How to Choose the Best Field Service Invoice Software

Do you remember the time when field service companies used to hire data entry operators and accountants to manually maintain records of bills and invoices in bulky and heavy files? This pre-computer era was tedious. It took days or even weeks, to pen down invoices and send them out to customers. Then, as if this wasn’t daunting enough, there was the dreaded follow-up of unpaid bills. Above being a pain, the entire process costs time and money.

Luckily, we’re in 2020, and the times have changed. We live in an era where lawn care company owners, among others, can put this nerve-wracking process behind them. The advent of technology has paved the way for field service management software like Sagenine, that’s not only efficient but also helps a company cut down its expenses.

But, with a myriad of options to choose from, how then do you select the best field service invoice software that’s ideal for you? Well, we’ve rounded up some essential factors to consider that’ll permit an informed decision. Read on!

1. Know and Understand Your Needs

Knowing what you’re looking for in field service invoice software is crucial to make the right selection. Do you need software to simply track the time spent then send out invoices based on that? Are you on the quest for software that’s integrated with a scheduling system, for instance? How many people will you need to access the software?

These are just some of the many questions that you need to take into consideration. And, depending on the size of your company, you may want to involve the employees that will be using the software, for optimum efficiency.

2. Your Budget

Various payment plans can impact your purchase decision. So, it’s essential to have a budget in place when selecting service invoice software. For instance, software that’s based in the cloud comes with a monthly subscription that can run into hundreds of dollars.

Nonetheless, remember, to enjoy the full suite of services that the best service invoice software is pricey at first, but will help you save money in the long-run. For instance, it accurately calculates tax deductions.

For most businesses, using QuickBooks Online is the best choice. QuickBooks can handle all of your accounting needs. For most lawn and landscaping businesses, QuickBooks is the right way to go. If this is the case for you, then finding the best lawn and landscape management cloud software is your best choice. The best field service software products automatically integrate with QuickBooks Online. Sagenine is the best choice for most lawn and landscape companies, because their software seamlessly integrates with QuickBooks Online.

3. Industry-Specific Invoice and Billing Software

Different industries have varying needs. The software package you settle for should be unique to your business. Therefore, a one-size-fits-all package simply won’t cut it. For instance, lawn care business owners will want to consider a package that focuses more on job costing and integrates seamlessly with accounting software.

4. Compare the Features

Before hastily making a decision, carefully examine the features of each service invoice software package. So, the first thing to look out for is the type of information that you can include on the invoices. Some basic packages have a requirement that the generated invoices have their logo, not your company’s, on them. To change this, you’d have to have to upgrade to a more superior package.

Secondly, consider whether your lawn mowing software automatically sends reminders to customers when invoices are past due. Thirdly, is the software accessible on your mobile device while you’re out and about? If not, then you should consider a package that has a mobile app and is cloud-based for maximum-packed convenience.

5. Look Out for Integrations

Your company may already use multiple systems that serve different purposes like HR and payroll. So, in an ideal scenario, the best service invoice software should communicate well with these systems to generate all the information you need on one dashboard. Not only will this save you the hassle of jumping from one system to another to find information but will also minimize errors.

6. Credit Card Processing

Look for the best service invoice software that permits the swift processing of credit cards to make the billing process, a walk in the park. The best software solutions even come with an auto-billing feature that ensures customers don’t skip out on payments.

7. Receive and Send Information

The top of the range billing software offers readily available customer information upon processing an invoice. It also allows you to promptly send the transaction details to their email or as a text message to give them the much-needed peace of mind in knowing it was successful. However, this feature is only possible if the customer information in a centralized database.

8. Ask the Right Questions

When vetting out service invoice software, you and your team need to come up with a list of questions to ensure that you’re buying the right solution for your company. Here are some of the crucial questions to ask to avoid frittering away your money on a product that won’t get the job done

• Are there hidden costs like setup and monthly charges?
• Is it user-friendly?
• How is the data backed up and restored?
• Can it grow with your business?
• How safe is it for your business?
• Is it customizable for your company?
• Are there extra charges for technical support?

This is only a fraction of the questions you’ll need to ask. After narrowing down your decision to a few options, test out the demo version of each. This will give you a clear picture of what using the software would be like.

9. Security

While there is an array of aspects that come into play when selecting invoice software, nothing beats safety. It handles your company’s financial data and has all your customers’ details. So, you need to ensure that it has foolproof security features, which would also mean you’re covered in case of a mishap.

The Take-Home Message

It’s no secret that field service companies shut down due to cash flow problems that stem from not sending out invoices and poor tracking of finances. Luckily, the best field service invoice software is designed to relieve you of the pressure of manually sending out invoices and following up on them. And, the above tips come in handy when selecting a software package that’s ideal for you.