QuickBooks Online offers many features for businesses across different industries, while Sage 100 Contractor is tailor-made for general, service, and other contractors that need specialized functionality, such as unitary billing, equipment tracking, and project scheduling. QuickBooks Online might be enough for very small contractors that need to track activity by class and location.
After carefully evaluating Sage 100 Contractor vs QuickBooks, we recommend the following:
- Sage 100 Contractor: Best for contractors who need basic enterprise resource planning (ERP) management features
- QuickBooks Online: Best for small contractors seeking a comprehensive invoicing solution
We are driven by the Fit Small Business mission to provide you with the best answers to your small business questions—allowing you to choose the right accounting solution for your needs. Our meticulous evaluation process makes us a trustworthy source for accounting software insights. We don’t just scratch the surface; we immerse ourselves in every platform we review by exploring the features down to the finest nuances.
We have an extensive history of reviewing small business accounting software, and we stay up-to-date with the latest features and enhancements. Our first-hand experience, guided by our internal case study, helps us understand how the different products compare with each other and how they work in real-world scenarios.
Sage 100 Contractor vs QuickBooks at a Glance
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|---|---|---|
Fit Small Business Rating | 3.9 ★ | 4.1 ★ |
Monthly Pricing | Quote-based | $35 to $235 |
Free Trial | ✕ | ✓ |
Discount | ✕ | 50% off for 3 months |
Users Included | Unlimited | 1 to 25 |
Billable Clients | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Create & Send Invoices | ✓ | ✓ |
Connect Bank & Credit Card Accounts | ✓ | ✓ |
Manage & Track Unpaid Bills | ✓ | ✓ |
Run Advanced Financial Reports | ✓ | ✓ |
Track Income & Expenses by Projects | ✓ | ✓ |
Create Estimates, Including Budgeting Hours | ✓ | ✓ |
Consolidate Financial Statements From Multiple Data Files | ✓ | ✕ |
Enterprise Resource Planning | ✓ | ✕ |
Mobile App Functionality | Time tracking only | Accounting |
Mobile App Accessibility | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
Bookkeeping Support Option | Sage-certified Consultants | QuickBooks ProAdvisors |
Use Cases and Pros & Cons
- Large general contractors and home builders: Sage 100 Contractor offers more construction-specific features than QuickBooks. For instance, it includes multiday service dispatch capability, equipment tracking, and enhanced job progress reporting, which allows you to track job profitability by cost type, cost code, job type, divisions, and salespersons. It combines accounting and enterprise resource planning (ERP) on one platform, making it one of our best QuickBooks alternatives.
- Businesses that need to track fixed assets: Sage 100 Contractor allows you to set up asset depreciation schedules, generate IRS-ready depreciation tax forms, track fixed asset transfers, and more. QuickBooks Online has no features for tracking or depreciating fixed assets.
- Speculative builders and developers: The program has a loan draw request module designed for speculative builders who need to submit a percentage of completion draw requests to capital providers.
- Businesses that carry a large inventory: Sage 100 Contractor and QuickBooks Online both have good inventory management features, but QuickBooks Online has no options for tracking assemblies and can’t track inventory in multiple locations. These advanced features can be found in Sage 100 Contractor.
Pros
- Has a complete bookkeeping system
- Tracks budgeted vs actual expenses
- Includes ERP features
- Allows users to create customized reports
Cons
- Requires installation and maintenance
- Lacks accounting features in its mobile app
- Takes time to set up and learn
- Doesn’t track employee location
- Small contractors that need basic construction accounting features: QuickBooks Online will track your income and expenses by project, location, and department, which is great if you want to track income and expenses separately for service, remodeling, and new construction.
- Businesses looking for a mobile accounting solution: It has a robust mobile app that lets you send invoices, accept payments, track mileage, and scan receipts. Sage 100 Contractor has a mobile app, but it’s only used to track time.
- Businesses that often need bookkeeping support: QuickBooks Online is popular for its vast network of independent QuickBooks ProAdvisors to help you with your complex bookkeeping needs. You can also subscribe to QuickBooks Live for basic bookkeeping services directly from Intuit. Sage 100 Contractor has no dedicated bookkeeping service, but you can find Sage-certified consultants to support you. Since QuickBooks Online is more commonly used, it’s easier to find a QuickBooks ProAdvisor than a Sage-certified consultant.
Pros
- Lets you track income and expenses by class and location
- Has strong inventory management features
- Has a robust accounting feature set
- Offers scalable monthly plans; higher subscription options support multiple users
Cons
- Lacks direct phone support; must initiate a request first and wait for a call from QuickBooks
- Provides project and inventory accounting only in the higher plans
- Can only compare budget costs to actual time and expenses in the Advanced plan
- Businesses looking for free accounting software: Sage 100 Contractor and QuickBooks come with a cost, which can be an issue for self-employed contractors. If you’re on a budget and need basic accounting features for free, you should consider Wave. You can learn more by reading our Wave review.
- Companies that prefer desktop-based accounting software: Sage 100 Contractor and QuickBooks Online are both cloud-based, which means they need an internet connection to run. If your internet connection and connectivity are a concern, then a locally installed accounting software like QuickBooks Desktop is a good alternative. Read our review of QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise for more information.
If you need additional recommendations, check out our roundup of the best small business accounting software.
Fit Small Business Case Study
We used our internal case study to compare Sage 100 Contractor and QuickBooks Online and summarized the results in the table below.
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Sage 100 Contractor
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QuickBooks Online
User Reviews: Tie
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Average Rating on Third-party Sites | ||
Users Like |
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Users Dislike |
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While QuickBooks Online has a slightly higher rating, both platforms receive generally positive reviews with a few complaints from users, which is why we consider this category a tie.
Sage 100 Contractor Reviews
Positive user reviews highlight Sage 100 Contractor’s strong job costing features. Users appreciate its detailed tracking, including the ability to track expenses down to the task level for clear budget vs actual cost comparisons. They also like its reliable estimating, and thanks to its user-friendly interface, you can create accurate estimates easier than with similar software.
We agree that these are valuable features. Budget tracking helps contractors assess project profitability and make informed decisions for future projects. The easy-to-use estimating tool allows even non-accounting professionals to create estimates quickly.
However, some reviewers mentioned downsides. They felt that reports can be difficult to tailor to specific needs, and data migration and user training can be complex. While we agree with the report customization point, we haven’t experienced data migration issues ourselves.
As of this writing, here’s how Sage 100 Contractor is rated on top review websites:
QuickBooks Online Reviews
While some users rave about QuickBooks Online’s ease of use compared to its competitors, there might be a slight learning curve initially. However, with practice, it becomes intuitive. QuickBooks also gets points for continuous updates that keep the software running smoothly.
Reviewers highlight its ability to create professional invoices and print checks. Features like bank feeds, reports, and the mobile app further solidify its reputation as a powerful accounting tool. It also offers a comprehensive suite of features for small businesses.
While connecting with an agent might be easy, getting a definitive answer can be a challenge. Users comment that they often get transferred between agents, and sometimes helpful solutions are scarce. Moreover, another reviewer dislikes that they have to buy separate subscriptions for each of the companies they manage. We agree that this is a problem with most cloud-based accounting software. If you want software for an unlimited number of companies, read our guide to the best multicompany accounting software.
QuickBooks Online earned the following ratings on leading review sites:
- Capterra[3]: 4.3 out of 5 based on about 7,200 reviews
- G2[4]: 4.0 out of 5 based on around 3,300 reviews
Pricing: QuickBooks Online Wins
Starting on August 1, 2024, QuickBooks Online will be updating its pricing to the following:
- Simple Start: $35 per month
- Essentials: $65 per month
- Plus: $99 per month
- Advanced: $235 per month
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|---|---|---|
Fit Small Business Pricing Score | 3.0 out of 5 | 4.5 out of 5 |
Monthly Pricing | Quote-based |
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Number of Users | Unlimited |
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Number of Billable Clients | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Free Trial | ✕ | ✓ |
It’s difficult to compare Sage 100 Contractor and QuickBooks in terms of pricing because Sage’s price is quote-based. However, Sage 100 Contractor is more sophisticated than QuickBooks Online and likely more expensive as well. We selected QuickBooks Online as the winner in this category because it is transparent with pricing and offers a free trial as well as scalable plans based on the features you need.
Tip:
If you need help deciding which QuickBooks Online version fits your needs, check out our QuickBooks Online comparison.
General Accounting Features: Tie
| | |
|---|---|---|
Record Fiscal Year End | ✓ | ✓ |
Add Additional User | ✓ | ✓ |
Restrict Rights of Additional User | ✓ | ✓ |
Enter an Adjusted Journal Entry | ✓ | ✓ |
Provide Accountant Access | ✓ | ✓ |
Modify Chart of Accounts | ✓ | ✓ |
QuickBooks Online is the only software we reviewed that received a perfect score for accounting features. Its project, class, and location tracking are especially notable, with the ability to create multiple projects per customer and track detailed income and expenses associated with specific projects. QuickBooks Online also excels with its invoicing and time tracking features.
On the other hand, Sage 100 Contractor also has many of the accounting features that are needed by construction companies, such as a customizable chart of accounts, financial reports, journal entries, banking, and inventory. Therefore, we call this category a tie.
A/P Management: Sage 100 Contractor Wins
| | |
|---|---|---|
Manage & Track Unpaid Bills | ✓ | ✓ |
Create & Manage Vendor | ✓ | ✓ |
Capture Expense Receipts | ✓ | ✓ |
Create Recurring Expenses | ✓ | ✓ |
Record Purchase Orders (POs) | ✓ | ✓ |
Record Vendor Credits | ✓ | ✓ |
Track Payments to Independent Contractors | ✓ | ✓ |
Short-pay Vendors | ✓ | ✓ |
Queue Payments for Review | ✓ | ✕ |
Track Liability Insurance & License Expiration Dates of Subcontractors | ✓ | ✕ |
QuickBooks Online and Sage 100 Contractor both have powerful bill management features, such as the ability to track unpaid bills and create recurring expenses. In addition, Sage 100 Contractor offers some nice ERP features like tracking expiration dates on subcontractors’ liability insurance and licenses, which will help you determine which subcontractors haven’t provided their required documentation before paying them.
A/R Management: Sage 100 Contractor Wins
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|---|---|---|
Create & Send Invoices | ✓ | ✓ |
Customize Invoices | ✓ | ✓ |
View Outstanding Invoices | ✓ | ✓ |
Create Recurring Invoices | ✓ | ✓ |
Issue a Credit Memo to a Customer | ✓ | ✓ |
Accept Short Payments From Customers | ✓ | ✓ |
Set Up Billing for Loan Draws | ✓ | ✕ |
Track Change Orders | ✓ | ✕ |
Both programs have a great accounts receivable (A/R) function. However, we chose Sage 100 Contractor as the winner of this category because it offers special billing options, such as loan draws, which help contractors improve collection management.
Inventory Management: Sage 100 Contractor Wins
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|---|---|---|
Track Inventory From Time Received to Consumed | ✓ | ✓ |
Track Inventory by Bin & Lot Numbers | ✓ | ✕ |
Track Inventory in Multiple Locations and Warehouses | ✓ | ✕ |
Sage 100 Contractor has more options for tracking inventory than QuickBooks Online. Both allow you to track inventory from the time you receive it until you consume it, but Sage 100 Contractor does some other things that QuickBooks Online can’t. It helps you track inventory by bin and lot numbers, and you can track inventory in multiple locations and warehouses. If your business carries a large inventory, then Sage 100 Contractor is preferable.
Construction-specific Features: Sage 100 Contractor Wins
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|---|---|---|
Track Equipment | ✓ | ✕ |
Loan Draw Applications | ✓ | ✕ |
Unitary Billing | ✓ | ✓ |
Manage & Track Fixed Assets | ✓ | ✕ |
Sage 100 Contractor has an impressive set of construction management features, including an estimation tool, equipment management, budgeting, and job scheduling. In fact, we selected Sage 100 Contractor as one of the best construction accounting software, especially because of its project estimation tools. Unfortunately, QuickBooks Online lacks many construction management features, like equipment management and construction billing., which is why we selected Sage 100 contractor as the winner of this category.
Ease of Use: QuickBooks Online Wins
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|---|---|---|
Accessibility | Cloud | Cloud |
Requires Installation | ✕ | ✕ |
Shortcut Buttons | ✓ | ✓ |
Unlimited Customer Support | ✓ | ✓ |
Both QuickBooks Online and Sage 100 Contractor have a fairly intuitive interface. However, Sage 100 Contractor has a more extensive feature set, which can be a bit overwhelming at first. You may need some time to learn basic functions like creating and customizing reports. Meanwhile, QuickBooks Online’s dashboard is cleaner and uncluttered, making it more user-friendly than Sage 100 Contractor.
Integrations: QuickBooks Online Wins
As compared to Sage 100 Contractor, QuickBooks Online offers a much more comprehensive list of available integrations. However, Sage 100 Contractor has most of the tools contractors need already built into the program, making integrations less important.
Mobile App Functionality: QuickBooks Online Wins
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|---|---|---|
Fit Small Business Mobile App Score | 3.0 out of 5 | 3.5 out of 5 |
Accessibility | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
Send Invoices | ✕ | ✓ |
Accept Payments | ✕ | ✓ |
Capture Receipts | ✕ | ✓ |
Enter Unpaid Bills | ✕ | ✕ |
Record Billable Time | ✓ | ✕ |
Assign Time Worked to a Customer or Project | ✓ | ✕ |
View Reports | ✕ | ✓ |
Categorize Expenses From Bank Feeds | ✕ | ✓ |
Unlike QuickBooks, Sage 100 Contractor lacks a mobile accounting app that handles most accounting functions. However, it does have an app that allows employees in the field to submit job-related or non-job time entries directly to the Sage 100 Contractor application.
The QuickBooks mobile app is much more robust, providing many of the same features that are in the online interface, such as the ability to send invoices, accept payments online, and capture expense receipts. Therefore, we selected QuickBooks Online as the winner of this category.
Assisted Bookkeeping: QuickBooks Online Wins
QuickBooks users have an option to hire a virtual bookkeeper through QuickBooks Live, which provides assistance with the cleanup of your accounting history, onboarding, monthly financial reports, and video calls. There isn’t an official equivalent for Sage 100 Contractor, but you can hire an authorized business partner for help with training, implementation, and software demos.
Customer Support: Sage 100 Contractor Wins
| | |
|---|---|---|
Phone Support | You Make the Call | Send a Request and Wait for a Call |
Live Chat Support | ✕ | ✓ |
Chatbot | ✓ | ✓ |
Email Support | ✓ | ✕ |
Self-help Resources | ✓ | ✓ |
We also compared Sage 100 Contractor and QuickBooks Online in terms of customer support, and we found that Sage 100 Contractor has the upper hand. It allows you to call customer support directly during extended business hours. With QuickBooks, you have to send a request first and then wait for them to call you.
How We Evaluated Accounting Software
We evaluated Sage 100 Contractor and QuickBooks Online across seven major criteria, as discussed below. We looked at features that are useful specifically to construction businesses, such as the ability to manage and track fixed assets.
10% of Overall Score
Pricing is only 10% of the score because it’s more important to focus on getting contractor accounting software that has the features that fit your business needs than fixating on price.
20% of Overall Score
The best construction accounting software must have essential bookkeeping features, such as A/P and A/R management, income and expense tracking, and financial reporting.
35% of Overall Score
Contractor features include specialized tools, such as the ability to manage and track equipment, share project documents with clients, track employee location, and general construction reports.
10% of Overall Score
Ease of use is an important factor, particularly if the owner or other nonaccountant will be keeping the books. I allocated extra credits to cloud-based construction accounting software, as I believe it is generally easier to use than locally installed programs.
10% of Overall Score
I checked whether the provider offers essential customer support options, like phone, live chat, email support, and self-help guides, such as blogs, videos, and user communities.
10% of Overall Score
Most construction companies have crews working on the field, so it is important to have a mobile app that allows them to record their activity anywhere from their smartphone.
5% of Overall Score
I used software ratings from several review websites—but note that these ratings may change quickly depending on user reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, QuickBooks Online doesn’t have a specific contractor version. However, QuickBooks Enterprise does offer industry-specific features that can be helpful for contractors, although it is not as comprehensive as Sage 100 Contractor, which is specifically designed for construction.
Sage 100 Contractor is a construction management software designed specifically for the needs of contractors in the building and trades industry. It goes beyond basic accounting functionalities offered by general accounting software like QuickBooks and provides a solution for managing finances, projects, and operations.
This platform’s features include project management, estimating and bidding, reporting and dashboards, and integration with other Sage products like payroll and service management software for a more streamlined workflow. To learn more, check out our review of Sage 100 Contractor.
Converting all of your data from Sage 100 to QuickBooks can be tricky, especially for complex information like transactions. However, there are ways to migrate some essential data while keeping the process manageable. You can export your lists (customers, vendors, products, accounts) from Sage 100 in CSV or Excel format, and then import them into QuickBooks. However, this method won’t transfer historical transactions or detailed reports.
While Sage 100 Contractor offers a mobile app for employee timesheets, it lacks a comprehensive app for core accounting functions. QuickBooks Online offers a robust mobile app that allows you to manage invoices, receive payments, view reports, and capture receipts.
Bottom Line
While QuickBooks Online can be relevant for any business, Sage 100 Contractor focuses on the construction management industry. Each software provides many of the same features, such as expense tracking and management, invoice creation, and project management. However, the difference is that Sage 100 Contractor is more of a tailor-made solution, allowing you to eliminate the features you don’t need and focus on those you do.