Custom software for trades businesses that have outgrown spreadsheets.

I build software for small construction and trades companies that cuts the manual work between field crews, the office, and customers. That includes estimates, job costing, scheduling, and compliance. Each project has a fixed scope and price, and I deliver it in weeks. You own what I build, with no subscriptions.

CustomersField crewsOffice

You know the problem. You just don't have time to fix it.

  • Estimates live in one person's head and a spreadsheet nobody else can read.
  • Job costs show up two weeks after the job is done, if at all.
  • Your crews text photos to the office and someone retypes everything into QuickBooks.
  • You've tried two or three off-the-shelf tools. They solved 60% of the problem and created new ones.
  • Every tool charges per seat. Adding a crew member means updating five subscriptions.
  • You know exactly what you'd want the software to do. You just can't find anyone who'll build it without a six-figure quote and a twelve-month timeline.

Two ways to work together

Custom build

A fixed-price build of one specific tool, scoped in our first conversation. Examples include a job costing dashboard, an estimate generator, a way to get field data into the office, and compliance automation.

  • Working software, deployed
  • You own the code and infrastructure
  • Documentation & training included
  • Delivered in weeks

Ongoing partnership

A monthly retainer for companies that want a developer on call. I extend what we built, fix new problems, and change the software when your business changes.

  • Defined monthly hours
  • Shared backlog

Own your software.

When the project is done, the software is yours. The code, the deployment, the documentation, the keys to every service it runs on. No per-seat fees. No vendor lock-in. No monthly subscription that raises its price every January. If you want to hire someone else to maintain or extend it in two years, you can. If you want to sell your business, the software transfers with it.

Off-the-shelf software rents you access to someone else's product. Custom software that you own is an asset on your balance sheet.

How it works

  1. We talk.

    30 minutes, no cost. You describe what's not working. I ask questions. If it's not a fit, I'll tell you.

  2. We scope it.

    I write a proposal that sets the scope, a fixed price, and a timeline.

  3. I build it.

    You see a demo every week, so we catch problems early.

  4. I hand it over.

    I deploy it, train your team, and hand over documentation. If you want ongoing support, we talk about a retainer. If not, it's yours.

Is this a fit?

This is for you if:

  • You run a small or mid-sized trades or construction business.
  • You've already tried off-the-shelf software and it hasn't solved your real problem.
  • You can describe what you want, or you want help working it out.
  • You're ready to start a project.

This isn't for you if:

  • You need enterprise-scale software with dozens of users and complex compliance requirements.
  • You're optimizing for the lowest cost.
  • You want a developer to build a spec you've already written. I work with you to define the scope.
  • You need it done this week.

About me

I've spent 15 years building software. I started personalsoftware.supply because I kept seeing the same thing: small businesses, especially in construction and trades, sitting on operational problems that an experienced developer could solve in a few weeks, but every agency they talked to was too expensive.

AI-assisted development changed the cost. One experienced developer can now finish in a few weeks what used to take a team of four three months. That puts custom software within reach of businesses that could never pay for it before.

A few things I've worked on: an AI-driven social media intelligence platform, team project and task management software, a parenting content and community platform, and a global developer platform used by tens of millions of people.

I live and work in Victoria. I work with clients remotely, and on-site when the job needs it.

Common questions

How is this different from Buildertrend, Jobber, ServiceTitan, etc.?

Those tools work well for many businesses. I build for the problems they don't cover. Often the answer is both: keep the existing software and add custom tooling that fills the gaps.

I don't really know what I want built. Is that a problem?

No. That's what the initial conversation is for.

What does it actually cost?

I give you a number after the scoping conversation. Every project has a fixed price. I don't bill by the hour.

What if I'm not happy with the result?

You see a demo every week, so you can change direction before the work is far along. We agree on the scope and price before I start, and the price doesn't change.

Do you sign NDAs?

Yes.

What happens to the software after the project is done?

It's yours. I transfer the code, the deployment, and the accounts it runs on to you. If you want me to keep maintaining it, we can set up a retainer. If you want to take it to another developer in two years, you can.

What if I just need advice, not software?

The initial call covers that. Plenty of people just want a second opinion on their setup.

Let's talk

A free 30-minute call. Describe what's not working and I'll tell you if I can help.

Book a 30-minute call

Or email me at hello@personalsoftware.supply