All six, compared
| Software | Best for | Score | Ideal company |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADP Workforce Now | Automation | 92/100 | Larger contractors wanting broad HR, benefits, and payroll in one suite |
| Payroll4Construction | Prevailing wage | 88/100 | Union shops and contractors on prevailing-wage jobs |
| Foundation Software | Job costing | 85/100 | Contractors tracking labor cost by job and phase |
| Sage 100 Contractor | ERP integration | 80/100 | Companies wanting payroll built into a full ERP |
| QuickBooks Payroll | Small crews | 81/100 | Smaller non-union contractors already on QuickBooks |
| Paychex Flex | Mobile app | 84/100 | Crews clocking in from job sites |
Common questions
Do I need certified payroll software?
If you work on public works or government-funded jobs, you generally need certified payroll reports showing wages meet prevailing-wage rates. Payroll4Construction and Foundation Software build this in directly.
What's the best payroll software for job costing?
Foundation Software and Sage 100 Contractor tie payroll directly to job and phase codes, so labor cost rolls into job costing automatically.
Can I switch from QuickBooks without losing my history?
Most construction platforms, including Foundation and Sage 100 Contractor, offer QuickBooks migration tools. QuickBooks Payroll avoids a migration entirely.