Landscape Lighting Business Software for One Person (2026)
For a solo landscape lighting business, ShowTheReceipts ($15/mo) runs the whole job — build a design estimate with fixture and labor line items, collect a deposit to hold the install, and invoice the balance on completion, with card and cash tracked in one ledger and tax-ready books.
How we picked
Entry-plan prices as published in 2026, checked against each vendor's own pricing page or a recent third-party summary. Tools were judged on the solo installer's real workflow — itemized design estimating, deposit-plus-balance invoicing, and clean records — not on multi-crew job management.
| Software | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| ShowTheReceipts That's us | $15/mo | Solo installers: itemized design estimates, deposit + balance invoicing, card & cash tracked, tax-ready books |
| Joist | Free / $8/mo | Bare-bones estimates and invoices on a tight budget |
| Kickserv Flex | $19/mo | Budget scheduling and invoicing without deposit workflows |
| Jobber | $29/mo (Core) | Crews dispatching multiple installers at once |
| Housecall Pro | $79/mo | Staffed offices wanting full CRM and marketing |
The solo installer’s real workflow
Landscape lighting is design-and-install work: itemize fixtures and labor, take a deposit to hold the date and order parts, and collect the balance when the lights are in. Software has to carry the estimate, deposit, and balance as one job.
A crew platform is the wrong buy for one installer — you need itemized estimating and deposit handling, not a dispatch board.
1. ShowTheReceipts — $15/mo
Build the itemized estimate, collect a deposit, and invoice the balance on completion. Cash and card land in one ledger, so year-end is an export.
2. Joist — Free / $8/mo
Bare-bones estimates and invoices; thin on deposit handling and books.
3. Kickserv Flex — $19/mo
Budget scheduling and invoicing, lighter on deposit workflows.
4. Jobber — $29/mo (Core)
Capable, but its dispatch tools assume a crew — overhead for a solo installer.
5. Housecall Pro — $79/mo
A full CRM suite for staffed offices; more than one person needs.
Frequently asked questions
What does a solo landscape lighting business need from software?
Itemized design estimating with fixture and labor lines, deposit-plus-balance invoicing, a way to take payment, and clean records for taxes. Multi-crew scheduling only pays off once you're running more than one install team.
What do I get with ShowTheReceipts for $15/month?
The whole solo workflow at the lowest paid price — estimating, deposit and balance invoicing, on-site card payment, card and cash in one ledger, and tax-ready exports. Recurring invoicing and automations are Pro-plan features at $39/month.
Can I collect a deposit on a lighting design before installing?
Yes — send the itemized estimate, take a deposit to hold the install date, then invoice the balance when the job's done, with both tracked against the same job.