The Best Free (or Cheap) Apps for Small Service Businesses

thelocalink
Jul 21
2 min read

Updated: Aug 5

If you run a home service business, you already know it’s not just about doing the work — you’re also scheduling jobs, sending quotes, chasing payments, keeping track of mileage, and somehow remembering who wanted what done. It’s a lot.

The good news? There are a ton of free (or super affordable) apps that can make your life easier and help you run your business smoother without spending a ton of money. These are a few of my personal favorites and ones other local service pros swear by:

Staying Organized

Google Calendar (Free)

If you don’t already use this, start now. It’s free, easy to use, and works on any phone. You can set up all your jobs with times, addresses, customer names, and even notes.

Pro Tip: Color-code your jobs. Lawn care gets green, clean-outs get orange, and handyman jobs get blue. It makes your week way easier to glance at.

Jobber (Paid, but worth it)

Jobber is built for service businesses like ours. You can schedule jobs, send quotes, track payments, and even collect deposits or full payments right through the app. It’s not free, but if you’re busy enough, it more than pays for itself.

Why it’s great: No more scrolling through your texts to find what you quoted a customer last month. It keeps everything organized in one place.

Google Photos (Free)

This one’s for those of us snapping before-and-after pics on every job (which you should be doing, by the way). Google Photos keeps them organized by date, and you can create albums for each client if you want.

Pro Tip: Use these pics in your Facebook posts or on your LocaLink profile to show off your work.

Managing Finances

Venmo & Square (Free/Low Fee)

Getting paid on the spot is a game changer. Venmo works great for quick payments if your customers use it. Square lets you swipe cards or tap for payment right on your phone or a little card reader.

Why it’s handy: No more waiting for checks in the mail or chasing down payments a week later.

Wave Accounting (Free)

Nobody loves bookkeeping, but Wave makes it a little less painful. It’s free, lets you send clean, professional invoices, track payments, and get a quick look at how much you’re bringing in each month.

Pro Tip: Always send an invoice — even if the customer pays cash. It keeps your records clean for tax season.

💡 A Few Bonus Tools:

Google Keep: Simple app for jotting down gate codes, customer notes, and supply lists.
MileIQ: Automatically tracks your mileage for tax deductions. It runs in the background and saves you from writing it down.
Canva: Great for making quick social media posts, job flyers, or business cards on your phone.

At the end of the day, you don’t need to drop hundreds on fancy software. A handful of free or low-cost apps can help you stay organized, look professional, and save you a ton of time chasing paperwork and payments.