PUNCHDOCSA Joist alternative for contractors who quote on the job
If you're comparing estimating and invoicing apps, here's what PunchDocs does. It runs in your phone's browser, so there's nothing to install, and it was built by J&J Technical Services, a Central Texas low-voltage contractor, for our own jobs first.
Estimates that do the math
- Enter material cost and a markup (35% by default, change it any time) and the sell price is worked out; customers only see the sell price
- Saved labor rates and a quick labor takeoff: enter counts (drops, cabinets, feet) and the labor lines fill in
- Unlimited estimates on every plan, and one tap turns an approved estimate into an invoice
- Pro adds assemblies (a saved bundle like a Cat6 drop) and pasting or uploading a supplier quote straight into an estimate
Invoices and getting paid
- Estimates and invoices from your phone's browser, no app to install
- Saved clients, items, and rates, so repeat work takes seconds
- One tap turns an approved estimate into an invoice
- Email it from PunchDocs with a View & pay button, or text a link, and see when your customer opens it
- Record deposits and partial payments; the balance updates itself
- Clean PDFs with your logo, license number, and payment instructions
- A Pay button on the invoice link, and a QR code on the PDF that opens the same page
- Card, Apple Pay / Google Pay, or bank transfer (ACH), on Stripe's secure checkout
- Money goes to your own Stripe account and pays out to your bank
- The invoice is marked paid automatically, your client gets a receipt, and you get an alert
Fees, plainly: Stripe's processing fee (about 2.9% + 30¢ for cards, less for bank transfers) plus a PunchDocs fee of 1% on Pro or 2.5% on the free plan. Online payments are optional; you can always take checks, cash, or Zelle and record them yourself.
Price
Free: 1 new invoice every 30 days and unlimited estimates, no credit card. Pro: $9.99/month for unlimited invoices, reminders, photos, e-signatures, and simple Books. Your Pro rate is price-locked while you stay subscribed, and you cancel yourself any time.
Moving over
Bring clients, items, and invoices over with the CSV import (you match the columns and check everything before it's saved), and set your next invoice number so your numbering continues where it left off.
Questions
Is PunchDocs an app I download?
No. It runs in any phone, tablet, or computer browser. On a phone, use "Add to Home Screen" to open it like an app.
Can I keep my invoice numbers?
Yes. Set your next invoice number and prefix in Settings, and your numbering continues from there.
Is PunchDocs really free?
Yes. The free plan includes 1 new invoice every 30 days and unlimited estimates, clients, and items, with no credit card. Pro is $9.99/month for unlimited invoices and the extras, and you can cancel any time yourself.
Can customers pay by card through PunchDocs?
Yes, once you connect a Stripe account in Settings (about 5 minutes). Your invoice gets a Pay button and a QR code on the PDF; clients pay by card, Apple Pay / Google Pay, or bank transfer, and the invoice is marked paid on its own. Each online payment has Stripe's processing fee plus a PunchDocs fee of 1% on Pro or 2.5% on the free plan, and you can choose to pass a processing fee (capped at 3%) to your client.
Try it on your next job
Free plan: 1 new invoice every 30 days, unlimited estimates. Works in your phone's browser.
Create your free accountUsing Invoice Simple now? Bring your invoices over in one step.