You're Switching from QuickBooks.
Here's Why Irrigation Installers Choose Nexa.

QuickBooks
$55/mo
$660/year — every year, forever
Nexa
$279
Once. Own it forever.
or 3 payments of $99
Break even in 5.1 months. Then it's free forever.
"Switched from QuickBooks after the last price increase. Nexa does everything I needed for $279. Wish I'd done it sooner."
— Verified Irrigation Installer, former QuickBooks customer

The Bottom Line

Irrigation Installers on QuickBooks pay $55/month — $660/year. Over three years, that's $2,214. Nexa is $279 once. Break-even runs about 5.1 months. The median Irrigation Installer earns $55,000/year, so QuickBooks's annual cost is roughly 1.2% of typical revenue — every year, forever.

Key Numbers

$55,000
Median Irrigation Installer income
3%
Typical SaaS spend as % of revenue
5.1 mo
Break-even vs QuickBooks
$1,935
3-year savings switching to Nexa

What QuickBooks Is Costing You

The Damage

QuickBooks monthly $55/mo
Annual drain $660/yr
Year 2 (11.4% SaaS inflation) $735
Year 3 $819
3-year total $2,214

That's $2,214 gone. And you don't own anything. Stop paying, lose access.

Your QuickBooks subscription has cost you $0.00 since you opened this page.

Why Irrigation Installers Leave QuickBooks

✗Annual price increases of 10-15%
✗User caps force expensive tier jumps
✗Complex interface overwhelms small operators
✗Desktop version being sunset - forced to Online
✗Payment processing fees add up fast
✗No offline capability
✗QB controls 85% of this market. It's technically a monopoly. The FTC has a long issue with Intuit over pricing.
✗400% increase since 2023. We used to update every 2 years for $250. Now subscription is $689.
✗An almost 70% price increase for your most used product and all you guys are adding is a bunch of AI slop.

See the full history of QuickBooks price changes in the SaaS Graveyard →

Irrigation Installers are leaving QuickBooks every week.

You're not the only one who's had enough.

Why This Matters for Irrigation Installers

I start at the meter with a gauge and a bucket - static pressure and gallons per minute are the whole design, and if I skip this step I'll be back resizing zones for free. Once I know the system has, say, 11 GPM to work with, I lay out heads so each zone stays under that, head-to-head spacing for even coverage. We call 811's marks good but I still pothole by hand near the gas drop before the plow goes in, because the locate doesn't catch the homeowner's old landscape lighting. The vibratory plow pulls poly across the yard in clean lines while a second guy sets the valve manifold and the backflow at code height. Mid-day I'm flushing each lateral before I cap the heads so grit doesn't clog a nozzle, then setting heads to grade. Afternoon is wiring the controller, programming zones to actual run-times based on precipitation rate not guesswork, and pairing the rain sensor. I walk every zone with the customer, adjust arcs off the house and driveway, and book the certified backflow test because I can't sign that off myself. End of day is invoicing, scheduling the inspector, and adding the customer to my fall winterization list so the blowout doesn't get forgotten and become a spring callback.

Irrigation Installers face unique challenges: Sizing zones to the available GPM and static pressure - guess wrong and heads at the end of a run mist instead of throw, leaving brown arcs the customer blames on the install. Backflow preventer code and the required certified test - the assembly has to be the right type for the hazard, installed at the right height, and tested by a licensed tester or the water authority red-tags it. Calling 811 and still hitting unmarked private lines - gas drops, low-voltage, and old galvanized that the locate doesn't cover, with the plow already in the ground. Winterization liability - a customer who skips the blowout or a valve that didn't drain, then a cracked manifold in spring that turns into a 'your system failed' argument. On top of all that, QuickBooks charges $55/month ($660/year) — money that comes directly from your revenue. The median Irrigation Installer earns $55,000/year. Software at $660/year is a meaningful percentage of that income, every year, forever. And you do not own anything.

Your Vibratory pipe-pulling plow or trencher is yours. You bought it once. Nexa works the same way — $279 once for invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, and full accounting. All connected. All offline-capable. You own it like you own your tools.

Your Full Stack Cost

QuickBooks is just one piece. What else are you losing money on?

Want this breakdown emailed to you?

Your exact QuickBooks cost, full stack total, and what switching saves. 10 seconds.

"I was paying QuickBooks $55/month and didn't question it until I did the math. $2,214 over 3 years for tools I don't even own. Nexa was $279. Once. Done."
— Irrigation Installer business owner

What You Get Instead

Feature QuickBooks Nexa
Invoicing ✓ ✓
Scheduling ✗ ✓
CRM ✗ ✓
Time Tracking ✗ ✓
Full Accounting ✗ ✓ (SIMPL)
Task Management ✗ ✓
Price $55/mo forever $279 once
or 3 × $99
3-Year Cost $2,214 $279
Stop paying? Lose everything Keep everything forever

Switching Takes 1-2 Days

Most irrigation installers are fully switched before the weekend.

1

Export your data

Go to Reports → export to CSV. Download clients, invoices, expenses.

2

Set up Nexa

15-minute setup. Import your clients and expense categories.

3

Parallel run

Run both for 1-2 weeks. Verify everything transferred.

4

Cancel QuickBooks

Cancel subscription. Download final backup. You're done.

✓ Run both in parallel. Cancel QuickBooks when you're confident. Zero risk.

What irrigation installers actually deal with

A day in the life of a irrigation installer

I start at the meter with a gauge and a bucket - static pressure and gallons per minute are the whole design, and if I skip this step I'll be back resizing zones for free. Once I know the system has, say, 11 GPM to work with, I lay out heads so each zone stays under that, head-to-head spacing for even coverage. We call 811's marks good but I still pothole by hand near the gas drop before the plow goes in, because the locate doesn't catch the homeowner's old landscape lighting. The vibratory plow pulls poly across the yard in clean lines while a second guy sets the valve manifold and the backflow at code height. Mid-day I'm flushing each lateral before I cap the heads so grit doesn't clog a nozzle, then setting heads to grade. Afternoon is wiring the controller, programming zones to actual run-times based on precipitation rate not guesswork, and pairing the rain sensor. I walk every zone with the customer, adjust arcs off the house and driveway, and book the certified backflow test because I can't sign that off myself. End of day is invoicing, scheduling the inspector, and adding the customer to my fall winterization list so the blowout doesn't get forgotten and become a spring callback.

The tools a working irrigation installer actually owns

Local irrigation installers on Nexa

Real irrigation installers near you who run their business on Nexa — book directly, no platform fee. Are you an irrigation installer? Post your business and get found in your area — $2.99 one-time. Or browse every irrigation installer on Nexa →

FAQ

Is Nexa really a QuickBooks replacement for irrigation installers?

For solo operators and small teams (1-5), yes. Nexa includes invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, task management, and full accounting. QuickBooks may be better if you have a large team (10+) or need enterprise-specific features.

$279 seems like a lot.

It's $7.75/month over 3 years. QuickBooks is $55/month — that's $2,214 over 3 years. Which is more? And if you'd rather split it, Nexa is also available as 3 payments of $99.

Can I pay in installments?

Yes. Nexa is $279 as a one-time payment, or 3 payments of $99 ($297 total). Either way it's a one-time purchase — no subscription, no recurring fees ever.

What if I don't like it?

30-day money-back guarantee. Full refund. If Nexa doesn't save you $500 in year one, you get every penny back.

Can I import my QuickBooks data?

Export your data from QuickBooks as CSV, import into Nexa in about 5 minutes.

Irrigation Installers in Sterling Heights

The average solo operator there spends about $2,208/year on software — and Irrigation Installer face their own version of that math. MI state licensing requirements apply.

Numbers reflect typical solo operators in the Sterling Heights metro. Your situation will vary.

If You Need These — Nexa Has Them

Specific gaps Irrigation Installers run into with QuickBooks, and what Nexa does instead.

✗
QuickBooks gapNo scheduling/booking
✓
NexaBuilt-in scheduling and booking — no separate tier.
✗
QuickBooks gapNo CRM functionality
✓
NexaFull CRM module included in $279.
✗
QuickBooks gapNo project management for services
✓
NexaJob and project management in the same $279 — no upgrade needed.

What QuickBooks Users Are Saying Lately

Recent threads from Reddit and Hacker News mentioning QuickBooks. Sentiment scored automatically — click through to read the full thread.

"Free QuickBooks Desktop to JSON Exporter"
HN·1 month ago·Neutral·Read thread →
"I refused to pay $50/mo for a CSV to quickbooks converter, so I built it"
HN·1 month ago·Neutral·Read thread →
"QuickBooks raised prices again and I was done. Found Nexa — $279 once. I own it. No more 'we're updating our pricing' emails. Best business decision this year."
— Irrigation Installer, switched from QuickBooks

Stop Losing $660/Year to QuickBooks

$2,214 over 3 years. Or $279 once (or 3 × $99). Own your tools.

Get Nexa — $279 Once
or 3 payments of $99
✓ 30-day money-back guarantee — save $500 or full refund

Still want QuickBooks?

We think Nexa is the better deal at $279 once vs $55/mo. But if you've decided on QuickBooks, here's the link. No hard feelings.

QuickBooks — $55/mo →

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