5 Top Accounting Software Options for Construction Firms

1. Premier

Rated #1 Cloud ERP by Forbes Advisor for three consecutive years, Premier Construction Software gives contractors a complete financial control solution.

Premier Features

Premier cloud based construction accounting software unifies multiple construction management functions on one platform:

- Financial Management:
Premier comes preloaded with industry-specific data and templates. It manages accounting, job costing, and multi-company operations while synchronizing general ledger and job costing instantly.

- Project Dashboard:
A central hub shows KPIs, cost summaries, and approval tracking that gives immediate project visibility.

- Field Capabilities:
The software makes time entry quick and simple. Users can create daily logs, manage employee expenses, and send RFIs through mobile access.

- Document Control:
The platform makes shared document management smooth with version control, annotations, and AI-powered search.

- AI Integration:
Smart automation handles invoicing, bank reconciliations, and revenue recognition.

Users no longer need connectors between different tools, which brings transparency to construction finances.

Premier Pros and Cons

Pros:

- Tasks need 80% fewer clicks compared to server-based software
- Third parties like architects and subcontractors get unlimited guest access
- Smart workflows automate approvals for invoices, contracts, and change orders
- Users can manage multiple entities from a single dashboard

Cons:

- High implementation costs start at $15,000
- Mobile app has limited functionality according to reviews

Premier Best For

Premier Construction Software excels for:

- General Contractors, Owners, and Developers managing projects of any size
- Companies handling single projects or multiple entities in various regions
- Growing businesses with annual revenue between $5-10 million (Starter package)
- Mid-sized firms with revenue between $10-75 million (Premium/Enterprise packages)
- Organizations aiming to reduce duplicate work and improve operations

2. CMiC

CMiC is an integrated platform built specifically for the construction industry. The platform's Single Database Platform™ naturally connects financial data with project management.

CMiC Key Features

CMiC's construction accounting software provides detailed financial management tools that eliminate duplicate data entry. Core functionalities include:

- Accounts Payable:
Track invoices and generate aging reports for companies of all sizes

- Accounts Receivable:
Automate customer invoicing and track credit limits

- General Ledger:
Create financial statements and custom reports from centralized data

- Cost Management:
Capture labor, materials, and equipment costs in one location

- Cash Management:
Handle day-to-day transactions with automatic GL updates

CMiC flows every transaction into both general ledger and job costing systems simultaneously. This integration provides immediate financial visibility across projects.

CMiC Pros and Cons

Pros:

- Creates efficient workflows between teams
- Makes project awareness and decision-making better

Cons:

- Original setup takes time
- New users need training
- Some reviews mention limited options in reporting formats
- Beginners might find the interface challenging

CMiC Best For

CMiC serves various construction segments:

- 25% of ENR's top 400 contractors use CMiC
- 30+ customers generate revenues over $1 billion
- General contractors who want better financial accountability
- Subcontractors aiming to improve materials contracting strategies
- Civil/heavy highway firms that manage complex projects with regulatory compliance needs

Customer satisfaction ratings show CMiC scores 8/10 for ease of use, value for money, customer support, and functionality. Construction businesses that need integrated financial and project management capabilities find CMiC especially useful.

3. Foundation

FOUNDATION has helped manage more profitable jobs throughout its 40-year history. This specialized construction accounting software caters exclusively to contractors' financial needs over 43,000 construction professionals

Foundation Key Features

Foundation provides a complete job costing system with flexible report designers that track costs against estimates accurately. The software includes these core capabilities:

- Base Modules:
Job costing, accounts payable, general ledger, payroll, accounts receivable, purchase orders, and CPA audit/review

- Financial Management:
Handles complex payroll needs including certified payroll, widespread wage rates, and union compliance

- Project Tools:
Document management, correspondence tracking, and project steering functions

- Mobile Access:
Field data collection from any device gives accurate time and labor information

Foundation Pros and Cons

Pros:

- For overall satisfaction 264 users give it 4.3/5
- Customer support scores 4.4/5
- Field technicians and office maintain continuous connection
- The software automates markup calculations and creates professional invoices

Cons:

- Some users find implementation difficult
- Heavy usage can slow down the system
- Users rate the interface at 4.1/5
- Dual password requirement with occasional offline issues

Foundation Best For

Foundation delivers excellent results for:

- Small to medium-sized labor-intensive contractors
- Companies with 10 to 1,500 employees
- Businesses earning between $1 million and $250 million annually
- Trade contractors who make up 80% of users
- General contractors who need detailed financial reports

Small construction businesses give positive ratings 92% of the time for construction accounting. A reviewer states, "Foundation is one of the most advanced construction accounting products on the market and an ideal system from a CPA's point of view".

4. Sage 300 CRE

Sage 300 CRE, which started as Timberline Office, provides an end-to-end solution for contractors, developers, and property managers. This complete construction management software helps companies manage their projects with precision from beginning to end.

Sage 300 CRE Key Features

Sage 300 CRE brings together accounting, project management, and property management in one integrated platform:

- Financial Tools:
General ledger, accounts payable/receivable, billing, cash management, and payroll with 250+ state and federal forms

- Project Management:
Monitors progress, manages change orders, and spots issues before they become problems

- Document Management:
Keeps and routes drawings, RFIs, invoices, and contracts

- Property Management:
Handles leases, tenant communication, and maintenance requests

The software's program alerts users through email notifications about urgent matters. It also maintains insurance certifications and compliance information in a central location.

Sage 300 CRE Pros and Cons

Pros:

- User-friendly with straightforward deployment
- Customizable reporting options
- Smooth connection with third-party applications
- Quick customer support response

Cons:

- Data processing affects speed
- Moving between features needs improvement
- Limited training materials
- Interface needs modernization

Sage 300 CRE Best For

This software serves best:

- Construction companies of medium to large size
- Ground real estate developers and property managers
- Companies earning $10 million to $500 million annually
- Organizations managing complex projects that need detailed financial tracking

Sage 300 CRE suits companies that need reliable financial integration with project management capabilities in one system.

5. Jonas Construction

Jonas Construction has provided a fully integrated solution that connects construction management with accounting functionalities for more than 30 years. The platform brings field operations and office management together to streamline financial processes.

Jonas Construction Key Features

Jonas Construction combines complete accounting tools with operational capabilities:

- Integrated Accounting:
The single-point systems reduce double-entry errors when labor costs and change orders move instantly from field to office

- Multi-Company Management:
The system handles accounting for multiple businesses through automated intercompany processing

- Document Management:
One system centralizes invoices, purchase orders, and files for quick retrieval

- Payroll Automation:
The platform manages US and Canadian payroll with union, non-union, and certified payroll requirements

- Immediate Financial Visibility:
The system links invoices to purchase orders and automates approval processes

The software excels at accounting and operations automation by connecting all financial functions with service and project management.

Jonas Construction Pros and Cons

Pros:

- Service billing and payroll processing time drops by 25%
- Users rate customer support at 4.1/5
- Complete financial analysis with drill-down capabilities
- Paper-based processes become obsolete

Cons:

- The original setup demands substantial time
- New users face a steep learning curve
- The cost runs higher than simpler options
- Users mention accounting and billing problems

Jonas Construction Best For

Jonas Construction serves these groups exceptionally:

- Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC contractors
- Energy, solar, landscape, and fire protection specialists
- Medium to large construction companies that need unified systems
- Businesses aiming to reduce field staff to back-office personnel ratio

Conclusion

The right accounting software can revolutionize your construction business's financial management. Generic accounting systems don't deal very well with the construction industry's unique challenges.

Construction projects come with countless moving parts. Labor costs, materials, equipment, subcontractor management, and change orders need careful tracking. This makes specialized software a must-have tool.

Smart accounting practices with the right software make the difference between success and mere survival in today's competitive construction market. Today's decision shapes your financial management capabilities for years ahead.