Running a construction business isn’t just about swinging hammers and getting the job done — it’s about managing the business which includes estimates, tracking labor, sending invoices, and making sure you actually get paid. And for a lot of small to mid-sized contractors, that part of the job is usually overlooked and does not get the attention needed.
That’s exactly why Dave Keister, a long-time contractor himself, built Werx—to solve the headaches that he and so many other contractors face every day. We sat down with Dave to talk about the biggest challenges in the industry and how WERX is helping contractors work smarter, keep more money in their pockets, and spend less time buried in paperwork.
Dave, can you tell us a little about WERX and why you started it?
So, I’ve been in the construction industry going on 29 years now. I started my first company in 2002 working in the field, managing projects, doing accounting etc. Now I have multiple construction companies and the thing that always frustrated me was the software available to operate the business/projects side of construction.
We never could find a solution that was priced fairly and gave us just the features we needed. You only had two sides of the market Quickbooks (Accounting Software Only) and then no middle ground, you had to go to the expensive guys, like $20k annually in cost which is way out of reach for many. Plus, you end up only using half of their features.
That’s why I built WERX. I wanted a simple, easy-to-use contractor software that actually worked for people like me—something that helped with construction estimates, project management, time tracking, invoicing, and integrated with QuickBooks—without the headache or costs. Plus, we wanted to make sure this software worked for any type of contractor; whether you are a general contractor, plumber, electrician, roofer, painter, this software is built with them all in mind.
What are the biggest struggles you see contractors dealing with?
Man, where do I start? Running a contracting business is tough, and I don’t think people realize just how much office work is involved. A lot of guys start out thinking, “I just want to do good work and make money.” But then reality hits, think about it “good work in, good work out right?”, same goes for your office side of things “good data in, good data out”.
- Estimating is time consuming these days especially when you’re doing it manually.
- Invoices don’t get sent on time—which means payments are late which affects cash flow which affects business operations and payroll.
- Keeping track of labor is a pain—especially with crews working multiple jobs. I think this is a struggle for all, there is never a great solution for this.
- Progress and AIA billing is confusing as hell—and if you mess it up, you don’t get paid on time. Using excel forms can get messy especially when formulas are deleted by accident which will throw off your future pay apps.
- Cash flow is a constant battle—AR is #1 in any business because if you aren’t billing on time and properly, payments don’t come in on time then everything can grind to a halt.
And honestly? Most contractors don’t have time to deal with complicated software. We’re not sitting at desks all day—we’re out on job sites, in trucks, meeting with clients. So, if a system isn’t simple and easy to use, it’s just another thing collecting dust.
That’s why I built Werx to cut through the nonsense—it’s everything a contractor needs in an invoicing and accounting software solution, without all the extra fluff.
Cash flow is a big issue for contractors. How does Werx help guys get paid faster?
Oh wow, I could talk about this all day. Cash flow is EVERYTHING in this business. If you’re waiting weeks (or months) to get paid, it kills your ability to keep projects moving.
Werx makes it super easy to send invoices and get paid online—which means no more waiting around for paper checks. We use Stripe so your clients can pay by credit card or ACH, and you get your money faster.
The best part? Once you send an invoice, you can see if the client opened it, paid it, or ignored it—so you’re not left wondering. Also, the invoices are in your project, so as a PM you can see if the project was invoiced in a timely manner by you or your staff.
I had a contractor tell me the other day that before Werx, he’d forget to send invoices for weeks because he was so busy. Now, he does it in minutes from his phone. That’s the kind of thing that makes a huge difference.
You mentioned labor tracking—why is that such a pain for contractors?
Because time is money, plain and simple. If you’re not tracking labor accurately, you’re probably losing money without even realizing it.
Before Werx, I used to chase down timecards every week, trying to figure out who worked where, for how long, and on which job. It was a mess. Also, if you under-bill for labor, guess what? You’re eating that cost.
With Werx’s Field App, crews can clock in right from their phone, and their hours get logged directly to the project. No more guesswork, no more lost time. And because everything syncs with QuickBooks, payroll is a breeze.
I had a guy tell me he used to lose thousands every year on misreported hours. Now, he can see labor costs in real time, and his jobs stay on budget.
A lot of contractors struggle with AIA Style billing—does Werx help with that?
Oh yeah. If you’ve ever had to deal with progress billing, retainage, or AIA-Style forms, you know how much of a pain it can be. One wrong number and your payment gets held up for weeks.
Werx makes it stupid simple. You can set up a Schedule of Values (SOV), bill for completed work, track retainage—all without pulling your hair out.
A roofing contractor told me he used to spend 6+ hours per invoice trying to format AIA Excel billing correctly. With Werx, it now takes him 30 minutes tops. That’s the kind of time savings that actually matter.
There are a lot of construction software options out there. What makes Werx different?
The biggest thing? Werx was built by a contractor, for contractors. I know what it’s like to be in the field all day and still have to handle paperwork at night. I know what it’s like to wait on payments, deal with payroll, and try to keep everything organized without losing my mind.
A lot of software out there is either:
- Way too complicated—built for giant construction firms, not small businesses.
- Too limited—only handling one piece of the puzzle, like scheduling or estimating.
Werx brings everything together in one place—estimates, labor tracking, billing, payments, QuickBooks integration—all without the learning curve.
If you’re a contractor who just wants a simple, easy-to-use system that helps you get organized, stay on top of your finances, and make more money, Werx is built for you.
What’s the best way for contractors to try Werx?
Honestly, the best way is to just jump in and try it. We’ve got a 30-day free trial—no credit card, no commitment—so you can see for yourself if it works for you.
You can also book a demo, and we’ll walk you through everything. And if you ever need help, our team actually understands construction—we’re not just some tech support guys reading from a script.
Go to WerxApp.com and check it out. I promise, if you’re tired of dealing with the same old headaches, Werx will make your life easier.
Any final thoughts Dave?
Running a contracting business is hard enough—your software shouldn’t make it harder. Werx was built to help contractors work smarter, get paid faster, and spend less time drowning in paperwork.
If that sounds like what you need, give it a shot. Try it free for 30 days, or you can even book a live demo here on our website.
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