Spreadsheets, a calendar and texting
The setup most service businesses start with.
- Good at
- It is free and you already know it.
- Where it falls short
- Nothing is connected. Double bookings, unpaid jobs and forgotten follow-ups are on you to catch.
- Pick it if
- You do a handful of jobs a month and have no plans to grow.
Free booking apps
A booking link with a calendar behind it.
- Good at
- Quick to start and costs nothing.
- Where it falls short
- They stop at the booking. Size pricing, review requests, rebooking and crew tools are missing or paid extras.
- Pick it if
- You only need appointments, with one flat price per service.
General field-service platforms
Large tools built for many trades at once.
- Good at
- Deep features for bigger operations, such as dispatch boards and accounting sync.
- Where it falls short
- Often priced per user, and set up for larger teams than a one-to-ten person business needs.
- Pick it if
- You run a large multi-crew operation and need accounting and route tools today.
Single-trade apps
Software built for one trade only.
- Good at
- Tailored words and features for that trade.
- Where it falls short
- If you add a second service line, or your trade is not the one they picked, you are working around it.
- Pick it if
- You will only ever do that one trade and want its niche extras.