Juggling electrical work and running a small business can be tough. With so much to do, many electricians are looking for ways to help them work smarter. Electrician software and apps could make it easier to manage your day-to-day admin tasks, safely perform electrical jobs, and reach the goals set out in your electrical contractor business plan.

Let’s look at three different categories of electrical apps and software that could make your job easier.

References and calculators

Electricians used to rely on manuals and reference books to make on-the-spot calculations while they worked. This made it difficult to make lightning-fast decisions and increased the chances of dangerous miscalculations occurring.

Electrical apps are changing this. Electricians can now have many handy references and calculators in their pockets, making it quicker and safer to do their job. Popular options include:

1. Master Electrician Reference (MER) – This app is widely used by electricians, engineers, and mechanics. MER is a comprehensive source of formulas, charts, tables, and photos for residential and commercial work. It also has a scientific calculator for applying formulas to your work.
2. Electrical Engineering Guide – This electrical app is a helpful source of electrical terminology and calculations. The app includes units of measurement, symbols, laws and theorem, and other categories of information essential to an electrician’s work. It also includes different types of calculators to help you avoid the need for manual calculations. There are even quizzes available to test your knowledge and help you brush up on your skills!
3. Ugly’s Electrical References – This app features multiple calculators, along with video tutorials, wiring configurations, blueprint symbols, and conversion tables.
4. Electrodoc Pro – Calculator apps like this one help remove human error from electrical work. This app makes it easy to apply formulas for unit conversions, ratios, voltage drops, and other commonly used calculations.
5. DeWalt Mobile Pro – Many electricians also use a general construction calculator, like this one, while they work. This app makes it simple to figure out square footage, convert measurements, and make other construction-related calculations. There are also references for key building terms and visual guides for taking measurements.

Testing and utilities

Running tests and solving issues with electrical systems used to take a lot of trial and error. This was often time-consuming, making it harder to estimate how long a job might take and quickly complete work. Now, you can use specially designed electrical apps to make your job easier.

1. EveryCircuit – This app takes much of the pain out of building, testing, and debugging circuits. You can easily design circuits and see them in action with animations, illustrations, and interactive graphs. This interactive app can handle simple and complex circuits, making it a handy tool for different levels of electricians.
2. Decibel X – This app helps you test sound levels, detect harmful noises, and protect your hearing. It can be a useful tool for locating circuit issues.
3. Electromagnetic Detector EMF – While this app is not a replacement for a professional EMF reader, it can be a convenient way to do quick surveys. This app may be a quick and reliable way to find EMF spikes in a house and some commercial buildings.

Managing your business

You might not need a beginner’s guide for electricians, but you may not be as skilled at running a small business. Thankfully, there are many apps and software that can help you take care of necessary admin—from scheduling jobs to marketing your services. You might consider these apps and software:

1. ServiceTitan Mobile – This app helps contractors provide the best possible experience for their customers. It includes useful tools for creating estimates, generating invoices, collecting payments, and more.
2. ServiceTitan field service software – Booking and scheduling jobs can be tough, but ServiceTitan has a software option that could make it easier. It allows you to not just schedule jobs but assign them to subcontractors and track job history. This information could be used to create more accurate estimates and help you market your most profitable services.
3. Quickbooks – A popular accounting software, Quickbooks helps you keep your books in order. This can help you track down missing payments, monitor cash flow, and measure monthly profits. It can also help make tax time simpler and less stressful.
4. Squarespace – This site helps you create and maintain professional-looking websites. There are many user-friendly templates to choose from, making it easy to build a website to showcase your business and electrical services.

Sparking success for your small business

The electrical apps and software mentioned above, along with other options, could help you build a successful small business. Working smarter—not harder—is an essential part of keeping things running without running yourself into the ground.

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