At H|C Marketing, we spend a lot of time talking about content, SEO, and storytelling.
But behind the scenes, we also spend a surprising amount of time talking about software.
Because the truth is simple:
Great marketing only works when the business underneath it can actually function.
We work closely with home service companies, recurring service businesses, and field-based teams. Exterior services. Property maintenance. Cleaning and upkeep. The kinds of businesses where trucks roll out every morning, routes matter, and recurring customers keep the lights on.
And one question comes up over and over:
“What CRM should I use?”
Not in a theoretical way.
In a very practical, slightly stressed way.
So instead of listing every feature under the sun, we decided to look at the platforms our clients ask about most and evaluate them based on what actually affects day-to-day operations.
Routing. Scheduling. Invoicing. Subscriptions. And, increasingly important:
How you get paid.
The Lens We’re Using
We are approaching this from the perspective of a route-based, recurring service business that wants:
- A real scheduling and dispatch calendar
- Map views and routing tools
- Estimates, approvals, and contracts
- Invoicing and recurring billing
- ACH (bank transfer) payments
- Ideally, some level of control over payment processors
Anything that does not meaningfully support these needs becomes friction fast.
With that lens in mind, here is how the most commonly discussed platforms stack up for route-based service businesses, starting with the tools that are purpose-built for field operations and working toward those that are less aligned.
Housecall Pro
Housecall Pro is usually the first platform we hear mentioned.
And honestly? That makes sense.
From an operational standpoint, it is one of the strongest tools on the market for service businesses.
You get estimates, agreements, and e-signatures. Scheduling and dispatching are solid. The calendar works the way you expect it to. The map view lets you see where jobs live geographically. Recurring service plans and subscriptions are built in. Invoicing is straightforward.
For businesses that live and die by routes and repeat visits, those pieces matter more than flashy extras.
Where things get a little less magical is payments.
Housecall Pro supports ACH payments for customers, which is good. But in the U.S., their payment system runs on Stripe’s infrastructure. That means even if customers pay by bank transfer, you are still operating inside a third-party processor’s ecosystem.
You cannot connect directly to your own bank. You cannot fully bypass gateways.
For many businesses, this is a reasonable tradeoff. For others, especially those trying to reduce fees or avoid certain processors, it is a limitation worth understanding upfront.
Our take:
Housecall Pro is excellent for routing, scheduling, and recurring billing. Payment control is the main compromise.
Workiz
Workiz sits in a very similar category.
You get estimates and approvals, strong scheduling, map-based dispatching, invoicing, and recurring billing. Operationally, it checks the same big boxes.
On the payment side, Workiz also relies on supported processors. ACH availability depends on the gateway. You still do not control the rails.
In other words, the story here mirrors Housecall Pro.
Our take:
A strong operational platform if you are comfortable using supported payment gateways.
FieldPulse
FieldPulse is often positioned as a simpler field service CRM.
It handles estimates, approvals, scheduling, invoicing, and recurring billing well. For small teams, it can feel approachable and clean.
Routing is where it starts to lag.
You can view jobs on a map, but you do not get the same level of route planning and optimization that Housecall Pro and Workiz offer.
Payments are also integration-based. ACH is possible, but still processor dependent.
Our take:
Good for smaller operations. Not ideal if routing efficiency is critical.
HoneyBook
We genuinely like HoneyBook for certain types of businesses. Route-based service businesses are not one of them.
HoneyBook excels at proposals, contracts, invoicing, and overall client experience. It is thoughtfully designed and polished, which makes it a strong option for creative brands in photography, videography, and other creative service industries.
HoneyBook currently offers 30% off for new users when you sign up using our referral code, which can make it an appealing entry point for qualifying businesses.
What it does not offer is routing or map-based dispatching.
That missing piece alone makes it a poor fit for businesses that rely on geographic routes or manage multiple crews in the field.
Our take:
Excellent for creatives and appointment-based services. Not built for route-based operations.
Yardbook
Yardbook is popular because it is inexpensive.
You can schedule jobs, send invoices, and manage basic estimates. But routing features are very limited, and there is no native ACH support.
It also does not align with businesses trying to avoid major processors.
Our take:
A starter tool, not a long-term system for recurring, route-based businesses.
Monday (monday.com)
Monday is powerful.
It is also not a service-business CRM.
You can build scheduling boards. You can integrate invoicing tools. You can connect accounting software. You can create workflows.
You can also spend a lot of time duct-taping systems together.
For some teams, that flexibility is appealing. For most service businesses, it becomes unnecessary complexity.
Our take:
Great project management tool. Not purpose-built for field service operations.
The Payment Reality Most Software Pages Won’t Tell You
Here is the honest part:
None of the platforms above act as their own bank-level payment processor.
None of them connect directly to your bank without a gateway.
All of them rely on third-party processors.
So if your ideal setup looks something like this:
- Customer pays invoice
- Money moves via ACH
- Fees are low
- No Square
- No Stripe
You are not searching for a unicorn CRM.
You are searching for a CRM that:
Allows ACH-capable gateways and gives you options.
For recurring, route-based businesses that process high volumes of small-to-mid invoices, this detail matters more than most people realize.
Our Shortlist for Most Route-Based Businesses
If we are looking strictly through the lens of routing, scheduling, recurring billing, and payment flexibility:
- Housecall Pro is usually the strongest starting point.
- Workiz is a close second.
- FieldPulse can work for smaller teams.
HoneyBook, Yardbook, and Monday are not well aligned with this specific business model.
One Question You Should Always Ask Sales
Before you sign anything, ask:
“Which ACH payment processors do you support besides Stripe and Square?”
That one question will tell you more than a dozen feature lists ever will.
That is why we care so much about the systems side of things. At H|C Marketing, we believe good systems create space for good storytelling. When your routes make sense, your invoices go out automatically, and your money lands where it should, you get to focus on what actually grows your business.
Your story.
Your voice.
With strategy behind it.
Need Help Building the Content and Systems Around Your Business?
Choosing the right CRM is one piece of the puzzle.
Making sure your website, SEO, and messaging actually support that system is the next.
At H|C Marketing, we help service-based and creative businesses build the foundations that make growth feel possible, not overwhelming. That includes:
- SEO-friendly blog content and website copy
- Brand messaging and voice development
- Content strategy and planning
- Press releases and storytelling photography
If you want content that sounds like you, works with your systems, and supports where your business is headed, we’d love to talk.
Start here: https://hcmarketingteam.com/connect
About the Author
Written by Hope Denton
Co-Founder, H|C Marketing
Hope specializes in SEO-first websites and content strategy for service-based and field-service businesses, helping brands turn traffic into qualified leads.
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