02 / The business desk

Work services.
Without the guesswork.

Field service, invoicing, payroll, CRM and AI tools for a small service business: what each plan costs at your team size, where the seat and usage cliffs are, and what leaving costs.

One tool at a time.

Pricing and comparisons for small service businesses · Page 3
25
Billing & Operations

QuickBooks Desktop to Online: Which Plan Do You Need?

Plus at $140 a month list is the lowest plan with Projects, and you get a 90-day import window.

Business · 6-minute read
26
CRM & Lead Management

Quo, Formerly OpenPhone: Does a Shared Number Cost Extra?

Sharing is free, but each person who calls or texts is a paid user, from $19 a user a month on Starter.

Business · 8-minute read
27
AI & Automation

Ruby vs. Smith.ai: Per Minute or Per Call?

Ruby bills receptionist minutes ($250 for 50) and Smith.ai bills calls ($300 for 30), so price your calls.

Business · 9-minute read
28
Scheduling & Field Service

Houzz Pro: What Do You Pay After the Free Trial?

Pro is $199 a month plus $50 per extra user, and after the 30-day trial you're on an annual subscription.

Business · 5-minute read
29
Website & Marketing

Local Services Ads: What Happens to Your Weekly Budget?

Average weekly budget ÷ 7 becomes a daily budget, the monthly cap is daily × 30.4, and Max per lead ends.

Business · 6-minute read
30
Scheduling & Field Service

QuickBooks Time: Premium or Elite for a Small Crew?

Premium is $20 a month plus $10 per user, Elite $40 plus $12, and both sit on top of QuickBooks Online.

Business · 5-minute read
31
Billing & Operations

QuickBooks ACH Fees: Is Your Account Capped?

ACH is 1% of each invoice payment, uncapped on accounts opened since Sept 2023; check your cap first.

Business · 5-minute read
32
Scheduling & Field Service

JobTread Pricing: Who Counts as a Paid User?

Base is $199 a month, or $159 a month billed annually, for 1 internal user; extra users add tiers.

Business · 6-minute read
33
Scheduling & Field Service

ServiceM8 Pricing: Which Job Tier Fits Your Month?

Plans count new jobs a month, not users, from Free at 30 jobs up to $349 for 1,500 or more.

Business · 7-minute read
34
Scheduling & Field Service

Skimmer vs. Pool Brain: Per Pool or Per Tech?

Skimmer bills $1 or $2 per serviced location; Pool Brain bills $50 plus $65 per active field tech.

Business · 5-minute read
35
Billing & Operations

FreshBooks Pricing: Do Archived Clients Count?

Plans at $23, $43 or $70 a month cap clients at 5, 50 or unlimited, and archived customers still count.

Business · 7-minute read
36
Billing & Operations

Xero Pricing: What Counts Toward Early's 20 Invoices?

Xero US plans run $27, $59 or $97 a month; on Early, know what counts toward 20 invoices a month.

Business · 6-minute read