There is a lot of "free" software popping up on the Internet. You may have noticed this - you may be using some of it. Or you may be looking for it.

But what about "free construction software"?

Consider: a software company invests time, a lot of $$, and has programmers, support staff and perhaps commissioned sales staff - and they're offering you something free. What's the catch? Why would such an animal be offered?

I think it's because they're kind, and want to give back to the industry, and want to offer you something with no strings attached.

Rubbish.

They want users. And they want to convert those users, at some point, to "paid customers". Otherwise, what's the point? They're in business to make money. They need revenue - it's gotta come from somewhere.

You have a product. You have a customer. In the middle of that, there has to be a "price", or there's no revenue.

And if it's totally free, the full version - you have to ask yourself some questions, like "how good is this", "what about support", "will it meet my needs", "is it worth the risk to spend time figuring this out, have my team run off it, only to discover later it's buggy, or deficient in some way"?

Some software companies may lure you into a free "limited" version of their software. But who wants to be limited? You get to see part of the picture only, then realize later that you actually need to "upgrade" to get the functionality you need. Can you say "bait and switch"?

Think about it. You're in business to make money. If you're a contactor, you "contract" to do something, get paid a fair dollar for the time and materials you put into the project. This is your livelihood. Can you imagine offering to do a job for free, or expect your subcontractor to do a job for you, for free? Shouldn't you expect that a software system you need to move your business forward, or solve some critical business problems, is worth investing in?

Enough is written about the "service" side of software. It's one thing to have a CD, or access to a web based application, it's quite another thing to get your questions answered, your problems solved. And the best way to do that is still picking up the phone, and talking to someone who can help. Try calling BuildIT at 1-866-585-5050 ext 1 and test us - we'll answer the phone, 7 days a week (or if you call us in the middle of the night North America time, you'll get a return call within hours).

As for "best", "best in breed", or "the construction industry's #1 software"... words are cheap. I actually read about a new kid on the block, a construction software company with a funny name. They are still in beta, have a few contractors apparently that are testing their system, and claim these contractors are "beta testing what can only be described as the best construction management software ever made".  Yikes - they don't even have a product available to the market yet, and somehow, they're the best. I'll give them top marks for self-affirmation, but really - it's not what they think about their software that matters.

The "best" construction software package is the one that you choose, use and get huge value from. The tragedy is the construction firm that spends $5 - $10K on a software product that never gets used. What a waste, and we see that all the time. That would buy a great vacation, why waste it?

Get some success under your belt before you buy. Take advantage of a free test drive. Make sure you understand the guarantee, if they have one. Ours is simple - if you don't think BuildIT is the best fit for your team in the first 30 days of being a customer, we'll refund your subscription, and part as friends. Period.

For the record, we've been around since 2000. We don't claim to be the best, or #1 anything (but many of our customers would make that claim about us ... see what they have to say on our proof page). But we have talked to 1000's of you over the years, have a loyal following of customers getting success with BuildIT, and have online scheduling, file management and communications nailed, with user feedback driving new development every week.

Wondering if BuildIT is "the best" for you? Take the next step - click the big green "Free Trial" button in the top right.

Scott Hutchinson (whose favorite numbers are 16 digits long and starting with a 4 or 5 !!)
scott@builditsystems.com
1 866 585 5050 ext 1

Most software is designed for businesses that:

• sell goods and services from one or more fixed physical location(s)
• operate on a transactional basis (one sale at a time, one after the other)
• have the same staff working day in, day out

Construction is different; it is a "manufacturing industry" that is:

• mobile
• works on a job-by-job basis
• works in multiple locations
• works with different people on each job

So, it is critical that information is managed, organized, scheduled, and communicated in an entirely different way on a job-by-job basis, accessible from multiple locations by the people that need to see it.

Software systems designed for "regular" businesses are simply not well suited for construction businesses.

To understand the three most common types of construction software (and the very big gap), click here...

Over the next 10 - 15 years, 2/3 of all private business owners will be looking to sell out and retire. These 'baby boomer' businesses have only one place to look for buyers - the next generation.

However, the next generation has fewer people - that means a lot more businesses than buyers.

Whenever supply is greater than demand, prices are forced down. That means many businesses will never sell; they'll just close - not much reward for a lifetime of work.

What ingredient will set businesses apart from the crowd? What will make them sell faster and at a higher price?

Sure they'll have customers and be profitable (but so will businesses that don't sell). The magic ingredient is that they'll have good business systems in place - which will help them sell, while competitors shut their doors and close forever.

Construction software systems help businesses sell because buyers find business with good systems very attractive. If you were buying a business, which would you rather buy? A business with organized predictable ways of doing things or one without?

Systems create lasting value because the seller has a well oiled machine to hand over to the new owner - a predictable working systematized business.

Systems are the same magic ingredient that make franchise businesses and retail chain stores dominate.

More on the advantages of systems for contractors...

More on the advantages of tapping into proven business systems...

More on the advantages of web based construction software systems...

Web-based construction software is more user-friendly than conventional software.

A lot of work is done behind the scenes - and that makes it easier for you and the people you work with to use it.

• access Job information anywhere, anytime through the internet
• no software to install (just access it thru the web)
• no software to upgrade or maintain (it's done for you)
• no data to back up (it's done for you)
• no hardware to maintain (it's done for you)
• no expensive computer networking required (the web is the worlds best computer network)
• automatic virus protection and spam filtering (it's done for you)
• located in high security facilty managed by a professional technical team

Access and manage your business information from:

• home
• office
• site office
• a customers home
• while on the road (with a wireless air card)
• at many coffee shops and restuarants (with a wireless connection)
• while traveling (even on vacation)
• an interent cafe on the other side of the planet

With BuildIT's web-based system computer headaches are a thing of the past. It's like having your own team of high tech professionals taking care of your construction software systems - for a fraction of the cost.

More on the advantages of business systems for contractors...

The three types of construction software (and the big freaken gap)...

More on the advantages of tapping into proven business systems for contractors...

You're busy dealing with your own work load. The last thing you need is more headaches.

But the fact is, with computers come with headaches:

• software needs to be installed
• software needs to be upgraded
• data needs to be backed up
• there's hardware to maintain
• computers need to be networked (connected)

Are any of these things part of your job? Probably not, but someone in your company has to do it or you hire someone that will (and they don't come cheap).

The way things often play out in small companies, is that people who are unqualified and reluctant end up setting up, maintaining, and being responsible for the computers in their company.

Web based construction software makes it alot easier...

With BuildIT, a lot of work is done behind the scenes so you don't have to worry...

Compare BuildIT to other construction software systems...

Regular off-the-shelf accounting software is the most widely used software for contracting businesses. Bookkeepers, office managers, and spouses use it more than contractors themselves.

Estimating software is the next most used software. Usually just a simple construction estimating spreadsheet. Once set up, spreadsheets are easy to use, flexible, and generally work well (setting them up is another story).

Specialty design software is also commonly used by a variety of construction related businesses. Usually used by suppliers and people involved in the pre-job phase or early in the job itself.

Estimating/design and accounting occur at opposite ends of the Job (early in a job and late/after a job). However, a lot of information needs to be managed, organized, scheduled, and communicated along the way. This is the big gap - where there's a lot of room to improve communication, reduce mistakes, and increase efficiency.

Every Job depends on managing information, either in your head or using systems to do it. The difference between mildly profitable and wildly profitable comes down to how well information and work flow is managed.

BuildIT helps contracting businesses manage information and streamline work flow.

The secret to streamlining your contracting business...

How BuildIT helps your contracting business grow...

Why most construction software is such a pain (and how to avoid it)...

More on the many kinds of construction software (and what to consider when buying)...

There are a large variety of software and packages for:

It's overwhelming and difficult to compare. Contracting businesses typically use 3 types of software or struggle with software made for conventional businesses, not construction firms.

Who wants to research, buy, setup, learn, and use a dozen or more pieces of software? Then figure out how to get software systems to talk to each other? It's time consuming and difficult.

Most software programs work independently of one another. While there are a lot of very good reasons for software systems to share information, the reality is, it's often next to impossible to get them to do it.

It's no wonder so many contracting businesses have steered clear of software.

Unfortunately, a lot of the same information needs to be entered over and over just to make different software programs work.

Redundancy, slows you down, wastes time, and sucks at your profitability like a shop-vac on steroids. If only one piece of job information changes (and how often does that happen?), then the change must be updated on every piece of paper and within every software system that relies on it. If this is not done immediately and religiously, then people end up working off the wrong information one of the biggest underlying causes of mistakes and lost profit in construction.

However, none of these are problems with BuildIT because it is one software system that manages, organizes, schedules, and communicates a wide variety of information.

On top of that it takes a lot of work to keep computers running and connected (networked) to each other.

The fact is, people and businesses don't back up their information as often as they should (if at all). Then something happens, a computer gets stolen or a hard drive crashes, and things get real difficult (ask anyone who has experienced it).

It takes a lot of effort to recover from a computer crash - business won't wait - work still needs to be done - but now there's a ton of extra hassle to keep everything going - and the burden to recover from a computer crash usually falls 100% on the user.

However, you used a web based system you wouldn't miss a beat, just go to any computer, access the internet, and you're up and running.

More on the advantages of web-based construction software...

Even a small improvement in efficiency can have a big impact on the bottom line.

If your business increases efficiency by 5% and has a 10% net margin, then you increase your bottom line by 50%.

So, how much efficiency can be gained using construction software systems? That's like asking "How much efficiency can be gained using a cordless drill, an air-nailer, or a cell phone?" It's tough to quantify, but you know the tools make you more productive.

You can only benefit from tools if you use them. The same goes for software and systems. After a period of time, you learn to use them well - but it takes time. Then you become a "power user" and you wonder how you ever lived without them.

Technology makes a big difference. Just put a modern contracting business up against a company of 15 years ago. The company with cordless tools, air tools, laser tools, mobile phones, and fax machines would win. Web based construction software systems are the next 'power tools'.

So how much you gain is up to you - over time your gain momentum.

How BuildIT can help your business grow...

More on the advantages of business systems for contractors...

More on the advantages of tapping into proven business systems for contractors...

How killer business problems cost you money (and why it's an opportunity in disguise)...