Pergola and Outdoor Structure Invoicing App (2026)
Pergolas and gazebos are ordered or milled to one backyard's dimensions, often with a lead time longer than the build. ShowTheReceipts ($15/mo) takes a deposit before the order goes in, saves footing, framing, and electrical lines, and bills the balance at completion — so a customer who changes their mind in week three isn't leaving you holding a custom kit.
How we picked
Entry-plan prices as published in 2026, taken from each vendor's own pricing page or a recent third-party summary. Judged on the solo builder's money workflow — deposits before custom orders, footing and structure lines, permit pass-through, and completion billing — not on 3D design rendering, structural engineering, or manufacturer dealer portals.
| Software | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| ShowTheReceipts That's us | $15/mo | Solo builders: order deposits, footing and structure lines, permit pass-through, completion billing |
| Joist | Free / $8/mo | Cheapest estimate-and-invoice pair |
| Invoice2go | $9.99/mo+ | Basic mobile invoicing |
| Kickserv Flex | $19/mo | Budget scheduling with invoicing |
| Jobber | $29/mo (Core) | Companies scheduling several build crews |
Long lead times, custom dimensions
An aluminum pergola or a cedar kit is ordered to one backyard’s measurements, with weeks between the order and the build. That gap is the entire reason this trade needs a deposit structure rather than a pay-on-completion handshake.
1. ShowTheReceipts — $15/mo
Deposit before the order, footing, framing, and electrical lines saved, permit passed through at cost, balance invoiced at completion.
2. Joist — Free / $8/mo
Cheap estimate-and-invoice pair.
3. Invoice2go — $9.99/mo+
Basic mobile invoicing.
4. Kickserv Flex — $19/mo
Budget scheduling with invoicing.
5. Jobber — $29/mo (Core)
Scheduling for a company with build crews.
The lines an outdoor structure quote needs
- Structure — kit or milled, by material and span
- Footings / piers — per unit, by depth
- Anchoring — to existing slab or new footings
- Roof — louvered, polycarbonate, slatted, or shingle
- Electrical — fan, heater, lighting, or excluded
- Screens, curtains, and privacy panels
- Stain or finish
- Permit and inspection — at cost, jurisdiction named
- Demo of an existing structure
Attached versus freestanding changes everything
Attaching to the house means flashing, a ledger, and a permit conversation. Freestanding means more footings and no penetration of the building envelope. They’re different jobs at different prices — quote them as such rather than as a design preference.
Price the finish separately
Cedar and pressure-treated structures need stain, and the customer who declines it will be back in two years with a grey pergola and a question. Quote it as an optional line every time, so the decision is theirs and it’s documented.
Frequently asked questions
How much deposit before ordering a pergola kit?
Enough to cover the kit — often 50%. Aluminum and custom cedar structures are ordered to specific dimensions with weeks of lead time, and a cancellation after ordering leaves you owning a structure sized for someone else's patio.
Should footings be a separate line?
Yes, and price them by depth and count. Frost depth, soil, and whether you're anchoring to an existing patio or digging new piers are the biggest variables in the whole job, and none of them are visible in the finished result.
Do pergolas need permits?
Frequently, especially when attached to the house or over a certain size. Put permit and inspection on the estimate at cost with the jurisdiction named — and never let a customer talk you into skipping one, because the callback lands on you.
How do I bill electrical for fans and lighting?
As its own line, or excluded in writing if a licensed electrician is doing it. Ceiling fans, heaters, and lighting are the most common pergola add-ons and the most common source of 'I thought that was included.'