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Construction and trades carry some of the slowest payment cycles in business. Retainage gets held back, progress and AIA-style billing stretches across months, and cash moves down a long chain from owner to general contractor to sub. By the time an invoice is approved, the next draw is already due, and your crew still needs paying on Friday.
The right accounts receivable software sits on top of your accounting system, chases persistently, and enforces the terms in your contract. It tracks retainage separately, escalates aging draws, and keeps statements current so nothing slips past a lien or notice deadline. Below are five tools built to tighten cash flow for contractors and trades.
of contractors wait more than 30 days to get paid, up from 49% two years earlier
What to look for in accounts receivable software for construction
The criteria that actually matter for this sector.
Retainage and progress billing awareness
Construction AR is not flat net-30. Look for tools that handle held-back retainage, progress draws, and partial payments without mislabeling balances or chasing money that is contractually withheld.
Persistent, automated chasing
Long approval chains mean reminders get ignored. You want sequences that escalate automatically, route by customer group, and keep pressure on slow GCs without manual follow-up from your office team.
Sits on your accounting system
The tool should treat Xero or QuickBooks as the source of truth, sync invoices and payments in real time, and avoid double entry so your ledger and your chasing always match.
Quick answer: the best pick for construction & trades
Paidnice is the best accounts receivable software for construction and trades in 2026. It works on top of Xero or QuickBooks, chases from your own domain, applies automatic late fees and interest, and runs payment plans and escalations by customer group, all for $69/mo flat with unlimited users.
The ranked shortlist:
- Paidnice: Best overall AR automation for contractors on Xero or QuickBooks. Flat $69/mo, unlimited users, automatic late fees, statements, and escalations by customer group.
- Chaser: Solid standalone chasing for trades businesses that want polished, multi-stage reminder sequences and a dedicated collections workflow.
- Siteline: Built specifically for trade contractors handling AIA-style pay applications, lien waivers, and progress billing across many GCs.
- GCPay: Pay-application and compliance platform aimed at general contractors managing subcontractor draws, lien waivers, and retainage.
- ezyCollect: AR automation with payment portals and dunning for larger contracting firms that want predictive collections and integrated payments.
The tools compared at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Key strength | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paidnice | Contractors on Xero or QuickBooks | Automatic late fees, interest, and group-based escalations | $69/mo flat | 4.9 Capterra · 5★ Xero |
| Chaser | Dedicated chasing workflows | Polished multi-stage reminder sequences | From $259/mo | 4.9 Capterra |
| Siteline | Trade contractor pay apps | AIA billing, lien waivers, progress draws | Quote | Verified |
| GCPay | GC subcontractor payments | Pay-app automation and compliance docs | Quote | Verified |
| ezyCollect | Larger contracting firms | Payment portals and predictive collections | From $125/mo | 4.6 Capterra |
Ratings and pricing are drawn from public sources as of June 2026 and change over time. Follow each linked source for the current figure.
The tools in depth
Paidnice
$69/mo flatBest overallBest for: Contractors and trades running on Xero or QuickBooks.
Paidnice layers onto your existing ledger and chases overdue draws from your own domain. It applies automatic late fees and interest, sends statements, and routes payment plans and escalations by customer group, so slow GCs get pressure while loyal clients get a softer touch.
See reviews on Capterra, Xero App Store.
Chaser
From $259/moBest for: Trades businesses wanting dedicated chasing.
Chaser focuses purely on automated, multi-stage reminder sequences and a collections workflow. For a contracting office that just wants persistent, well-written follow-up on aging invoices, it does that one job well and integrates with major accounting systems.
See reviews on Capterra.
Siteline
QuoteBest for: Trade contractors handling AIA pay apps.
Siteline is purpose-built for subcontractors, digitizing AIA-style pay applications, lien waivers, and progress billing across many GCs. It speeds up billing dramatically and tracks retainage, though it is a billing platform first rather than a broad AR chaser.
GCPay
QuoteBest for: General contractors managing sub draws.
GCPay automates the payment-application process between general contractors and subcontractors, handling lien waivers, compliance documents, and retainage tracking. It suits GCs coordinating many subs more than small trades chasing their own receivables.
ezyCollect
From $125/moBest for: Larger contracting firms.
ezyCollect combines automated dunning, online payment portals, and predictive collections for firms with sizable ledgers. It can reduce DSO meaningfully, though the feature depth and onboarding suit bigger AR teams rather than lean trades offices.
See reviews on Capterra.
Frequently asked questions
Why is DSO so high in construction?
Construction billing is tied to milestones, not flat net-30 terms. Retainage of 5 to 10 percent is held until completion, progress draws need approval, and cash moves down a long chain from owner to GC to sub. The result is one of the slowest payment cycles in any industry.
What is retainage and how should AR software handle it?
Retainage is a percentage of each payment held back until a project is substantially complete, often 5 to 10 percent. Good AR software tracks the withheld portion separately so you do not chase money that is contractually held, then flags retainage releases the moment they become due.
Does Paidnice work with construction accounting systems?
Paidnice uses Xero or QuickBooks as the source of truth and syncs invoices and payments in real time. If your contracting business runs its ledger in either platform, Paidnice layers on top to chase, apply fees, and send statements without double entry.
Can these tools handle AIA-style progress billing?
Siteline and GCPay are built around AIA-style pay applications and progress draws. Paidnice, Chaser, and ezyCollect focus on chasing and collecting the invoices your accounting system produces, so many contractors pair a billing tool with an AR automation tool like Paidnice.
Will automatic late fees help with slow-paying GCs?
Yes. Enforcing contractual late fees and interest gives slow payers a reason to prioritize your invoice. Paidnice applies these automatically and routes escalations by customer group, so a persistently late GC faces firmer follow-up than a reliable repeat client.
How does Paidnice chase without damaging client relationships?
Paidnice sends reminders from your own domain and lets you route sequences by customer group, so tone and timing match the relationship. Long-standing clients get gentle nudges while chronic late payers get firmer escalations, statements, and fees applied automatically.
Which tool is cheapest for a small trades business?
Paidnice at $69/mo flat with unlimited users is the most affordable on this list, since rivals charge per seat or per tier that climbs with your team. For a small trades office adding office staff, the flat fee keeps costs predictable.
Can I track lien and notice deadlines with these tools?
Construction-specific tools like Siteline and GCPay surface compliance and waiver workflows tied to billing. AR tools like Paidnice keep statements and aging current so overdue balances are visible early, giving your team time to act before a lien or notice deadline passes.
Sources and further reading
- DocJoist Construction Payment Statistics 2026
- Paidnice on Capterra and the Xero App Store
- Best accounts receivable software (by business type)
Pricing and positioning reflect public sources as of May 26, 2026 and may change. This article is published by Accounting.Events, powered by Paidnice.
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