Tools for local service business

An owner-operated U.S. service business with 1-5 people, serving local customers in person or on site.

Ordered by how well each one fits this kind of business. Where we have not judged the fit yet, we say nothing rather than guess.

Your comfort level:

Jobber
Developer API onlyIntermediateBeginner
Field service software that runs the whole job, from request and quote through scheduling, invoicing and payment.
The workflow it was built for.
Google Workspace
Connects to AIBeginner
Professional email, docs and calendar on your own domain.
Works with: Gemini and other assistants that support MCP connectors.
LegalZoom
Connects to AIBeginner
Guided paid help to file a business entity.
Works with: Assistants that support MCP connectors.
Lovable
Connects to AITechnicalIntermediateBeginner
Build a real website or web app by describing what you want.
Works with: Any assistant that supports MCP connectors, including ChatGPT and Claude.
Mercury
Connects to AIBeginner
Business banking that lives entirely online, opened in an afternoon and run from a browser.
Works with: Any assistant that supports MCP connectors.
Namecheap
Developer API onlyIntermediateBeginner
Domain registration and DNS at a predictable price.
Northwest Registered Agent
No AI connectionBeginner
Files your entity and acts as your registered agent, at a flat low price.
Pipedrive
Connects to AIIntermediateBeginner
A simple visual sales pipeline for tracking enquiries.
Works with: ChatGPT, Claude and other assistants that support MCP connectors.
QuickBooks
Developer API onlyIntermediateBeginner
The gold standard for small business accounting when the budget supports a serious financial system, clean to use and connected to almost everything else in the stack.
Works with: Claude.
Square
Developer API onlyBeginner
Estimates, invoices and card payments for service work.