CostCertified Reviews

“Great software... grow your business

Pros

Fast quoting, can get proposals to customers in a few hours

Cons

Waiting for some features like credit cards.

“Great software for fencing and decking

Pros

Good measurement / takeoff features. Able to build assemblies which we can get estimates out faster

Cons

Takes a while to import items.

“Able to close higher value jobs

Pros

Their automated scheduling saved countless hours each week, allowing us to focus on delivering quality projects. We started winning more jobs thanks to Bolster’s impressive proposals, making a significant difference to our bottom line. The support team helped set up our account with construction items and assemblies, ensuring we hit the ground running.

Cons

None

“Good for winning jobs

Pros

Bolster’s automated scheduling saved us countless hours and kept projects moving smoothly. The AutoCost library, with local hardware store data, ensured our estimates were always accurate and up-to-date. Additionally, the support team’s guidance on creating winning proposals gave us a competitive edge, resulting in more successful bids and satisfied clients.

Cons

No negatives that I can think of

“Great tool for winning jobs

Pros

Presentations, upsells, fast estimating

Cons

Long to set up

“Great software for winning jobs

Pros

The CostCertified/Bolster platform has helped me close more deals with the interactive proposals and upselling items

Cons

Takes a while to set up

“Great support!

Pros

I’m not the most tech-savvy guy out there—I’d much rather be on a job site than in front of a computer. I was very overwhelmed by the software at first and wanted to quit almost right away, but my on-boarder Alex walked me through each step, making sure I understood how to set up interactive quotes, schedule jobs automatically, and manage invoices. Now, I can give my customers great-looking estimates in no time, and everything’s synced up with my scheduling and invoicing. It’s a huge time-saver and makes my business look more professional—without all the headache. Thank you for all of your help Alex!

Cons

If you are not into tech like me, it might take you a bit of time to learn.

“Nothing Like it!

Pros

I’ve been using CostCertified for a while now, and it has completely transformed how I manage my construction business. My customers love the sales experience thanks to the interactive, dynamic quotes—it's engaging, informative, and makes a great first impression. On top of that, creating estimates is incredibly fast and straightforward, saving me a ton of time. I also love how the scheduling automatically syncs with each estimate, making it effortless to keep projects organized. And when it comes to billing, CostCertified lets me easily generate invoices and collect payments, which has streamlined my entire workflow. Overall, I couldn’t be happier with how much more efficient and professional my business looks since switching to CostCertified!

Cons

It's not a magic pill. You have to commit a bit of time into learning and setting the software up.

“Game Changer!

Pros

We are custom renovators and have always struggled to communicate a conceptual scope of work during the initial sales phase. CostCertified has been a game-changer, allowing us to present endless combinations of scope and selections in a single quote. This not only educates our customers, but also sets clear expectations that their design and scope decisions ultimately drive their budget. The proposals CostCertified enables us to create are visually impressive and project a professional image, which has significantly contributed to our company’s growth. Since implementing CostCertified over a year ago, we’ve seen more than a 30% increase in business.

Cons

This is not a magic pill. I see from other reviews, some people expect CostCertified to work perfectly right out of the box. The software is highly customizable and requires a bit of time set it up. Once set up it saves a tone of time and helps speed up estimating and allows us to manage the project with little input once the project moves fwd.

“Great for winning jobs

Pros

The presentations have allowed us to win jobs of 50k+ with ease, and we can estimate jobs right on the spot. Customers can also upsell themselves which is a great feature and helped us to increase our job size.

Cons

Takes a while to set up, I recommend going on a higher plan to get them to help you set the software up.

“Good Estimation tool

Pros

I love the presentations. Since using this software my closing rate has increased by 20%. The interactive proposals are amazing

Cons

It takes some time to learn.

“Disappointment

Pros

Look forward to cancel

Cons

This softwere is terrible and now I understand that you have to do a contract of one year without free trial because people would not subscribe like when the product worth away more then yours, but cost less the $100. I’m really disappointed and paying for this very expensive $400 monthly. It is so unpractical, too many steps to do very sample basic things, very inaccurate prices prices, impossible to write description how need and make you loose costumers because it is complicated for them too.

“Exceptional software for estimates

Pros

Once I got the hang of using this software, putting together a detailed home quote turned into a fast and easy process. Plus setting up my database made all the difference because now I can quickly pull items from previous quotes and reuse them.

Cons

Figuring out how to navigate the software was a bit tricky at first and I had to make some big adjustments to the labor pricing to match our local market.

“Be cautious when purchasing

Pros

What I liked most was the whole concept of what they offer. During the sales process, they showed us this amazing estimate just like the one we did send out to our own customers and it was honestly impressive. I loved how customers could interact with the estimate, making upgrades or downgrades to fit the project to their preferences, needs and budget. It really adds a nice touch!

Cons

Setting up the system was quite complex. We had to spend around 6 weeks working closely with the team to customize templates, calculators and backend processes. However, the meetings with the development team didn't go as planned. We ended up attending 7 to 8 meetings, but it seemed like they misunderstood our intentions and thought we were only there to ask questions rather than seeking their assistance in building everything out. Additionally, the software lacks project management capabilities, so we had to purchase another program to handle that aspect of our business. Considering the price we paid, it felt quite expensive for the features provided. The initial purchase only included one user, and we had to pay extra for additional users, which made it difficult for the three of us to utilize the software effectively for estimating, reporting, and task assignment. Unfortunately, there was no trial period offered, which they explained as the software being too customizable to provide one. While I understand that reasoning, it would have been reassuring to have some sort of guarantee or refund option, even with certain conditions, to instill confidence in our $4000 investment.

“This program has made a positive impact on my operations

Pros

The system provides us with professional proposals that we can accurately and quickly deliver to clients. We also particularly like the seamless customization to our niche business, streamlining the entire process from start to finish.

Cons

We didn't encounter any major issues. However, since our company offers highly customized products, it took some time to input all our items into the system. But the effort has definitely paid off!

“A dedicated team is always ready to help

Pros

My rep has been absolutely amazing for our business. Whenever we have urgent questions, he’ll even call during his own personal time to help us work things out. In short the customer support has been fantastic. Plus The way the information is presented to our clients is impressive too.

Cons

I think that the presence of the various time-saving formulas will be a game-changer.

“Poor support! Not recommended....

Pros

After purchasing the product for $1700 for six months, I encountered difficulties in obtaining assistance. The person who was supposed to help me create my profile and set everything up went on vacation and never returned. Unfortunately, there is no refund policy, so they do not reimburse your money.

Cons

It was very very difficult to learn about the system on my own.

“Great software .. Boosted my business growth..

Pros

I cannot stress enough the value of CostCertified software. I can generate painting quotes within minutes. One major advantage is the ease of accessing product items or entire house assemblies with a simple click. Pricing can be saved per item, as all the information can be preloaded. Any new items added are automatically saved to my company's database, which can be accessed on my phone or iPad since it's cloud-based. The system also includes built-in CRM, enabling me to see when customers last viewed their quote, allowing for timely follow-ups. Additionally, scheduling features will be available by the end of October. CostCertified provides comprehensive onboarding support to help set up company files if needed. Moreover, you can personalize pictures for your customers to enhance their association with your quotes.

Cons

So far, I have been using the product for 5 years, and the company has made numerous improvements during that time. I have no complaints at the moment.

“Smooth and easy onboarding

Pros

The software is highly customizable to suit my business methods and branding which enhance my company's professional image and appearance for my customers.

Cons

My customers had a hard time adjusting to the non-traditional estimate format.

“Make sure to test it before buying

Pros

There's not much I like about this software. The software feels a bit clumsy. Whenever I try to highlight something, it unexpectedly exits from there causing me to lose all the recent changes. Editing items can be quite tedious.

Cons

If you're considering purchasing this program, I would highly recommend opting for a long trial period or choosing the monthly payment option. The company doesn't provide refunds for unused time or offer any flexibility if the software doesn't meet your needs.

“Great for large projects

Pros

It very much helps us in keeping everything organized and also simplifies the process of estimating large projects.

Cons

I feel like there are many features to remember, which made the initial setup process quite time-consuming.

“Budget-friendly but complicated

Pros

We really like how this software lets our potential clients interact with their proposals as it allows them to adjust the price and pick the fixtures they want. Also it is super helpful for the design process since it allows us to find options that fit right within their budget.

Cons

Some aspects of the software, like adjusting viewing settings, deleting items and creating assemblies that work for every job, can be a bit cumbersome. This has been particularly challenging since each project we undertake is unique.

“I Simply LOVE CostCertified

Pros

I'm absolutely thrilled with the level of professionalism and accuracy this software provides me in my quotes now. I'm securing more jobs and have a clear understanding of my profit margins.

Cons

The setup process does require some time, but I must say their customer service team is absolutely fantastic. They are there to assist you every step of the way.

“No time savings at all

Pros

Few things I like about this software is that the proposals have a great visual appeal and are relatively easy to navigate.

Cons

Setting it up took me a really long time. Plus the software is slow and has some glitches.

“Questionable sales tactics and no refund policy

Pros

The graphical interface is decent, and the integration with HD pricing is impressive, even though it doesn't really fit my specific needs.

Cons

Creating assemblies is super slow for me. Saving updates for items feels like it takes forever, and it is really not intuitive at all. It's also frustrating that there is only one contact per opportunity when most of my clients have multiple stakeholders and email addresses. The setup process feels never ending. Once I get into the details which makes changes and saving estimates becomes painfully slow.

“Give your clients the freedom to upsell themselves

Pros

With Cost Certified, I can provide clients with a certified cost that includes various upgrades and options. They can choose and see the pricing update automatically, almost like having their own personalized web store.

Cons

I have to closely monitor the cost of materials, although I was under the impression that they would update automatically in the background. Unfortunately, that feature doesn't seem to be fully functional yet.

“Loaded with features and excellent customer service

Pros

Each and every interaction with the CostCertified team has been great. They are an honest group of people working to assist contractors in streamlining their operations and expanding their businesses. They have always addressed all of my complaints and returned all of my calls and emails.

Cons

There is only one drawback: the time required for setup. But before you can make money in a company, just like anything else, you have to invest. I took some time to learn how the system functions and how to tailor it to my particular projects, and now it works smoothly for me.

“A worthy investment for business growth

Pros

Cost Certified has saved me so much time on estimates. I used to spend at least 10 to 15 hours a week calculating estimates and typing up fancy proposals for my clients. It was tough because I could only handle a limited number of prospects due to all the time it took. Now, with Cost Certified, each quote only takes me about 10 minutes max. So now I can actually spend more time talking with my customers about their projects and giving better service, instead of being stuck estimating. The best part is that the whole proposal is interactive and my customers love it. They get to pick options within their own budget, which leads to way better conversations since they can make choices on their own. Cost Certified is so detailed, precise and professional that I even booked a big project just over the phone, which I did never been able to do before in my four years in home improvement sales!

Cons

The only potential issue is the time it takes to set up. However, in business you often have to invest before reaping profits. I dedicated a significant amount of time to understand the system and customize it for my specific projects. The time it has saved me in just a few months is easily a 5-10x return on investment. This software is an absolute necessity!

“Easy to set up and customizable

Pros

The setup is straightforward and the software offers customizable features. It eliminates the guesswork from the estimation aspect of my business. Also clients like the transparency and find the proposal navigation user-friendly.

Cons

There are certain features on the editing side that I don't use because I couldn't understand their purpose, even after applying them to a 'dummy proposal.' I do wish that specific items and assemblies could display itemized costs while keeping other items/assemblies hidden.

“top-notch product

Pros

I have managed to minimize the time spent on estimates by 60 to 80%. The sales process has become more streamlined and I can quickly qualify customers. The learning curve for this software is short, making it easy and enjoyable to use. The support team, including our onboarding coach, has been excellent responsive, professional, and knowledgeable. We were able to integrate the software seamlessly into our business, unlike previous programs we've tried.

Cons

I am really looking forward to the customer messaging feature so that all my team members can communicate with customers directly within the program.

“Reliable software

Pros

I love that I can offer clients different options and let them adjust the project price with just a simple click which is fantastic.

Cons

It would be great if we had the option to fully hide certain values in the estimate preview for clients.

“We had a great experience!!

Pros

CostCertified.com has significantly benefited our kitchen remodeling and general contractor operations. The support team has been outstanding, and our account representative has been terrific.

Cons

At this point, we believe that more features or benefits should be added.

“This will help YOU if you are a small business owner.

Pros

The software is quite intuitive, although setting up materials and assemblies may require some time initially. Once you have created a substantial number of assemblies, like fences, putting together estimates becomes a hassle free task. As it takes only 20 to 30 minutes without much hassle. They support APIs, and after speaking with the development team, I was able to use an API to import customer information, which was incredibly helpful. While I find the CRM useful, it's not comprehensive, and I currently use JobNimbus. The support provided by the team has been exceptional. I highly recommend reaching out to them for any issues or concerns you may encounter. They offer potential solutions and work closely with you to resolve problems. The team has been incredibly supportive.

Cons

It does slow down pretty often, but I've been informed that they are actively working on improving that.

“It will change the way you do business

Pros

Cost Certified has revolutionized my business. The ease with which I can capture and organize details that often used to miss in the past. I can now take all the pricing information from my team's knowledge and input it into Cost Certified, resulting in highly detailed and accurate bids. This software adapts effortlessly to both complex remodels and simple paint jobs. The customer experience it provides is unparalleled compared to other programs. If you want to increase your revenue through upgrades and correctly priced change orders, Cost Certified is the way to go. Is it worth the investment? Well, do you want to eliminate uncertainty about where every penny goes, avoid missing items on bids, remember previous charges for unique items, make fewer phone calls due to customer changes, and stand out from other contractors? If these benefits appeal to you, ditch your outdated Excel spreadsheet and embrace Cost Certified. It pays for itself through the customizable upgrades you can offer and the exceptional customer experience it delivers. You'll secure more jobs and boost profitability.

Cons

There was a lot to learn. It took me a while to become proficient enough in the software to create high-quality bids. I would also prefer a better way to present information about my company. We often display licenses, comparison charts and other materials to educate our customers about how our company stands out and offers greater value compared to others. While it is possible to do this in CostCertified, I would prefer a more polished presentation format.

“Wow, Game-Changer!

Pros

After years of experimenting with various Construction software programs, I've finally discovered a game-changer for my business which is called Cost Certified. I can't stress enough on how outstanding this software is. Let me highlight a few key points: - Cost Certified is incredibly intuitive and straightforward to use. This aspect is important for my business because if my staff doesn't adopt a program, no matter how good it is, it's useless. Setting up the backend of the software is a breeze with just a little time investment. Once the backend is ready, the user experience is as simple as using an iPad, making training a matter of hours. - Cost Certified has streamlined my sales and estimating process, significantly reducing the time it takes for estimates. What used to require an hour can now be done in just 15 minutes. This has allowed me to reduce fixed overhead costs while presenting my prospective customers with truly unique and impressive deliverables. - One of the standout features of Cost Certified is the ability to create interactive quotes. This feature not only lets me add pictures of specific products but also enables customers to upgrade their choices. I typically offer 3-5 upgrades for each product within my estimates. This functionality is a true game-changer as it sets me apart from the competition and empowers customers to engage with the quote.

Cons

Honestly, I don't have any issues to report. I've been informed that CostCertified's services and capabilities will be expanding in the near future. I am eagerly waiting to see what they have in store.

“CostCertified- The Next Level

Pros

After conducting months of research, our Remodeling/Construction Company stumbled upon CostCertified, and it immediately caught our attention. We realized it would not only streamline our estimation process but also provide the best buying experience in the industry at this level. The Interactive Proposal feature in CostCertified sets it apart by offering a next-level experience for our clients while being efficient for our business. It's an absolute win-win situation. After speaking with the support team and gaining insights into the vision behind CostCertified, we recognized its present-day excellence, particularly in terms of the client experience. We also realized that their future plans would enhance the CostCertified experience for both businesses and clients. We extend our thanks for developing such a powerful tool for the industry.

Cons

We are extremely satisfied with every aspect of CostCertified, and with the upcoming updates, the experience is bound to improve even further.

“Chawick's Cost Certified Review

Pros

My life has been transformed by Cost Certified. With over 20 years of experience selling landscaping and renovations, including 10 years running my own company, I have enjoyed numerous benefits from this software. However, the most valuable one is the time savings. Now, my customers can approve quotes with a simple click, eliminating the need for PDFs or in-person signatures. Waking up and checking my dashboard to see which projects have been approved is a joy. This alone saves me 30 minutes to 3 hours every day. Previously, quoting a project would take me 4-8 hours, but now I can complete it in just 15-60 minutes, regardless of whether the project is worth $5,000 or $300,000. This software is comprehensive enough to run an entire business. It would have even saved my marriage, considering my wife used to handle the bookkeeping, which was neither enjoyable nor advisable when mixing business with family. If I had access to this software a decade ago, I would still be running my own successful business and happily married. One of the remarkable features is having a dedicated space for customer contact information, including buttons to call or email them directly a fantastic addition. The software automatically moves customers to the approved/sold column and generates invoices with a single click. It even creates tax statements, significantly reducing my accounting workload. The upgrades and options feature is another favorite of mine. It allows customers to have control over the final price. When selling a patio, I start with a basic, uninspiring gray concrete option. Customers can then browse through various upgrades and decide if they want to enhance their project. I used to dislike offering upgrades or options, but with this software, I don't have to put in any extra effort. Describing all the benefits in 1500 characters is simply not enough. Cost Certified will truly change your life!

Cons

It's a vast improvement over what I used to do with Excel quote files, folders, and PDFs. Maybe adding a calendar feature would be beneficial? I love that I can include pictures with any item in a quote, but the ability to add videos would take it to the next level.

“The Future is here!

Pros

What I love most about this product is its organizational capabilities and how easily it can be used once you understand its workings. It helps me keep track of expenses and I genuinely love every aspect of this product. The ability for clients to select upgrades in the estimates without requiring me to make changes manually is a fantastic feature.

Cons

I have nothing negative to say. I took a course to help me fully understand the software, and it has been invaluable.

“Estimating tool of the future

Pros

Once you input your suppliers and costs, the program consistently generates competitive and accurate quotes. Additionally, customers receive a highly detailed and interactive breakdown of products and pricing.

Cons

It required a bit of time to adapt and input our costs. However, once those are entered, you're good to go.

“New User

Pros

It's easy to learn, adapt to and a great time-saver for quoting jobs.

Cons

There are no negative aspects to mention about the program. It's performing exactly as promised!

“GRC Review

Pros

It's a quick and secure way to access cost details, provide feedback and sign documents.

Cons

Honestly, I have no additional feedback to provide as the application is working perfectly fine.

“Feedback

Pros

It's user-friendly, regularly updated and provides detailed cost information in real-time.

Cons

I have no complaints as I found it very straightforward to use on a daily basis.

“Easy for customer to use

Pros

I like the itemized quoting approach, where each element of the project is listed separately. This makes it effortless for customers to identify areas where adjustments can be made to save money.

Cons

The aspect I like the least about this software was the digital quality of the uploaded site drawings.

“Nothing like this in industry and FREE!

Pros

The ease of use, prompt response time and user-friendly nature are highly commendable.

Cons

I do regret not discovering it earlier.