Question 1

How is job costing different from getting paid?

Accepted Answer

Getting paid is the invoice. Job costing is estimate vs actual on the same job — bid, actual, margin $, margin %, hours over/under — so you know cost per job before you bid again. CostPerJob does the second job.

Question 2

Do I need to leave my invoice app?

Accepted Answer

No. Invoice apps get you paid. CostPerJob shows estimate vs actual on the same job.

Question 3

What counts as an open job?

Accepted Answer

One open job is one live job folder: estimate → log → scorecard → history. Free is three of those at a time — not three estimates or three scorecards as separate quotas. Close a job and that slot frees. We also call these active jobs on Free. Pro is unlimited active jobs at $29/mo.

Question 4

What does Free include?

Accepted Answer

Three active jobs at a time — not three estimates or three scorecards as separate caps. You still run estimate → log → scorecard on each. Estimate PDFs may be watermarked. Pro at $29/mo unlocks unlimited active jobs and drops the watermark. Billed monthly. There is no annual toggle.

Question 5

Is this only for solo owners?

Accepted Answer

No. Built for solo contractors and crews / trade businesses who need per-job margin — still not multi-crew dispatch.

Question 6

Who is CostPerJob for?

Accepted Answer

Solo contractors, crews, and trade businesses. Plumbers, HVAC, electricians, handymen. Most tools help you get the job and get paid. CostPerJob helps you see if the job made money — then you change the next bid. We do not sell multi-user seats or roles.

Question 7

What problem does CostPerJob solve?

Accepted Answer

Most tools help you get the job and get paid. CostPerJob helps you see if the job made money — bid, log costs, read the card before you bid the next one the same way.

Question 8

How do I use CostPerJob if I’m new?

Accepted Answer

Try a free tool with no account, then Start free for 3 active jobs. Close one job: pricebook → estimate → materials and hours → the card. Check history before the next bid. Pro is $29/mo if you need unlimited active jobs.

Question 9

Do you schedule jobs or text customers?

Accepted Answer

No. Scheduling, crew routing, and outbound SMS are not the product. If you still need a schedule, keep it elsewhere — see kit vs platform.

Question 10

What is a shop OS?

Accepted Answer

A shop OS is the operating system for the shop’s jobs and money: pricebook, estimate, open job, scorecard, and history. Field-service software runs the day. We run whether the job paid.

Question 11

How is a shop OS different from a field-service OS?

Accepted Answer

Field-service software runs the day — schedule, SMS, CRM, sometimes payments. A shop OS runs jobs and money. We do not schedule, dispatch, route crews, or send outbound SMS.

Question 12

What’s included?

Accepted Answer

Pricebook → estimate (PDF or link) → open job → log materials and hours → scorecard and history. Free includes 3 active jobs. Pro is $29/mo for unlimited. Estimate PDFs may carry a watermark on Free.

Question 13

Can I keep my invoice app?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Keep the app that wins work and gets you paid. CostPerJob sits after the invoice. We do not replace payments, QuickBooks, or a field-service schedule.

Question 14

Is there an AI estimator?

Accepted Answer

No. The tools on this site are arithmetic. You set the pricebook. We do not invent a bid.

Question 15

Do you take job payments or sync QuickBooks?

Accepted Answer

No job payments. No QuickBooks sync. CSV export is the complement — CostPerJob sits next to the books, it does not replace them.

Question 16

Who operates CostPerJob?

Accepted Answer

Media Yard LLC, PO Box 73, Pennsauken, NJ 08110. Terms, Privacy, the DPA, and the AI page are public. Write hello@costperjob.com.

Questions contractors actually ask.

See which jobs made money.