Contractor software glossary: 20 terms every buyer should know

Software shopping comes with a wall of jargon, and vendors do not always slow down to explain it. Here are the terms that come up most when contractors compare tools, in plain language. Keep it handy as a translation guide while you evaluate.

Software categories

• CRM (customer relationship management). The system that holds every lead, customer, and conversation so none slip. See the CRM page.
• FSM (field service management). Software for running work in the field: scheduling, dispatch, job tracking, and billing. See the FSM guide.
• All-in-one platform. A single tool that runs the whole job, lead to payment, instead of separate apps. See the product overview.
• Point solution. A tool that does one job well but has to be wired to others to cover the whole workflow.
• Integration. A connection that passes data between two tools. Quality varies from real-time to a clunky nightly export.

Selling and pipeline

• Pipeline. The view of every job by stage, from new lead to quoted to won to paid.
• Lead. A potential customer who has shown interest but has not booked yet.
• Estimate (or quote). The priced proposal you put in front of a customer for approval.
• Good, Better, Best. A tiered proposal that offers three options instead of one price, which lifts close rate and average ticket.
• In-home sales presentation. A guided, visual flow you present at the kitchen table to close in the room. See the presentations page.

Field and scheduling

• Dispatch. Assigning and routing the right crew to the right job at the right time.
• Work order (or job). The live record of a single job, its status, notes, and photos.
• Scheduling. Managing the calendar of appointments and crew availability.
• Homeowner portal. A page where the customer can track their job, approve work, and pay. See the homeowner portal.
• Automation. A rule that triggers a follow-up, reminder, or update without anyone doing it by hand.

Money and pricing

• ACH. A bank-to-bank transfer, usually cheaper to accept than a card. See the payments page.
• Processing rate. The fee you pay to accept a payment, often a percentage plus a flat amount per card transaction.
• Same-day payout. When collected payments reach your bank account the same day, not days later.
• Per-seat vs flat pricing. Whether you pay for each login or one price per plan. It drives your real cost, covered in this guide.
• Onboarding (or migration). Moving your data and team onto a new tool. See how to switch without downtime.