Joist Review - Features, Pricing & Deals

Joist is a billing and invoicing software built for contractors in various trades including fencing, flooring, drywall, and carpentry. The platform helps streamline daily operations by simplifying estimate creation, invoice management, and payment processing.

At its core, the software focuses on making administrative tasks easier for contractors. Users can create professional estimates and invoices, track expenses, and manage customer information all in one place. The built-in payment system lets clients pay directly through the platform, while integration with QuickBooks keeps financial records organized.

The tool comes in three tiers: a free basic plan for smaller operations, a Pro plan at $14 monthly with expanded features, and an Elite plan at $32 monthly for advanced needs. Mobile apps for iOS and Android ensure contractors can manage their business from anywhere, while features like custom branding and document attachments help maintain a professional image.

Since 2011, Joist has grown to support over 150,000 contractors in their daily operations. The platform now operates as part of EverCommerce, continuing to develop tools that help contractors run more efficient businesses.

• Estimates and Invoices: Create professional estimates and invoices quickly, with the ability to add line items and document photos for enhanced clarity and client communication.
• Online Payments: Support direct online payment options, making it easier for clients to settle invoices and improve cash flow for contractors.
• Homeowner Financing: Offer flexible financing options to clients, helping contractors secure more jobs and provide convenient payment terms.
• Customer and Job Management: Organize all customer information and job details in one centralized platform for streamlined project tracking.
• QuickBooks Sync: Automatically sync data between Joist and QuickBooks Online, simplifying bookkeeping and reducing manual data entry.
• Document Customization: Add custom logos, photos, and contracts to professional documents, enhancing your business's professional image.
• Client Notifications: Receive real-time updates when clients view, open, or sign estimates and invoices, keeping you informed about client interactions.
• Expense Tracking: Monitor and organize all job-related expenses with built-in tracking tools for better financial management.
• Work Order Creation: Easily generate work orders by removing sensitive information from estimates and invoices for your crew.
• File Attachments: Attach important documents like floor plans or receipts directly to estimates and invoices for comprehensive project documentation.
• Line Item Markup: Add photos to line items and apply customizable markup to ensure precise and transparent pricing for your services.

• Joist Basics provides a free version with up to 5 documents per month, unlimited clients, logo display, line item and photo additions, and basic collaboration tools.
• Joist Pro offers unlimited documents, online payments, homeowner financing, project templates, QuickBooks sync, and support for $14 monthly or $140 annually.
• Joist Elite includes all Pro features plus deposit schedules, change orders, client activity tracking, and priority support at $32 monthly or $320 annually.
• Annual plans provide a discount, effectively giving users two free months compared to monthly billing for both Pro and Elite subscriptions.

Joist Basics (the free plan) lets you create up to 5 documents monthly with unlimited clients. You can add your logo, include line items, and attach photos to documents. The paid plans remove the document limit and add features like online payments, QuickBooks sync, and homeowner financing options. If you're a small contractor with few monthly invoices, the free plan might work, but most growing businesses will need Joist Pro or Elite for unlimited documents and more advanced features.

Yes, you can accept credit card payments through Joist with the Pro and Elite plans. The payment processing feature lets your clients pay invoices online directly through the app. This helps you get paid faster and offers a more professional experience for your customers. Many contractors find this feature saves them time chasing payments and improves their cash flow.

Joist works on both iPhone and Android devices through their mobile app. You can create estimates and invoices right from your phone while at a job site. The app syncs across all your devices, so you can start work on your phone and finish it later on your tablet or computer. This flexibility helps contractors manage their business from anywhere without being tied to an office.

Joist's QuickBooks integration syncs your estimates, invoices, and payments with QuickBooks Online automatically. When you create or update documents in Joist, the information transfers to QuickBooks, saving you from double entry. This feature helps keep your accounting accurate and up-to-date without extra work. The sync is included with the Pro and Elite plans and can save hours of bookkeeping time each month.

If a client doesn't pay an invoice, Joist offers several tools to help. You can send automatic payment reminders to clients with past due invoices. The system also tracks when clients view invoices, so you know if they've seen them. With the Elite plan, you can set up payment schedules to break large invoices into manageable chunks. While Joist helps with tracking and reminders, you'll still need to follow up with non-paying clients yourself as needed.