This is the most common question new business owners ask us: “I already pay for QuickBooks. Why do I need Jobber? Can’t I just send invoices from QuickBooks?”
The short answer is: Yes, you can. But you shouldn’t.
If you are trying to run a service business (HVAC, Plumbing, Lawn Care) using only QuickBooks, you are doing double the work for half the result.
In this guide, we break down the difference between Operations Software (Jobber) and Accounting Software (QuickBooks), and why the most profitable companies use them together.
The Core Difference: Operations vs. Accounting
Think of your business like a restaurant.
- Jobber is the “Front of House”: It handles the customers, the orders, the scheduling, and the service.
- QuickBooks is the “Back Office”: It handles the taxes, the expenses, and the bank reconciliation.
If you try to use QuickBooks to run your daily operations, it’s like asking your accountant to cook the food. It’s not built for that.
Comparison Table: Who Does What?
| Feature | Jobber (Operations) | QuickBooks (Accounting) |
| Scheduling Jobs | ✅ Excellent (Drag & Drop) | ❌ Non-Existent |
| Dispatching Crews | ✅ GPS Tracking & Routing | ❌ No |
| Client CRM | ✅ Full History & Photos | ⚠️ Basic Contact Info Only |
| Sending Quotes | ✅ Visual, with Photos | ⚠️ Boring Text Only |
| Invoicing | ✅ Automated via Text/Email | ✅ Yes, but manual |
| Taxes & P&L | ❌ No | ✅ The Industry Standard |
Why QuickBooks “Invoicing” isn’t Enough
QuickBooks is designed to please the IRS, not your customers. When you send an invoice from QuickBooks:
- It looks like a tax document.
- It’s hard to include “Before and After” photos of your work.
- It doesn’t automatically text the client a reminder to pay.
When you use Jobber: The client gets a professional link via text message. They click it, see the photos of the repair you did, and pay instantly via Apple Pay or Credit Card. The “Friction” to pay is zero.
The “Secret Weapon”: The 2-Way Sync
You do not have to choose between them. Jobber and QuickBooks Online have a seamless integration.
Here is the perfect workflow:
- In Jobber: You schedule the job, do the work, and get paid by the client.
- The Sync: Jobber automatically “pushes” that invoice and payment data into QuickBooks.
- In QuickBooks: Your accountant sees the money in the bank and the invoice matched perfectly.
Result: You never have to manually enter an invoice into QuickBooks again. No more late nights doing data entry.
When Should You Buy Which?
Phase 1: Just Starting (0-10 Clients)
- Use: QuickBooks Only (or even a spreadsheet).
- Why: You have more time than money. You can afford to manually write invoices.
Phase 2: The “Chaos” Phase (10+ Clients)
- Use: Jobber + QuickBooks.
- Why: You are starting to lose track of sticky notes. You forgot to invoice a client last week. You need a system.
- Get Jobber to manage the chaos.
- Keep QuickBooks to keep the tax man happy.
Final Verdict
Stop trying to force QuickBooks to be a scheduler. It wasn’t built for it.
- QuickBooks answers the question: “Did I make a profit this year?”
- Jobber answers the question: “Where is my team going today and did they get paid?”
You need both to build a real company.