Joist is a sales and invoicing tool for contractors and small businesses. It helps create professional estimates, convert them to invoices, and automate payments, with the goal of growing sales up to 45% through faster invoicing and online payment options.
Joist is a purpose-built sales and invoicing platform for contractors, tradespeople, and small service businesses. It focuses on one core workflow: turning a quick estimate into a paid invoice as fast as possible. With a 4.7-star rating from over 12,000 reviews and claims of boosting sales by up to 45%, Joist has carved out a strong niche in the contractor software space. It is not a full CRM or project management suite -- it is a streamlined tool for the estimate-to-payment cycle.
The platform's key strength is speed. Users can create a professional estimate in minutes from a mobile app or desktop, send it to a client, and then convert it to an invoice with a single tap. Joist supports online payments via credit card, eCheck, and third-party financing, which helps contractors get paid faster. Automated payment reminders and client activity tracking further reduce the back-and-forth that slows down small businesses. The tool also integrates with QuickBooks for accounting, and higher-tier plans add work orders, change orders, and business reports.
Pricing is straightforward and affordable. The Basics plan at $8 per month covers up to 5 documents and online payments, but lacks work orders and logo branding. The Pro plan at $15 per month unlocks unlimited documents, work orders, QuickBooks sync, and client activity tracking. The Elite plan at $32 per month adds business reports, change orders, advanced line items, priority support, and expert call bookings. Annual billing gives two months free, making the effective monthly cost even lower. A 14-day free trial with full Pro or Elite features is available with no credit card required.
Joist is best for independent contractors and small trades businesses -- electricians, plumbers, landscapers, painters, and similar professionals who need to generate quotes and collect payments on the go. It is less suited for larger firms that need a full CRM, marketing automation, or multi-user project management. The lack of a public API also limits custom integrations. However, for its target audience, Joist delivers exactly what is needed: a fast, mobile-friendly way to turn a job opportunity into revenue.
Overall, Joist is a well-executed, focused tool that solves a real pain point for contractors. The high user satisfaction and concrete sales growth numbers back up its value proposition. If you are a contractor tired of juggling spreadsheets, paper invoices, and slow payment cycles, Joist is worth a serious look. Just be aware of its limitations -- it is a specialist tool, not a Swiss Army knife.
Features
- Quick estimates
- Professional estimates
- Convert estimates to invoices
- Track payments
- Automate reminders
- Online payments via card, eCheck, or third-party financing
- Generate work orders
- QuickBooks sync
- Business reports
- Change orders
- Advanced line items
- Priority email support
- Expert call bookings
Pricing
Pros
- 4.7-star rating from over 12,000 reviews
- Users report sales growth of 35-45%
- Saves up to 50% of time on estimating jobs
- Easy to use with a modern interface
- Supports multiple payment methods including financing
Cons
- Not a full CRM or marketing system
- No public API available
- Basics plan limited to 5 documents and no work orders
- No built-in project management beyond invoicing
Best For
Contractors and tradespeople who need fast, professional estimates and invoicing with online payment capabilities, especially those looking to improve cash flow and win more jobs.