Joist
Estimating and invoicing app for contractors
Job Estimation & Quoting, Invoicing & Billing, Mobile Field Service Tools
Joist exists to help contractors create professional estimates, convert them into invoices, and streamline payment collection so they can save time and win more jobs. It centralizes job and client information across mobile and web to keep field teams and office workflows aligned.
Verdict
If you need fast, mobile-first on-site estimating, simple invoicing, integrated payments and QuickBooks Online sync (and you are a solo operator or very small crew), choose Joist. However, if you prioritize full offline operation, advanced dispatching/GPS crew tracking, extensive multi-accounting integrations, or enterprise-grade support and scalability, look elsewhere.
Pricing
Three paid plans listed monthly (Basics $10 / month, Pro $16 / month, Elite $32 / month); annual billing options and a 14-day free trial are noted.
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Basics | $10 / month |
| Pro | $16 / month |
| Elite | $32 / month |
Key features
- Native Mobile App (iOS / Android)
- QuickBooks Sync
- Mobile-first Design
- Digital Signature (E-signatures)
- Convert Quote to Invoice
- Quote/Estimate Templates
- Customer Financing / Lending Options
- Cost Markups / Auto Markup
- Labor / Material Line Items
- Mobile Quoting (estimate on the spot)
- Accounting Integration (general)
- Customer Approval / Approval Workflow
- Online / Mobile Payment Acceptance
- Automated Invoice Reminders
- Client / Customer Management
- Subscriber Rewards Program
- Purchase Orders
- Expense Tracking
- Reporting (payments, sales, projects)
- Homeowner Financing (offered)
Limitations
Limited offline functionality; many advanced features gated to Pro/Elite; integration mainly with QuickBooks Online (other accounting stacks limited); not dispatch/crew/GPS focused; reported inconsistent customer-support responsiveness and refund delays.
How to do tasks with Joist
How to create and send quotes and convert to invoices?
Free possible
- Click Settings > My company
Open Settings, select My company, click Company logo and upload your PNG/JPG, then type your Company name, address, business tax number, company email and industry.
- Click Payments
Open Payments and connect a PayPal account (or set up Joist Payments) so clients can pay by card or eCheck; note the card transaction fee shown in the Payments settings.
- Click Document settings
Open Document settings, set your default Payment terms (e.g., 0 or 30 days) and edit the Footer message that appears on every estimate/invoice.
- Click Add a new tax
Open Taxes or Add a new tax and create your tax (for example GST 5%); save it so you can apply it on line items and have totals calculate automatically.
- Click New Invoice > Add client
From the main screen create a New Invoice, then Add client by typing their name and email (or pick an existing client from My clients) so the document is addressed and can be emailed.
- Click Add line item
Add line items by typing the description, unit/quantity and price; click GST on the line to include tax, and use Markup / Discount / Request a deposit / Payment schedule fields as needed.
- Click Display options
Open Display options and toggle off Quantity/Rate if you prefer to show only the total on the client-facing invoice or estimate.
- Click Save
Save the invoice or estimate, then use the built-in email option to Email it to the client from the document screen or send immediately from the mobile app.
- Tap Estimates > Convert estimates into invoices
Open Estimates, select the saved estimate, and use the Convert estimates into invoices action to turn that estimate into an invoice ready to send or accept payment.
- Click QuickBooks sync
If you use QuickBooks Online, enable QuickBooks sync in settings (Joist Pro/paid tier) so jobs, client data and invoices synchronize with your QuickBooks account.
How to create and send quotes and convert them to invoices?
Free possible
- Click Settings > My company
Open Settings, choose My company, then upload your Company logo (PNG/JPEG) and type your company name, address, phone, email, website and business tax information to appear on all quotes and invoices.
- Click New Invoice
From the main dashboard choose New Invoice to start a billing document inside Joist's app or web interface.
- Add client
In the New Invoice screen type the client's name and Email into the client fields (you can create the client on the fly here or select an existing client from My clients).
- Click add line items
Tap add line items to add each Labor or Material row, type the Description, enter Quantity and Rate (or a single Price), and use the gst checkbox on the line to apply your tax.
- Set pricing adjustments (Markup / Discount / Request a deposit / Payment schedule)
Use the Markup, Discount, Request a deposit, or Payment schedule controls shown on the invoice screen to apply automatic markups, discounts, request deposits or create staged payments; verify the Subtotal and Total update with GST.
- Click Display options
Open Display options to toggle visible fields (for example turn off Quantity and Rate to show a single total) so the invoice/estimate appears how you want before sending.
- Click Save then Send (Email) to client
Tap Save to store the invoice/estimate, then use Send to email the document to the client's email address; the default footer message and your company details will be included.
- Click Payments > PayPal (optional)
If you want online payments, open Payments, connect your PayPal account so clients can pay by card via PayPal (note transaction fees apply) or instruct clients to e-transfer per your footer message.
- Click Estimates > Open saved Estimate > Click Convert to Invoice
Open Estimates, select the saved estimate you want to bill, and use the Convert to Invoice action to create an invoice from that estimate, then review line items, Save and Send the resulting invoice.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Mobile-first on-site estimating and quoting (create estimates/invoices from the jobsite)
- Integrated payments (Joist Payments) and homeowner financing options to get paid faster
- Simple, easy-to-use UI that speeds up estimating (templates, item library, automatic totals)
- Digital signatures, photo attachments and change order support (change orders available in Elite)
- QuickBooks Online sync to reduce bookkeeping duplication
- Low entry price and a limited free tier for solo contractors / Basics tier at ~$8/month
Cons
- Many advanced features (QuickBooks sync, change orders, reporting, photos, expense tracking) require paid upgrades
- Customer support complaints: slow/responsive issues, refunds and payment-setup fixes reported to take multiple follow-ups and weeks
- Limited offline capability and lacks deeper field service features (dispatch, GPS tracking, advanced scheduling) — not suited for larger teams
- Some users report the product doesn’t scale well for bigger teams or complex workflows
- Integration limitations: QuickBooks Online supported, but desktop/self-employed versions and broader accounting integrations are limited
FAQ
What is Joist?
Joist is a mobile and web app for contractors to create estimates and invoices, collect payments, and manage jobs to streamline field and office workflows.
Which platforms does Joist support?
Joist is available on the web and as native mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Who is Joist designed for?
Joist is purpose-built for contractors and trade businesses—general contractors, plumbers, electricians, painters, landscapers and similar field-service professionals.
Where can I find Joist pricing?
Pricing information and plan details (Joist Basics, Pro, Elite) are available on Joist's pricing page: https://www.joist.com/pricing/.
How does Joist help contractors get paid faster?
Joist centralizes estimates and invoices and supports online payment options so contractors can send professional quotes and speed up payment collection.