Buildertrend consultant or Buildertrend onboarding: which do you need?

When you sign up for construction software, you get onboarding. So why would anyone hire an independent Buildertrend consultant on top of it? Because they solve different problems. Onboarding teaches you the software. A consultant designs your system and helps you build it.

What onboarding is for

Software onboarding is built to get you comfortable with the product: where things are, what each feature does and how to use it. It's valuable, and every new account should take full advantage of it.

What it can't do is make the decisions that are specific to your company. How should your cost codes be structured? Which job types need templates? What should homeowners see in the portal? Who enters bills, and where? Those answers depend on how you estimate, build and get paid.

What a consultant adds

An independent consultant works on your account with you and for you.

• Decisions made for your business. Cost codes, templates, permissions and workflows designed around how you actually run jobs.
• Hands on work. Data entry, data migration and file structures done for you, not just explained.
• The QuickBooks connection. Set up and tested end to end, so job costing matches your books.
• Construction experience. Someone who has run jobs knows which shortcuts cause problems six months later.
• Support after go live. Account maintenance and back office help as your company changes.

When onboarding is enough

• You're a small team with simple, repeatable jobs
• Someone in your office has the time to own setup for several weeks
• You don't need a QuickBooks integration yet

When to bring in a consultant

• You're switching from another system and need data migrated
• Your account has been live for months and still isn't used fully
• Job costing doesn't match your books
• Nobody on your team has the hours to own implementation
• You want to be live in weeks, not quarters

Questions to ask any consultant

1. Have you run construction jobs yourself?
2. Which certifications do you hold?
3. Do you handle the QuickBooks integration, or will I need someone else?
4. Do you do the data entry and migration, or just train us?
5. What does support look like after go live?
6. Can I talk to two or three of your clients?

At Custom Craft Consulting, the answers are yes, six construction software certifications including Super User, yes, yes, ongoing maintenance and back office support, and absolutely. Read what clients say on Google, or book a free system audit to see what your account is missing.