Which Tool for the JobBest free software for a one-truck trade business (2026): the $0 stack
You don't need to pay for software to look professional, get found, send invoices and stop missing calls. Every tool below has a $0 plan per its vendor page (checked Oct 17, 2026). Card-processing fees still apply when customers pay by card.
The $0 stack, in the order we'd set it up
- Get found: Google Business Profile. A free listing on Google Search and Maps. Add photos, service area and hours, and ask every happy customer for a review. Set up your free profile →
- Invoices and getting paid: Wave or Square. Wave's Starter plan is $0 and includes bookkeeping (cards 2.9% + $0.60). Square Free is $0/mo (invoice ACH 1%, $1 min, $10 cap). See Wave → See Square →
- Write faster: a free AI tier. ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude all have $0 plans. Use one to draft quotes, follow-up texts, review replies and job descriptions from your notes. ChatGPT → Gemini → Claude →
- Stop missing calls: Smith.ai free or ServiceAgent.ai Launch. Smith.ai's free AI receptionist covers 25 calls/month; ServiceAgent.ai has a $0 Launch plan. Smith.ai free plan →
- A simple website: Wix free. Building a site is free (Wix branding, no custom domain). Your Google profile may be enough at first. See Wix →
- Roofers: Roofr Starter. $0/month; you pay per measurement report ($19 each, per vendor). See Roofr →
All free options at a glance
| Tool | Job | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | Reviews & reputation | Free | Free listing on Google Search and Maps; manage reviews and photos. |
| Wave | Accounting & payments | Free (Starter); Pro $19/mo | Starter $0 (card payments 2.9% + $0.60). Pro $19/mo or $190/yr (promo shown: $9.50/mo for 3 months). |
| Square (Invoices & Payments) | Accounting & payments | Free plan; Plus $49/mo per location | Square Free $0/mo; Plus $49/mo and Premium $149/mo per location. Processing fees vary by plan. Invoice ACH: 1%, $1 min, $10 cap. |
| ChatGPT | Free AI assistants | Free; Go $8/mo; Plus $20/mo | Free $0; Go $8/mo; Plus $20/mo; Business $25/user/mo monthly or $20 billed annually (2+ users). OpenAI says it plans to test ads in Free and Go in the US. |
| Google Gemini | Free AI assistants | Free; AI Plus $4.99/mo; AI Pro $19.99/mo | Free $0 with a Google Account; Google AI Plus $4.99/mo; AI Pro $19.99/mo; Ultra from $99.99/mo. Workspace business plans from $21/seat/mo. |
| Claude | Free AI assistants | Free; Pro $20/mo | Free $0; Pro $20/mo monthly or $17/mo billed annually; Max from $100/mo; Team $25/seat monthly or $20 annually. |
| Smith.ai AI Receptionist | Call answering (AI & live) | Free (25 calls/mo); paid from $150/mo | Free: 25 calls/mo ($3/call after). $150/mo (~$2/call); $500/mo done-for-you (~$1.67/call). Higher tiers listed. |
| ServiceAgent.ai | Call answering (AI & live) | Free (Launch); paid from $49/mo | Launch $0; Core $49 monthly / $39 billed annually; Growth $119 / $95; Franchise $349 / $279. Plans include usage credits. |
| Wix | Websites & local marketing | Free plan; paid plans not read | Building a site is free (Wix-branded, no custom domain). Premium plan prices were not captured. 14-day full refund on first Premium upgrade. |
| Roofr | Estimates & project management | Free plan (pay per report); Essentials $249/mo | Starter $0/mo (measurement reports $19 each). Essentials $249/mo monthly or $209 billed yearly; Pro $349 or $299 yearly. AI receptionist add-on (beta) $99/mo or $85 yearly. Instant Estimator $149/mo or $125 yearly. |
When it's time to pay
The usual first paid tool is a job-management app for scheduling, quotes and invoices in one place. Jobber vs Housecall Pro compares the two most common picks (both offer 14-day trials with no card, per vendor). For the cheapest phone-only quote and invoice tool, Joist starts at $12/mo month-to-month or $8.34/mo billed annually.
Limits to know
- Free plans come with limits (branding, call caps, fewer features). Read each vendor's plan page.
- OpenAI says it plans to test ads in ChatGPT's Free and Go tiers in the US.
- Prices and plans change. We log changes on the price-change page.
Sources (vendor pages, checked Oct 17, 2026): Google Business Profile · Wave · Square (Invoices & Payments) · ChatGPT · Google Gemini · Claude · Smith.ai AI Receptionist · ServiceAgent.ai · Wix · Roofr. Integrations and language support are vendor claims we have not tested. No vendor paid for this page; see our disclosure.
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