Hi there,
Welcome to the first issue of ContractorCFOStack.
I'm Chris. For more than 20 years I've helped AEC firms with their capital equipment purchases. Over that time I've watched finance teams make big software decisions with almost nothing to go on except vendor-sponsored "Top 10" lists and generic review sites that don't split tools by trade or revenue size.
This newsletter exists to fix that. Every other week you'll get a neutral read on the software mid-size contractors actually use, written for CFOs and controllers at mechanical, electrical, heavy civil and GC firms. Rankings aren't for sale, and you can read our methodology here: www.contractorcfostack.com/methodology
Featured comparison: Viewpoint Vista vs Foundation Software
Both are construction-specific ERPs built around job cost and construction payroll. The real difference is scale and how heavy the implementation is.
Vista: a deep, highly configurable ERP for mid-to-large contractors. In our view it fits firms from about $50M to $500M+. Plan on a structured implementation with internal champions and help from a partner or the vendor.
Foundation: construction-specific accounting and payroll focused on the mid-market, roughly $5M–$250M. Rollouts are generally lighter and more pragmatic.
Pricing: neither vendor publishes it.
Our take: above roughly $150M with multiple divisions, Vista's depth tends to justify the heavier rollout. Between about $20M and $150M, Foundation is often the pragmatic choice. Either way, ask both vendors for references in your trade and revenue band, and price the full three-year cost.
Full comparison: www.contractorcfostack.com/compare/viewpoint-vista-vs-foundation
3 quick tool picks
Siteline: pay-app and billing automation for subcontractors. Why: it has a direct impact on cash flow. www.contractorcfostack.com/tools/siteline
hh2: a cloud layer over Vista and Spectrum for payroll, documents and reporting. Why: it extends an ERP you already own instead of replacing it. www.contractorcfostack.com/tools
Points North: a specialist in certified payroll and prevailing-wage compliance. Why: it's worth a look if you do certified payroll or prevailing-wage work. www.contractorcfostack.com/tools/points-north
The tip: audit your renewals before they auto-renew
Most SaaS contracts renew automatically, and the window to cancel or renegotiate can close weeks before the renewal date, so check your contract. Spend 30 minutes this month on these steps:
Pull 12 months of software charges from AP and your company cards into one list.
For each tool, note the renewal date, the notice period, the seat count and the owner.
Compare seats paid against active users. Unused licenses are the easiest savings you'll find.
Put a reminder on your calendar 30 days before each notice deadline.
For anything that's sticking around, use the renewal as leverage: ask about multi-year pricing, caps on increases, or removing modules you don't use.
What are you evaluating right now? Hit reply and tell me the tool or category you're looking at. I read every reply, and your questions will shape future comparisons.