FieldOpsAudit
Research-based help for trade and field-service software decisions: side-by-side comparisons that model real cost at specific technician counts, interactive calculators for the numbers that actually drive a hiring or software decision, and compliance guides that cite the regulation directly rather than paraphrasing someone else's summary.
Comparisons
Head-to-head software comparisons that go past the vendor's "starting at" price to show true cost at different technician counts.
- Jobber vs Housecall Pro — fee escalation compared at 1, 5, and 10 technicians.
- Housecall Pro vs ServiceTitan — the cost tipping point for switching upmarket.
- ServiceTitan Alternatives for Small HVAC — contract lock-in and migration paths for smaller shops.
- Jobber vs QuoteIQ for Solo Trades — property-measuring and client-portal features for one-person crews.
- Workiz vs FieldPulse for Dispatching — built-in phone systems vs custom forms and open API.
- Service Fusion vs Jobber — unlimited-user pricing against per-seat pricing, and the technician count where each becomes cheaper.
- Gusto vs Rippling for Trade Contractors — payroll platforms compared on job-costing integrations and field time-tracking sync.
- Best HVAC Software with QuickBooks Sync — two-way sync limits for QuickBooks Desktop vs QuickBooks Online.
- Aspire vs Jobber for Landscaping — commercial-landscaping features vs a residential-focused toolset.
- Housecall Pro Alternatives — why users switch, and which alternatives fit those specific pain points.
- Servicem8 vs Jobber — job-credit pricing explained against a monthly seat subscription.
- Workiz vs Housecall Pro — call tracking and dispatch-board depth, plus current pricing.
- Best Plumbing Software for Small Business — a roundup built around plumbing-specific needs like camera inspection records and drain-cleaning pricebooks.
Calculators
Interactive tools that turn published pricing and standard cost-accounting formulas into a real number for your business.
- FSM Total Cost of Ownership Calculator — base subscription, seat overages, add-ons, and card processing in one annual figure.
- Technician Billable Hourly Rate Calculator — the rate you need to charge to hit a target margin.
- Subcontractor vs Employee Cost Calculator — true cost difference between a 1099 rate and a W-2 hire.
- Merchant Processing Fee Impact Calculator — built-in payment processing rates compared at $5k, $20k, and $50k in monthly volume.
- Agency Utilization Rate Calculator — billable hours as a share of available hours, with an industry benchmark to compare against.
- HVAC Flat Rate Margin Calculator — how labor cost, material markup, and target margin combine into a flat-rate price.
- Fleet Vehicle Gas Mileage Cost Calculator — fuel cost per vehicle and per fleet, with realistic defaults by vehicle class.
Compliance
Guides that cite the specific federal regulation involved, so you're working from the source rather than a summary of a summary.
- W-2 vs 1099 Field Technicians Guide — the DOL and IRS tests for worker classification.
- OSHA Residential Trades Safety Checklist — PPE, SDS access, ladder, and trenching requirements under 29 CFR 1926.
- EPA Section 608 HVAC Refrigerant Log — a printable refrigerant log with each requirement tied to 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F.
- Certified Payroll WH-347 Guide — Davis-Bacon requirements and a walkthrough of filling out the WH-347 form correctly.
- FLSA Overtime Exemption Audit for Trades — whether office managers and dispatchers qualify as exempt, and the current salary threshold.