not do what I want off the batt (and I don't have time to do custom programming, nor can afford the $~125 per hr to have them do it for me) .
Jobber seems to be very intuitive and with a few steps I can make it do what I want. The mobile app seems to be lacking from the website, and lacking. All of the apps I've looked at have way too many bells and whistles for a 1-2 person crew (owner/estimator/arborist being one of the two), and you pay for all that extra crap you don't need.
Arborgold is nearly the cost of my liability insurance, and would be the single highest monthly expense for the book work side of running a business.
I've been using google calendar for this, but it's annoying requiring double entry and not being able to pull up details. Apparently quickbooks is working on a google calendar integration, but they seem to deliver slowly if at all. I've looked at many apps that work with quickbooks, and Method seems to be the best for integration. Method is set up like a click and drag website builder to create custom actions, but does not do what I want off the batt (and I don't have time to do custom programming, nor can afford the $~125 per hr to have them do it for me) .
Jobber seems to be very intuitive and with a few steps I can make it do what I want. The mobile app seems to be lacking from the website, and lacking. All of the apps I've looked at have way too many bells and whistles for a 1-2 person crew (owner/estimator/arborist being one of the two), and you pay for all that extra crap you don't need.
Arborgold is nearly the cost of my liability insurance, and would be the single highest monthly expense for the book work side of running a business.
DruidCarol
Participating member
- Location
- Rhode Island
@evo, since I see you are using the online version of Quickbooks, there may be a solution via Zapier. Zapier has a number of already created "Zaps" that allow different programs and apps to interact. Zapier is free for a lot of stuff but in this case you would need a minimum premium plan of $20/month ($220 a year) to do a "Zap" that involves QB. But if I'm not misreading this, it looks like there is a way to connect Google Calendar and QB already: https://community.intuit.com/articl...n-i-connect-to-google-calendar-for-quickbooks I still use a desktop version of Quickbooks myself so not sure if this is what you have or want.
- Location
- Washington DC-Metro
@evo wracking heads against walls isn't necessary. If what you are looking for is described above, from incoming call to scheduling date, then Arborgold is the best solution. For $99 a month you can so the following:
1. Input every customer (including how they heard about you-helping you quantify marketing efforts easily) with all of their contact information, cross streets and notes. Each time the customer calls in you can save a "message" to their customer record, making historical data easy to review. There are tons of metrics to help you separate each customer out based on how they would best like to be communicated with (for future marketing efforts, invoicing, etc.).
2. When it's time to schedule the estimate (appointment or drive by) you have multiple options to "route" yourself - by proximity and/or by date based on the customers requirements-easily on that FIRST phone call with them on the phone.
3. Each estimate is fully customized at the front end when you sign on with Arborgold (this is where you can add your terms and conditions a single time and it will become part of all of your estimates, along with logos, associations and your business contact information). You can also take before pictures, make maps or include "job site notes" that your staff will see when the work is scheduled. This feature is priceless as it makes your crews knowledge of the job site even better in front of the customer at job completion time.
4. Arborgold has the ability for you to "approve" line items in a specific estimate and leave others behind for future work-showing only what the customer has approved for your crews.
5. Scheduling work is as easy as "drag and drop" - where you can (at the time of the estimate) assign blocks of time for each service item, keeping your crews on track for the day.
6. No double entry, once in, the customers information follows each part of the process-all the way to Invoicing.
7. You can stop there, with full Accounts Receivable able to be accessed anytime, or pay a bit more to have all of this information integrate over to your existing Quickbooks online. Arborgold also integrates with Google Calendar if you are used to that platform. So you don't have to change the way you contact customers on your cellphone (directly from Google Calendar) if that's easier for you.
Best of all of this, are "Customer Lists". You can separate customers by zip code, by size of job, by date range, by service item. These metrics are crucial for a small business owner, to quantify what is working, and where it's working. So you can start putting marketing efforts behind the services that truly set you apart from your competitor. This is just one of the ways that Arborgold shines. Plus, you can easily email market to your entire database of clients anytime-all year long. "Just wanted to introduce our new service......xxxxxx" and keep folks thinking about you throughout the year. This feature pays for itself in closed work every month if you take a few minutes to email updates out to your customers. I can't say enough how great this software is. We have honestly helped numerous companies leave competitive software platforms and settle them into Arborgold. It's by far the industry standard, and worth the $99 per month! I can share some references off line if that's of interest. M.
1. Input every customer (including how they heard about you-helping you quantify marketing efforts easily) with all of their contact information, cross streets and notes. Each time the customer calls in you can save a "message" to their customer record, making historical data easy to review. There are tons of metrics to help you separate each customer out based on how they would best like to be communicated with (for future marketing efforts, invoicing, etc.).
2. When it's time to schedule the estimate (appointment or drive by) you have multiple options to "route" yourself - by proximity and/or by date based on the customers requirements-easily on that FIRST phone call with them on the phone.
3. Each estimate is fully customized at the front end when you sign on with Arborgold (this is where you can add your terms and conditions a single time and it will become part of all of your estimates, along with logos, associations and your business contact information). You can also take before pictures, make maps or include "job site notes" that your staff will see when the work is scheduled. This feature is priceless as it makes your crews knowledge of the job site even better in front of the customer at job completion time.
4. Arborgold has the ability for you to "approve" line items in a specific estimate and leave others behind for future work-showing only what the customer has approved for your crews.
5. Scheduling work is as easy as "drag and drop" - where you can (at the time of the estimate) assign blocks of time for each service item, keeping your crews on track for the day.
6. No double entry, once in, the customers information follows each part of the process-all the way to Invoicing.
7. You can stop there, with full Accounts Receivable able to be accessed anytime, or pay a bit more to have all of this information integrate over to your existing Quickbooks online. Arborgold also integrates with Google Calendar if you are used to that platform. So you don't have to change the way you contact customers on your cellphone (directly from Google Calendar) if that's easier for you.
Best of all of this, are "Customer Lists". You can separate customers by zip code, by size of job, by date range, by service item. These metrics are crucial for a small business owner, to quantify what is working, and where it's working. So you can start putting marketing efforts behind the services that truly set you apart from your competitor. This is just one of the ways that Arborgold shines. Plus, you can easily email market to your entire database of clients anytime-all year long. "Just wanted to introduce our new service......xxxxxx" and keep folks thinking about you throughout the year. This feature pays for itself in closed work every month if you take a few minutes to email updates out to your customers. I can't say enough how great this software is. We have honestly helped numerous companies leave competitive software platforms and settle them into Arborgold. It's by far the industry standard, and worth the $99 per month! I can share some references off line if that's of interest. M.
evo
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- My Island, WA
Yeah I get it. So I would have to pay "a bit more" to get the quickbooks sync. I'm sure your product is great however it's way overboard for what a small operation needs. Way more that what I want, and no way am I going to pay a bit more than $1200 per year for so much that quickbooks already does for me.
I need quickbooks but I don't need my crews location because I am the crew...
I need quickbooks but I don't need my crews location because I am the crew...
evo
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- My Island, WA
Thanks for the zap thing. I tried to get it to work and gave up.
The QB to google option is for desktop and not online. For the online QB there is a google calendar app add on, but it's a old beta version that's not a alive any more. Looking through qb's forum there are many promises for features with no delivery from years and years ago..
Jobber is about $45 per mo for what I want it to do..
DruidCarol
Participating member
- Location
- Rhode Island
Thanks for the update on the forum item I found, it was hard to tell if desktop or online, and I was looking at it long after I normally turn into a pumpkin at night. Zapier won't work unless you sign up for the $20/month minimum version first (it would probably handle just the basic integration you needed). If you want to give it try with my help, I'm willing to experiment on your behalf because I'd like to see how easy it is to set up, so direct message me if you want to try it.
I think that ArborGold is pitching on the basis that you want to grow and add a lot more business and potentially add more crews or even specialty crews to pay for it. I think you are looking for a good, simple tool-set to save time, not necessarily get you more business than you are getting now?
I think that ArborGold is pitching on the basis that you want to grow and add a lot more business and potentially add more crews or even specialty crews to pay for it. I think you are looking for a good, simple tool-set to save time, not necessarily get you more business than you are getting now?
evo
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- My Island, WA
Druid, I'd love to hear how Zapier would work. However I think I'm going to stick with Jobber, I have 20 days left, and have already re-entered my approved estimates into it. The quickbooks sync only goes one way (other than client lists).
Method seems to sync the best (and good price $30-$40), and I really liked it. It is user programmable but over my head and skill level. They advertise that they can do the customization for you but for about $140 per hour. To make their system work for me would require "a lot of what you described is possible with a lot of customizations".. For a techie like you Druid it would be cake... It may be possible for you to make your own custom "apps" in method and sell them?
I'm not looking to grow much... I have to keep reminding myself that the reason why I went to my own gig is not to have to work all the time. I've been in business for two years now, and I've already grossed 20% over what I did all of last year. Part of that is working smarter and not harder though.
- Location
- Washington DC-Metro
@evo, just to clarify, I don't work for Arborgold, I own a virtual admin and answering service that works on Arborgold for multiple tree companies. So I'm in a fairly good position to see how the software works for multiple sized businesses. I understand your concern about costs, but was only responding based on your needs list from the prior post and illustrating that Arborgold has all the qualifications that you listed. I would be happy to share some referrals of guys that have started out as 1 man shops and continue to scale with the integrated tools and metrics described above. Let me know if that is of interest. If not, good luck in your search. M.
NickfromWI
Participating member
- Location
- Los Angeles, CA
Michelle- last I checked arborgold was like $700,000 to get set up and you had to fly in a specialist from out of state.
Is that the case?
I always hated that there was no way to demo arborgold. It was a wing and a prayer commitment.
Jobber was free to try then a pittance of a monthly payment to maintain.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Is that the case?
I always hated that there was no way to demo arborgold. It was a wing and a prayer commitment.
Jobber was free to try then a pittance of a monthly payment to maintain.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
- Location
- Washington DC-Metro
Nick,
The AG set up only requires a personalized training or install if you think your team or organization needs it. Typical setup fees remain reasonable-I just checked with Donna over at AG who let me know that 14 day trials are indeed available. She asked that you reach out to her directly at: sales@arborgold.com-or feel free to reach out to me on any of the avenues below if a conversation is better! Thanks!!
- Location
- North Bay Area
I recognize that any software solution will require a certain amount of work to make it functional for our particular business. Does Jobber have an "interface" already in place for tree services that can be modified to our specific needs? Or do we have to start from scratch to modify Jobber to make it useful for tree service?
We need a desktop (microsoft) and mobile platform (IOS) that can gather data/estimates when there's no wifi or cell signal then process it when we're connected again. A functional CRM is the first requirement with the ability to do estimates and scheduling. QuickBooks connectivity is not required by us, but can be arranged if the software requires it. We've been looking into different solutions for over a year and we're still drowning in paperwork and details. I'm wondering if we are under valuing the power of Jobber after seeing so many recommendations for it by members here.
Comments?
Thanks,
Iris
evo
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- My Island, WA
Jobber is cell/wifi dependent. It no longer interfaces with Quickbooks desk top, only QB online, which makes it somewhat redundant. It is geared towards the service industry, with some pre-programmed line items for estimates. I like it, but I am a little underwhelmed. It may be better if I were running multiple crews, or even if I were not on every job. Their app sucks, their mobile web page is good, and the desktop version (web based) is good as well. It's intuitive, and I do like the scheduling features (which is the only reason I chose it).
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