FreshBooks

Name: FreshBooks
Price: 6.90 USD

Reviewed by Nick Krane (10+ years in B2B media) · Last updated April 2026

Best for: Solo contractors or owner-operators who already use a separate scheduling tool and need clean, affordable accounting software to replace spreadsheets or reduce QuickBooks costs.

3.8/ 5.0

Ease of Use

4.5

Value

3.5

Support

4.5

Features

2.5

How we rate software

Our Take

FreshBooks is accounting and invoicing software, not field service management software. That distinction matters a lot if you're an HVAC tech or appliance repair shop comparing it to something like ServiceTitan or Housecall Pro. What FreshBooks does well is the financial back-office: invoicing, expense tracking, mileage logging, bank reconciliation, and payroll. For a solo contractor who currently runs their books out of a spreadsheet or a shoebox of receipts, it's a genuine step up.

The pricing is approachable. The Plus plan at $12.90/month (regularly $43) handles up to 50 clients, gives you proposals and estimates, and lets your accountant in without paying extra. The Premium tier at $21/month opens up project profitability tracking, which is actually useful for a plumber or electrician trying to figure out whether their flat-rate jobs are making money. But team members cost $11/month each on top of any plan, and if you add payroll ($40/month plus $6 per user) and Advanced Payments ($20/month), a three-tech shop is looking at $100-plus monthly before you're even thinking about scheduling or dispatch.

The core gap for trade contractors is everything operational. There's no job scheduling, no dispatch board, no customer history tied to equipment, no parts inventory, and no technician GPS tracking. FreshBooks pairs well with a dedicated field service tool, but it doesn't replace one. Contractors already using QuickBooks Online who want to switch for a cleaner UI will find FreshBooks competitive. Those expecting an all-in-one will be disappointed.

Pros

Invoicing is genuinely fast, with automated late payment reminders and recurring invoice support built into mid-tier plans.
Mobile receipt scanning and automated expense categorization reduce bookkeeping time for techs who are constantly buying parts and supplies.
Project profitability tracking on the Premium plan ($21/month) gives contractors a clear view of which job types actually make money.
Mileage tracking is built in across all plans, which matters for contractors driving service vehicles and writing off mileage.
Support ratings are unusually high (4.8/5 across 120,000+ reviews) and the team doesn't bounce you between departments.

Cons

No job scheduling, dispatch, or technician routing whatsoever, meaning contractors need a separate field service tool to run day-to-day operations.
The 5-client cap on the entry-level Lite plan ($6.90/month) is too restrictive for almost any active service contractor.
Team member seats at $11/month each add up fast for shops with even a small crew, pushing real-world costs well above the advertised base price.
No equipment history or asset tracking, which is a basic requirement for HVAC and appliance repair businesses managing repeat service customers.

Key Features

Professional invoicing with automated late payment remindersEstimates and proposalsExpense tracking with mobile receipt scanningAutomated bank account import and reconciliationMileage trackingProject profitability reportingRecurring invoices and client retainersDouble-entry accounting and tax-time reportsPayroll (add-on)Accountant access

Integrations

StripePayPalGustoShopifyHubSpotZoomCalendlyFundboxSquarespaceWooCommerce

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does FreshBooks cost for a contractor?

FreshBooks starts at $6.90/month for the Lite plan, but that tier caps you at 5 clients. Most contractors need at least the Plus plan at $12.90/month or Premium at $21/month. Add team member seats ($11/month each), payroll ($40/month plus $6 per user), and Advanced Payments ($20/month) and a small shop can easily spend $100+ monthly.

Does FreshBooks have a free trial?

Yes. FreshBooks offers a 30-day free trial on all plans, and a 30-day money-back guarantee if you purchase and decide it's not the right fit.

Is FreshBooks worth it for HVAC or appliance repair businesses?

For back-office accounting, yes. FreshBooks handles invoicing, expenses, mileage, and bookkeeping well at a low price point. But it has no scheduling, dispatch, or equipment tracking, so it needs to be paired with a dedicated field service tool like Housecall Pro or Jobber to run a full trade operation.

Can FreshBooks replace QuickBooks for a small contracting business?

FreshBooks is a legitimate QuickBooks alternative for contractors who find QuickBooks overly complex. It covers double-entry accounting, bank reconciliation, and tax reporting. The tradeoff is fewer third-party integrations and no field service features. Contractors already embedded in the QuickBooks ecosystem should weigh switching costs carefully.

Does FreshBooks do job scheduling for contractors?

No. FreshBooks is accounting and invoicing software only. It has no job scheduling, dispatch board, GPS tracking, or technician management. Contractors who need those features should look at tools like Housecall Pro, Jobber, or ServiceTitan and potentially use FreshBooks alongside them for accounting.