FreshBooks Alternative for a Solo Contractor
ShowTheReceipts is built for a contractor working in the field: quote standing in front of the job, invoice when it's done, take a card on-site, and track cash and Venmo in the same ledger — all on the Pro plan at $39/month with every feature included. Accounting-first invoicing tools are designed around a desk and a bookkeeping workflow, strong on ledgers and time tracking but lighter on field quoting, on-site payment, and mixed-payment tracking. If your office is your truck, the field-first tool matches how you actually get paid.
ShowTheReceipts vs FreshBooks at a glance
ShowTheReceipts — $39/mo (Pro — everything included) · FreshBooks — from about $19/mo, tiered by client count
| ShowTheReceipts | FreshBooks | |
|---|---|---|
| Built around | Contracting work done in the field | Desk-based invoicing and accounting |
| Quoting that becomes the invoice | Accepted quote converts in one tap | Estimates supported; field quoting limited |
| On-site payment | Card in the driveway, cash & Venmo in one ledger | Online payment links; desk-oriented |
| Client limits | No per-client tier gating | Plans tiered by billable-client count |
| Automatic follow-up | Overdue nudges send themselves | Reminders, tier-dependent |
| Cut of your payments | None — processor rate only | None — processor rate only |
Desk invoicing vs. field work
Accounting-first invoicing is built around a desk — time tracking, tidy ledgers, invoices emailed between bookkeeping tasks. That’s a strong fit for a desk-based business. It’s a looser one for a contractor standing in a driveway trying to quote and take a card before they leave.
ShowTheReceipts is built for that moment. You quote in front of the work, invoice the second it’s done, and charge on-site — and cash and Venmo land in the same ledger as the card, so the books come together as you get paid.
No per-client tiers
Plans that meter you by billable-client count punish you for growing your book. On the Pro plan, $39 covers unlimited invoicing with no client cap — the more customers you have, the better, not the more expensive.
Where each fits
If you want desk accounting with time tracking and rarely take payment in person, that kind of tool fits. But if your office is your truck, the field-first tool matches your day and turns getting paid and keeping books into one motion.
Switching without losing your history
Export your clients as a CSV and import them directly — the importer handles client lists and job history, and duplicate detection keeps a re-import from doubling your book. Most operators are fully moved in an afternoon.
Which one should you actually pick?
Choose ShowTheReceipts if…
- Your office is your truck and you take payment on-site
- You don't want plans gated by how many clients you bill
- You mix cash, card, and Venmo and want one ledger
- You want every feature at one flat price
Choose FreshBooks if…
- You want desk accounting with time tracking and rarely take field payment
Frequently asked questions
Can a solo contractor run everything on ShowTheReceipts?
Yes. Quoting, invoicing, on-site card payment, cash and Venmo tracking, automatic follow-up, and tax-ready exports are all included on the $39/month Pro plan — the whole quote-to-paid loop, without a per-client tier limiting how many people you can bill.
What do I get with ShowTheReceipts for $39/month?
Every operator feature at one flat price — unlimited invoicing with no client cap, on-site card payment, automatic follow-up, cash and Venmo tracking, scheduling, and tax-ready exports — with nothing gated behind a higher tier.
Does it handle my books for taxes?
Yes. Cash, card, and Venmo all land in the same ledger and export tax-ready at year end, so you get clean books without a separate desk accounting workflow — and your accountant can work from the export.
Can I switch without losing my client list?
Yes. Export your clients as a CSV and import them directly — the migration importer handles client and job history, with duplicate detection so a re-import doesn't double your book. Most operators are fully moved in an afternoon.