The $400 Crawlspace Lesson
I was belly-down in three inches of 'questionable' standing water under a Victorian fixer-upper. My Milwaukee headlamp was flickering, and I was trying to hold a flashlight in my teeth while cinching a PEX ring. By the time I crawled out, covered in spider webs and greywater, I realized my paper invoice pad was a soggy brick of mush in my back pocket.
That was $400 worth of labor and parts literally washed away because I couldn't read my own chicken scratch. If you're still using a carbon-copy book on the dashboard of your Sprinter, you aren't just old school—you’re bleeding money.
The 'Muddy Thumb' Test
I’ve tried the corporate 'enterprise solutions' pushed by guys in pleated khakis. Most of them were designed by people who have never held a pipe wrench. If an app requires me to type a novel just to bill for a service call, it’s garbage.
When I look at tech now, I put it through the Muddy Thumb Test: Can I send an accurate invoice with one hand while my other hand is holding a manifold, and can I do it without squinting at the screen for twenty minutes?
The Top Contenders for Real Plumbers
1. Joist: The Field Favorite
Joist is the Dewalt of invoicing. It’s rugged, simple, and doesn't try to be a social media platform. You can build a 'Items List' so you aren't typing '1/2 inch copper elbow' for the ten-thousandth time. You just tap the part, add the quantity, and the math is done. It makes you look like a pro even if your van is a disaster.
2. ServiceTitan (Go): The Heavy Hitter
If you’re a one-man show, this might be overkill. But if you have a couple of trucks and a dispatcher, this is the Hilti of the group. It’s expensive, but it tracks everything from the first 'drip-drip' phone call to the final payment. It’s built for scale, not just for billing.
3. Invoice2go: The Quick Fix
This is for the service call specialist. It’s lightweight and fast. The best part? It tells you the second a customer opens the email. No more 'Oh, I never got the invoice' excuses from homeowners when you’re trying to collect.
Pro Tip: Stop waiting until Sunday night to do your billing over a beer. If the invoice isn't sent before you shut the back doors of your truck, you're giving the customer an interest-free loan they didn't earn.
Why Typing is the Enemy
The goal of a good app isn't to give you more work; it's to eliminate the 'office' part of your day. You want an app that syncs with QuickBooks so your accountant stops nagging you, and one that accepts credit cards on the spot.
Yes, the processing fees suck. But you know what sucks more? Driving across town to pick up a $150 check that’s been 'sitting on the counter' for two weeks. Get paid before you leave the driveway.
The Verdict
If you’re just starting to ditch the paper, grab Joist. It’s intuitive and won't make you want to throw your phone into a sump pit. If you’re running a fleet, suck it up and pay for ServiceTitan. Either way, stop letting your hard-earned cash get lost under the seat of your van.