You're Switching from QuickBooks.
Here's Why Steamfitters 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 steamfitter, former QuickBooks customer

The Bottom Line

Steamfitters 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 steamfitter earns $55,000/year, so QuickBooks's annual cost is roughly 1.2% of typical revenue — every year, forever.

Key Numbers

$55,000
Median steamfitter 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 Steamfitters 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 →

Steamfitters are leaving QuickBooks every week.

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

Why This Matters for Steamfitters

The day starts cold and early, usually at a mechanical room or a plant that wants its steam loop touched while production is down. A steamfitter walks the run first, reading the isometric and confirming the line is depressurized and drained before anyone strikes an arc. Then it's measure, cut, thread or bevel, and fit-up: black pipe for high-pressure steam, copper for low-pressure returns, every joint sloped right so condensate drains and water hammer doesn't tear the line apart later. Brazing and welding take the middle of the day, with a tape measure constantly checking that the takeoff lands where the print says. By afternoon there's a hydro or pneumatic pressure test, watching the gauge for a half hour to prove the joints hold. Steam traps get set, expansion loops checked, and insulation crews are told what's ready. The frustrating part isn't the pipe; it's the paperwork waiting after. Weld logs, test certs, and the inspector's punch list all have to match, and a single missing line on a test record means coming back. Most steamfitters would rather thread one more joint than chase a signature, but the signature is what gets the job closed and paid.

Steamfitters face unique challenges: Pricing a high-pressure steam line job when schedule-80 black pipe and weld fittings swing in cost week to week. Documenting weld maps and pressure-test results so the inspector signs off without a callback. Coordinating shutdown windows with a plant so the boiler loop is depressurized before they cut in. Chasing change orders when a hospital or refinery adds branch lines mid-project. On top of all that, QuickBooks charges $55/month ($660/year) — money that comes directly from your revenue. The median steamfitter 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 pipe threader and ratcheting die set 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."
— Steamfitter 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 steamfitters 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 steamfitters actually deal with

A day in the life of a steamfitter

The day starts cold and early, usually at a mechanical room or a plant that wants its steam loop touched while production is down. A steamfitter walks the run first, reading the isometric and confirming the line is depressurized and drained before anyone strikes an arc. Then it's measure, cut, thread or bevel, and fit-up: black pipe for high-pressure steam, copper for low-pressure returns, every joint sloped right so condensate drains and water hammer doesn't tear the line apart later. Brazing and welding take the middle of the day, with a tape measure constantly checking that the takeoff lands where the print says. By afternoon there's a hydro or pneumatic pressure test, watching the gauge for a half hour to prove the joints hold. Steam traps get set, expansion loops checked, and insulation crews are told what's ready. The frustrating part isn't the pipe; it's the paperwork waiting after. Weld logs, test certs, and the inspector's punch list all have to match, and a single missing line on a test record means coming back. Most steamfitters would rather thread one more joint than chase a signature, but the signature is what gets the job closed and paid.

The tools a working steamfitter actually owns

Local steamfitters on Nexa

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

FAQ

Is Nexa really a QuickBooks replacement for steamfitters?

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.

Steamfitters in Henderson

The average solo operator there spends about $2,520/year on software — and steamfitter face their own version of that math. NV state licensing requirements apply.

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

If You Need These — Nexa Has Them

Specific gaps Steamfitters 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.

"I refused to pay $50/mo for a CSV to quickbooks converter, so I built it"
HN·1 month ago·Neutral·Read thread →
"Free QuickBooks Desktop to JSON Exporter"
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."
— Steamfitter, 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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