Mobile Boat Repair Estimate App (2026)
Mobile boat repair usually starts before anyone knows the real problem, so the estimate has to be staged: diagnostic first, full quote after. ShowTheReceipts ($15/mo) sends a diagnostic-fee estimate, converts it into a full parts-and-labor quote once you've opened it up, and invoices the same job on completion.
How we picked
Entry-plan prices as published in 2026, checked against each vendor's own pricing page or a recent third-party summary. Judged on the mobile repair workflow — staged diagnostic-then-quote estimating, on-site approval, and same-visit invoicing — not on shop bay scheduling or parts inventory.
| Software | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| ShowTheReceipts That's us | $15/mo | Mobile repair: diagnostic-first estimates, parts/labor quotes, on-site approval and payment |
| Joist | Free / $8/mo | Quick estimates on a tight budget |
| ARI | $19.99/mo+ | Repair-order style estimates for mobile techs |
| Invoice2go | $9.99/mo+ | Basic mobile estimating and invoicing |
| Torque360 | $99.99/mo+ | Shops running work orders across several techs |
The estimate is two documents
You can’t really quote a no-start over the phone — trying to is how you end up eating four hours of diagnosis.
Charge for the diagnosis, then quote the repair. That single change fixes most of the margin problems in mobile repair.
1. ShowTheReceipts — $15/mo
A diagnostic-fee estimate, a full parts-and-labor quote after you’ve looked, digital approval from the owner’s phone, and an invoice on completion.
2. Joist — Free / $8/mo
Fast, simple estimates; light on the rest of the job.
3. ARI — $19.99/mo+
Repair-order style estimating aimed at mobile mechanics.
4. Invoice2go — $9.99/mo+
Basic mobile estimating and invoicing.
5. Torque360 — $99.99/mo+
Shop-scale work orders and inspections.
Why absentee owners change the tooling
Half your customers aren’t at the boat. If your estimate can’t be read and approved on a phone, the job waits for a callback that may take a week — and by then someone else has quoted it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I estimate a boat repair before I've diagnosed it?
Quote the diagnostic as a fixed fee first and say plainly that it credits toward the repair if you do the work. It gets you paid for the trip and buys you the right to quote the real job accurately.
How do I get an estimate approved when the owner isn't at the boat?
Send it to their phone and let them approve it digitally. Absentee owners are the norm in this trade, and a quote that can be accepted from a desk two states away is what keeps a job moving the same day.
Should parts be marked up on the estimate?
Yes, and shown as their own line. Parts markup is normal in every repair trade, and itemizing keeps your labor rate from having to absorb it invisibly.
What if the repair grows once I'm into it?
Add the extra parts and hours as new lines and get a fresh approval before continuing. Written re-approval takes a minute and prevents the entire category of end-of-job disputes.