Win Better Jobs with Joist Pro

Take Your Business to the Next Level Introducing Joist Pro Elite: Our most powerful set of estimating and invoicing tools. Contractors and Remodelers everywhere: get ready to maximize your invoicing potential! After months of designing, building and polishing, we’re thrilled to finally release our newest solution: Joist Pro Elite. Whether you’re trying Joist for the first time or upgrading from another Joist product, you’ll have access to an arsenal of highly effective features built to help you win more jobs, save more time and get paid faster. Here’s what you can take advantage of in our latest product release: Change Orders As a major component of the Joist Pro Elite release, we’re introducing Change Orders! Now, you can stay on top of project scope changes without the piles of paperwork. With Change Orders, you can instantly send change orders to customers for on-the-spot review and signing. In doing so, you reduce the back and forth between you and your customer and prevent payment disputes from arising. Plus, you and your client will have peace of mind knowing documents are approved before any work continues. Sections While Joist and Joist Pro make your estimates paperless, Joist Pro Elite will make them attractive. With Sections, you can organize your bids in a way that works best for you and your customer. Currently available on Android devices only, Sections let users group their line items into easy to understand buckets like labor or materials. In presenting your estimates with a more professional look and feel, you’ll help your clients visualize where and how the work will be done. A strong understanding of their project scope also makes it easier for your customer to sign a contract, ultimately winning you more jobs in the long run. Sales Reporting Joist Pro Elite takes the guesswork out of running your business with Sales Reporting. Users that set goals or targets can now opt-in to receive weekly emailed reports and better track their progress over time. With added visibility into company performance, you can gain valuable insights into your business that can be leveraged to improve processes. By upgrading to Joist Pro Elite, you unlock the power of business data and get a leg up on the competition. License and Insurance We know you worked hard for your credentials; your customers should know it too! With our new License and Insurance features, users can showcase their professionalism by adding their credentials to estimates from an IOS or Android device. Including proof of qualification will not only increase trust with potential clients, but also give assurance to current customers that they’re working with a pro. Web and Social Links Accessible from an IOS or Android device, Web and Social links allow you to show off previous work or customer reviews directly from your estimates or invoices. The added transparency will impress your prospective clients, while also showing customers that you stand by your work and reputation. Whether you link to your website, yelp page, or social media, harnessing the power of social proof will win you more jobs and land you bigger clients. We hope you’re as excited about Joist Pro Elite as we are! With features designed to help you win more jobs, save time and maximize efficiencies, Joist Pro Elite helps contractors reach their full potential. Make the sky the limit for your business and get started with Joist Pro Elite today!

Tips & Shortcuts for working with your iPhone/iPad in the field Congratulations, you’ve started using your iPhone/iPad in your contractor business to work in the field. Here are a few tips and tricks to maximize the effectiveness of using these devices. Shake to “undo”Have you ever accidentally erased a note on your device? Or crucial information about a client? Here’s the perfect tip to get that information back. To “undo” your last action (when typing) simply “shake” your iPhone (yes you make look funny). A popup message will appear with the options “Undo” or “Cancel” tap undo, and you will get all of your information back. Tap to bring to topIf you’ve ever read a really long page perhaps on your safari browser or you’ve scrolled a long way down the screen in an app. Rather than having to scroll slowly back to the top of the screen you can tap the black bar on the absolute top of your iOS screen where it displays the current time. This will auto-scroll the page back up to the top. This is particularly useful on screen such as your address book or in iPod. Take screenshotsThis is another great tip. To take a photo of what is currently on your iOS screen, place one finger on the home button of your device and another on the button at the top-right. Simultaneously tap the two buttons and the screen will briefly flash capturing a photo. If you go to “photos” the image will be saved there. Swipe through open apps with 4 fingers (iPad)Do you find it annoying to consistently close an app you’re in then open up another to navigate through multiple apps? One trick is when working on your iPad you can swipe from left or to the right with four fingers to swipe through your open apps. Making it quicker and more enjoyable when working on two apps at the same time. Close apps with 4 fingersAnother gesture that can save you time is easily getting back to the home screen of your iPad from the current app you are working in. To do this place 4 fingers on the screen and make a pinching motion. The App will close and you will be lead back to the home screen. So there you have it, 5 quick tips to makes things easier for you when using your iPhone and iPad in your business. The new Apples iOS 7 is coming out soon, so look out for new shortcuts and tricks coming soon. If you’re an Android fan, we’ll have an article for you soon. And a version of Contractor Estimating & Invoicing Tool — by Joist! Sign up here for the Android waiting list: Joist for Android waiting list

This newsletter will tell you what you need to know about all the Joist features and updates to save you time and get you paid.

A handyman services list is a key part of marketing your business, can help you set prices, and more. Learn more about how making this list could help you.

What is a ledger balance? Find out how this number can have a big impact on your business’s financial health and learn how to calculate it yourself.

Get more reviews for your home contractor business with these expert tips, including when to ask for a review and how to increase your 5-star ratings.

Before/After Photo Tips for Contractors As a contractor, it can be hard to know where to focus your marketing efforts. Good news: one of the most important things you can do to promote your company is something you are likely already doing! Sharing past projects can help demonstrate your expertise and speaks volumes with new clients. You may already snap quick pictures of a project’s progress to send to a client, to collaborate with employees, provide details to your vendors, or to keep for you own portfolio. With a smartphone or compact digital camera, it’s easier than ever to capture a beautiful photo — and a great “Before and After” image can be a powerful marketing tool. The next time you snap a picture on the job site, keep these tips in mind to capture the perfect before/after photo. Lighting Make sure the scene is well-lit and free of shadows. For indoor shots, natural daylight is best. Try to take both “Before” and “After” shots at the same time of day so they have similar lighting. The key is to minimize all differences in the two shots except for the newly installed element. With the same light entering through the windows in both shots, it’s clear that the brighter appearance in the room on the right is due to newly painted walls, doors and trim.[/caption] Vantage Point The most effective comparison images are taken from the exact same place in the room. This makes it easier for the viewer to compare changes, especially in rooms that have been completely overhauled. It may be necessary to mark or measure where your original image was shot to get this just right. If the room has been changed structurally, try to frame the image on an unchanged element, such as a window or doorway to give the viewer a reference point. If your company prides itself on speedy work, be sure to include the time frame in which the changes were made. Although this room was completely changed, the open doorways give a frame of reference for the room, helping the viewer see the scope of the work. Work in Progress Sometimes an image of a work in progress (or half complete) can be very powerful, providing a natural before/after comparison that a client can’t ignore. This type of image works well for cleaning processes, or new roofing, tile, or flooring. A client that saw this image could be positive their money was well-spent. Element in Context If only one element in the room has changed, be sure to still take an image of the whole room, letting the viewer see the new element in context. This gives a great impression of how a small single change — like a new countertop — can make a big difference to the look of the whole room. Detail If your company specializes in detailed work, be sure to include a close-up image so viewers can see all the details of a job well done. These images do a great job of showing detail and expanse at the same time. Taking photos on the job site is a great habit to get into. Consider making it part of your marketing strategy! Feel free to share any photos of your past work below!

Learn all about term loans: what they are, how they work, and if they’re right for your business. Plus, get tips for landing a deal with the best rates.