Getting paid on time is one of the biggest cash flow challenges in construction. The right software makes invoices professional, automates payment reminders, enables online payment, and generates the specific billing formats (AIA G702/G703, progress billing, retainage applications) that different project types require.

What contractors need from construction invoicing software

  • Professional invoice generation — branded, line-item invoices that look legitimate and get taken seriously
  • Online payment collection — ACH and credit card payments that get deposited faster than paper checks
  • Progress billing — invoicing against completed phases or percentage-complete on longer projects
  • Change order billing — approved COs should automatically appear on the next invoice
  • Retainage management — tracking what clients hold back and releasing it correctly at project completion
  • AIA billing — G702/G703 format required for commercial projects
  • Lien waiver generation — conditional and unconditional waivers tied to payment receipt

Top picks for construction invoicing

Buildertrend — Best for residential contractors

Buildertrend's invoicing is tightly integrated with the rest of the project: change orders flow into invoices automatically, payment schedules track against project milestones, and clients can pay online through the client portal. The payment portal is particularly valuable — clients can pay with ACH or credit card without you having to chase a check.

  • Draw schedules tied to project milestones
  • Online payment through client portal (ACH + credit card)
  • Change order amounts automatically added to next invoice
  • Invoice approval and signature collection
  • Retainage tracking and release at project close

Buildertrend's integrated payment portal gets residential contractors paid faster — no more chasing checks.

Try Buildertrend

Houzz Pro — Best for smaller residential contractors

Houzz Pro includes online invoicing and payment collection at a much lower price point than Buildertrend. For residential remodelers who need professional invoices and the ability to accept payment online without a complex platform, Houzz Pro delivers at $85/month.

Houzz Pro makes online invoicing and payment collection accessible for smaller contractors.

Try Houzz Pro

JobTread — Best for job cost-linked invoicing

JobTread's invoicing is tied to its job costing system, which means you can see exactly where each project stands financially when you invoice. Progress invoices reflect actual completed work, and the system tracks what's been billed vs. what's remaining in the contract — valuable for contractors doing progress billing on longer jobs.

JobTread's invoicing connected to real-time job costs gives you billing clarity on every project.

Try JobTread

Knowify — Best for AIA billing (commercial subs)

Commercial subcontractors billing via G702/G703 applications for payment need Knowify or a similar commercial-focused platform. Knowify automates the schedule of values, retainage calculations, and change order integration into pay apps — reducing the time to produce each pay application from hours to minutes.

What to look for in your invoicing workflow

  • Speed: How long does it take to generate and send an invoice? If it's more than 10 minutes per job, you're losing time you don't have.
  • Online payment: Paper checks delay payment by 5–15 days on average. Online payment closes that gap significantly.
  • Integration with estimates: Invoices should pull from the original estimate and approved change orders, not be built from scratch each time.
  • Client reminders: Automated reminders for unpaid invoices save you awkward collection calls.
  • Accounting sync: Your invoices should sync to QuickBooks or your accounting software automatically — not require manual entry.

BuilderSoftwareGuide earns commissions when you sign up through our links. This doesn't affect our recommendations. See our disclosure.