Welcome to the ultimate guide to conquering the art of construction business management and marketing! In the fast-paced world of construction, success hinges not only on the quality of your work but also on your ability to efficiently manage projects, finances, and marketing efforts. Whether you’re a seasoned contractor or just starting out in the industry, navigating the plethora of tools available can be overwhelming.
One of the big questions we get asked at Contractor Coalition is the tools we use, and we don’t leave anything off of the table. Nick (Ns Builders), Brad (AFT Construction) and myself (construction2style), together have compiled a comprehensive list of essential tools and categorized them to help you streamline your operations, boost productivity, and elevate your construction business to new heights. So, grab your hard hat and get ready to embark on a journey towards success in the construction industry!
Financial, Sales Business Management
- Quickbooks
- Accounting software
- Bill.com
- Pay vendors with cc
- $79/month
- Hubdoc
- Hubdoc extracts key information from your receipts, invoices, and bills. No more data entry, no more filing.
- Free trial, then $12/month
- Adaptive:
- Helps manage costs and receipts efficiently.
- Calendly
- Calendar scheduling tool, time management – we also have workflows set up here. The team uses this for all calendar invites.
- Dubsado
- Workflow CRM. Automation emails for lead inquiries.
- Free Trial. Then $400/year
Design & Construction
- Digs – Digs collaboration software provides a better way to communicate, save, and share all the information about a home, in one place.
- Free trial
- Indesign for PDF design/modification for branded documents (led by our brand team at Slash)
Project Management, Collaboration, Communication
- BuilderTrend
- Construction software
- $99 – $799/month
- Asana
- Free trial
- Dropbox
- Google Workspace
- Canva
- Any and all graphics. Especially IG reels.
- Free
- Slack
- Internal team communication, productivity tool.
- Free, or the business plan is $12/month
- Contractor Coalition Group Slack Channel Linked Here
- Materio
- c2s design & bidding tool.Free Trial, then dependent on the number of jobs. Use code C2SLOVESMATERIO for a 20% discount coupon.
- Blue Beam
- Construction Software
- Free, then $200 – $400/month
- Indesign
- Digital and print design
- Free, then TBD
- Miro
- Real-time whiteboard app
- Free trial, then $16/month
- Procore
- Construction Management, Nick uses for construction. Nick uses Builder Trend for his cabinet shop.
- More expensive than Builder Trend.
- Blue Beam
- Construction Software
- Free, then $200 – $400/month
- Docusign –
- Loom
- for SOP video creation
Marketing & Branding
- Tailwinds
- Pinterest scheduling tool. Contractor Coalition Group, to help support one another.
- Free trial
- Buffer
- Social media scheduler tool for Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
- Free for 3 channels
- Later
- Ssocial media scheduler tool for Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
- $25/month – one user. Then $45/month
- Kajabi
- Online courses (you can see an example of c2s here)
- $200/month
- Monday.com
- Set tasks and deadlines for the team – also have created workflows here.
- Free for 2 seats. The standard is $10/month (30 seats).
- Loom.com
- Video when sending to clients to explain something or internal team so we never have to re-explain anything twice. Hello, time management.
- ConvertKit
- Is an intuitive email marketing platform designed to simplify the process of building and nurturing your audience. We love using ConvertKit for its user-friendly interface, robust automation features, and powerful segmentation options, enabling us to effortlessly engage with our subscribers and deliver personalized content that resonates with them.
- Is an intuitive email marketing platform designed to simplify the process of building and nurturing your audience. We love using ConvertKit for its user-friendly interface, robust automation features, and powerful segmentation options, enabling us to effortlessly engage with our subscribers and deliver personalized content that resonates with them.
- ChatGPT
- Is an advanced conversational AI developed by OpenAI, capable of understanding and generating human-like text responses across various topics. We love using ChatGPT for its remarkable ability to provide insightful and contextually relevant information, facilitate engaging conversations, and assist with a wide range of tasks, from brainstorming ideas to solving complex problems. Its adaptability and responsiveness make it an indispensable tool for communication and knowledge exploration.
- Lots more AI Tools we utilize linked here.
Miscellaneous Tools
- Evernote
- Evernote is a versatile platform that transcends traditional note-taking, offering comprehensive solutions for project planning and efficient information retrieval. With its intuitive interface and robust features, Evernote simplifies the process of capturing ideas, organizing tasks, and accessing information swiftly. Boasting a free trial to experience its full potential, Evernote empowers users to seamlessly transition from brainstorming sessions to project execution, all while providing easy-to-use tools for locating pertinent information whenever it’s needed. Whether jotting down quick reminders, collaborating on team projects, or archiving essential documents, Evernote’s adaptable framework ensures that users can stay productive and organized in any endeavor
- Freedom Travel Systems
- Freedom Travel Systems, with Eli Facenda at the helm, is Nick Schiffer’s preferred choice for travel management solutions. Eli Facenda’s expertise and dedication ensure that our travel experiences are seamless and tailored to our preferences. With Freedom Travel Systems, we enjoy personalized service, access to exclusive deals, and comprehensive support throughout our journeys. Eli’s commitment to excellence and attention to detail make every trip a memorable and stress-free experience. When emailing him mention “Nick Schiffer” so they know where the referral came from.
- Lenovo, Think Pads
- Lenovo’s ThinkPad series stands as a benchmark in the world of laptops, renowned for their durability, performance, and reliability. With an average price of $1,500, ThinkPads offer exceptional value for professionals and enthusiasts alike. Boasting robust construction and cutting-edge technology, ThinkPads are engineered to withstand the rigors of daily use while delivering uncompromising performance. From powerful processors and ample storage options to ergonomic keyboards and vibrant displays, ThinkPads cater to the diverse needs of modern users, whether they’re tackling demanding workloads or indulging in multimedia entertainment. Renowned for their sleek design and renowned ThinkPad features like the TrackPoint, fingerprint reader, and legendary keyboard, Lenovo’s ThinkPad lineup continues to set the standard for excellence in the realm of laptops.
- Indesign
- InDesign stands as a cornerstone in the realm of digital and print design, offering a comprehensive toolkit tailored to meet the diverse needs of designers and publishers. Seamlessly blending precision and creativity, InDesign empowers users to craft captivating layouts for a variety of mediums, from magazines and brochures to digital publications and eBooks. Its intuitive interface and robust features streamline the design process, enabling users to bring their visions to life with unmatched finesse and efficiency. While InDesign offers its software for free, future pricing is yet to be determined, ensuring accessibility for creators of all levels while allowing for sustainable development and support of the platform. Whether designing for print or digital platforms, InDesign remains a trusted ally for professionals seeking to elevate their projects to new heights of excellence
- Miro
- Miro is a dynamic real-time whiteboard application that revolutionizes collaboration and ideation processes. With its intuitive interface and versatile tools, Miro empowers teams to brainstorm, plan, and innovate seamlessly, regardless of physical location. Offering a free trial period to experience its full potential, Miro subsequently provides a subscription service at a reasonable rate of $16 per month, ensuring continued access to its extensive features and updates. Whether it’s mapping out strategies, sketching designs, or organizing thoughts, Miro facilitates fluid communication and fosters creativity within teams, making it an indispensable tool for modern businesses and professionals alike.
- Miro is a dynamic real-time whiteboard application that revolutionizes collaboration and ideation processes. With its intuitive interface and versatile tools, Miro empowers teams to brainstorm, plan, and innovate seamlessly, regardless of physical location. Offering a free trial period to experience its full potential, Miro subsequently provides a subscription service at a reasonable rate of $16 per month, ensuring continued access to its extensive features and updates. Whether it’s mapping out strategies, sketching designs, or organizing thoughts, Miro facilitates fluid communication and fosters creativity within teams, making it an indispensable tool for modern businesses and professionals alike.
- Flipsnack
- Flipsnack is an innovative online platform tailored for creating and publishing digital booklets in PDF format. We appreciate Flipsnack for its user-friendly interface, which allows us to easily design visually appealing and interactive publications. With Flipsnack, we can seamlessly share our content online, reaching a wider audience while maintaining the professional quality of our materials. Its versatile features and customization options make it an indispensable tool for showcasing portfolios, brochures, catalogs, and more with ease.
- Flipsnack is an innovative online platform tailored for creating and publishing digital booklets in PDF format. We appreciate Flipsnack for its user-friendly interface, which allows us to easily design visually appealing and interactive publications. With Flipsnack, we can seamlessly share our content online, reaching a wider audience while maintaining the professional quality of our materials. Its versatile features and customization options make it an indispensable tool for showcasing portfolios, brochures, catalogs, and more with ease.
- Airtable
- Airtable is a versatile platform that we love using for content scheduling. Its intuitive interface and customizable templates make it easy to organize and manage our content calendar effectively. With Airtable, we can plan and schedule our content creation process, collaborate with team members, track deadlines, and ensure consistency across multiple channels. Its flexibility allows us to adapt our scheduling workflow to fit our specific needs, making content management a seamless and efficient process.
