Field service software for a 3 to 25 person trade shop
The short answer
A trade shop of 3 to 25 people needs one field service app that takes the call, puts the job on the schedule, sends the estimate, sends the invoice and takes the payment, with the office at a desk and the techs on their phones working the same job. It should come set up for the shop's trade, run without a full-time software admin, and send the books to QuickBooks. TradesBackbone is field service software built for that size: Starter includes 3 users, Pro 10 and Elite 25.
TradesBackbone at a glance
- Built for
- Trade shops of about 3 to 25 people
- Trades
- HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, landscaping, lawn care, cleaning, pest control and more
- Who uses it
- The owner and office at a computer, techs on their phones
- Does
- Text inbox, booking, schedule board, estimates, change orders, invoices, card and bank payments, time clock
- Books
- QuickBooks Online sync or simple built-in books (Pro)
- Not for
- Call centers, running payroll, inventory accounting
- Locations
- More than one location on the Operations plan
What a shop this size needs
Each need, and how TradesBackbone handles it.
- 1
One place for every customer text
Texts land in one inbox the whole office shares, and a missed call to your business number gets a text back automatically. Customers can book an open arrival window online.
- 2
A schedule the whole shop can see
Every job has a date, a window and the person doing it. The office moves a job by tapping a name or dragging it on the board.
- 3
Crews and a driving orderPro
Group techs into crews and get a suggested driving order with the drive time between stops.
- 4
Estimates the customer approves by text
Build the estimate from your own price list, send it as a text link, and the customer taps Approve, with a deposit if you ask for one. Extra work found on site goes out as a change order first.
- 5
Invoices that get paid the same day
Send the invoice by text when the job is done, with a card or bank payment link through Stripe. Record cash and checks, or invoice a whole day of jobs at once.
- 6
Hours ready for payroll
Everyone clocks in and out on their phone. Pro adds hours and overtime ready to hand to your payroll service.
- 7
Work without a signalElite
Jobs, notes, photos and the time clock save on the phone and sync when the tech is back in range.
Who it is for
- Trade shops of about 3 to 25 people.
- An owner or office manager who books and invoices, and techs who work from their phones.
- Shops that want the estimate, the job and the invoice to be one record.
- Shops with more than one location, on the Operations plan.
What it is not for
- Shops much bigger than 25 people with a call center and a full-time software admin.
- Running payroll. It tracks hours; your payroll service pays people.
- Inventory accounting. It counts the parts you track and shows what is low, but never values stock on the books.
Set up for your trade
Plumbing or electrical? What software do plumbers and electricians use?
Questions shop owners ask
What field service software fits a 3 to 25 person trade shop?
A trade shop of 3 to 25 people needs one field service app that takes the call, puts the job on the schedule, sends the estimate, sends the invoice and takes the payment, with the office at a desk and the techs on their phones working the same job. It should come set up for the shop's trade, run without a full-time software admin, and send the books to QuickBooks. TradesBackbone is field service software built for that size: Starter includes 3 users, Pro 10 and Elite 25.
What should a small trade shop look for first?
That the techs will actually use it on a phone, that it comes set up for your trade, and that the estimate, the job and the invoice are one record so nothing is typed twice. Then check how it sends the books to your accounting software.
How many users does TradesBackbone include?
Starter includes 3 users, Pro includes 10 and Elite includes 25. Each extra user is $40/mo.
Does it come set up for my trade?
Yes. At sign-up you pick your trade and the price list categories, checklists and job fields come ready for it. You can change the trade later in Settings.
Do I still need QuickBooks?
Most shops keep it because their accountant works in it. On Pro, customers, items, invoices and payments sync to QuickBooks Online. A shop without an accountant can use the simple built-in books instead.
We have more than one location. Does that work?
Yes, on the Operations plan: separate schedules and crews per location, with profit and loss by location.
How does it fit with the rest of Martello's stack?
TradesBackbone is the customer side of Martello's connected stack, with Mycel as the brain: with Mycel connected, the AI front desk can answer customers from what you share in Mycel.
How do I get started?
Start a free trial and look around, or book a 15-minute walkthrough of TradesBackbone first.