Local service businesses do not need enterprise middleware. They need a clean path from “quote request” to “job done.” Most rent four tools and invent a fifth job — the person who copies everything. This vertical teardown maps the pattern we see in installers and field teams, including the solar operating system work.
Run /tools/own-vs-rent with your loaded monthly rent before you renew another seat.
01 · The usual rent stack
Website + CRM + schedule + email + glue
| Marketing site (builder + plugins) | ~$50–$200 |
| CRM seatsOften oversized for stages used | ~$400–$1,200 |
| Scheduling / dispatch SaaS | ~$50–$200 |
| Email / SMS tool | ~$50–$200 |
| Zapier / agency glue | ~$100–$1,000+ |
| Loaded software sketch | Often $700–$2,500+ |
Plus the office hours moving form emails into the CRM — the middleware line.
02 · Score it
Keep / rebuild for field teams
| Piece | Lean keep | Lean rebuild |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty field-service routing | Deep use daily | — |
| Generic CRM used as a list | — | Yes |
| Builder site + emailed forms | — | Yes |
| Email disconnected from jobs | — | Yes |
Tools: audit checklist · cost calculator · own vs rent