Accounting-first software for service businesses.
FreshBooks is well-regarded accounting software for small service businesses: strong invoicing, expense tracking, time tracking, and reports your accountant will be happy with. If your books are the hard part of your business, it's a genuine contender.
But FreshBooks starts from the ledger, not the job site. Contractors quote at the kitchen table, need signatures before work starts, reschedule around weather, and bill from the driveway. Job Assistant starts there — and includes the everyday bookkeeping (profit per job, expenses, mileage, a quarterly tax estimate) most solo contractors actually need, without a second subscription.
When FreshBooks is the better pick
Service businesses that need full accounting — detailed expense categories, reports for an accountant, time tracking — and don't need field-service tools.
| Feature | Job Assistant | FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $25/mo flat | ~$19+/mo, tiered |
| Built for | Contractors in the field | Accounting & office work |
| Estimates & invoices | ✓ | ✓ |
| Online card payments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Digital contracts / e-sign | ✓ Included | Limited (proposals) |
| Change orders | ✓ | ✗ |
| Scheduling & self-booking | ✓ | ✗ Not included |
| Full double-entry accounting | Everyday books built in | ✓ Their specialty |
| Job costing / profit per job | ✓ | Limited |
| Quarterly tax estimate | ✓ Included | Limited |
| Bilingual (English/Spanish) | ✓ | English-first |
FreshBooks pricing as of 2026. Subject to change. Comparison reflects our understanding of publicly available information.
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Start your free trialIs FreshBooks or Job Assistant better for a contractor?
If deep accounting is your main need — or your accountant requires specific reports — FreshBooks is the stronger accounting tool. If your day is estimates, jobs, and getting paid, Job Assistant runs that whole flow and includes the everyday bookkeeping most solo contractors need.
Do I need FreshBooks if I use Job Assistant?
Most solo contractors don't. Job Assistant tracks income, expenses, per-job profit, mileage, and a quarterly tax estimate. If your accountant later wants full double-entry books, Job Assistant also syncs with QuickBooks.
Can FreshBooks schedule jobs or get contracts signed?
FreshBooks focuses on invoicing and accounting; scheduling and e-signed job contracts aren't its core. Job Assistant includes both, along with change orders for mid-job scope.