Switching From CoConstruct to Projul: Migration Guide for Contractors
CoConstruct used to be one of the go-to platforms for custom home builders and remodelers. It had a strong reputation for client communication, selections tracking, and financial management. A lot of contractors built their entire workflow around it.
Then Buildertrend acquired CoConstruct. And things changed.
If you are a former CoConstruct user who is now frustrated with the Buildertrend transition, rising costs, or a platform that no longer feels like it was built for you, this guide is for you. We will cover why contractors are leaving, how Projul compares, and how to make the switch without losing your data or momentum on active projects.
Why Contractors Are Leaving CoConstruct
The Buildertrend Merger Changed Everything
When Buildertrend acquired CoConstruct, the promise was that both platforms would benefit. The reality has been different for many contractors.
CoConstruct users have been migrated to the Buildertrend platform, which means learning a new interface, adapting to different workflows, and dealing with features that were reorganized or removed. For contractors who spent years building their processes around CoConstruct, this forced migration felt like starting over with a tool they did not choose.
The platforms had different strengths. CoConstruct was known for its client communication tools and detailed financial tracking. Buildertrend leans more toward general project management. The merge tried to combine both, but many contractors feel like they lost the specific features that made CoConstruct valuable in the first place.
Pricing Increases After the Merger
This one stings. Many CoConstruct users saw their bills go up after the transition to Buildertrend’s pricing structure. Some contractors reported price jumps of 30% to 50% or more, depending on their plan and team size.
When your software costs jump that much without a clear improvement in what you are getting, it is hard not to start looking around.
Projul keeps things simple with flat rate pricing and unlimited users:
- Core: $399/mo ($4,788/yr)
- Core+: $599/mo ($7,188/yr)
- Pro: $1,199/mo ($14,388/yr)
No per user fees. No surprise increases because you added a project manager or gave your subs login access. Your price is your price.
Feature Changes and Removed Functionality
Several features that CoConstruct users relied on were changed, moved, or dropped during the Buildertrend transition. Workflows that used to be straightforward suddenly required extra steps or workarounds.
Some contractors have reported issues with:
- Selections tracking not working the same way
- Client portal changes that confused homeowners
- Financial reporting that looks different and requires relearning
- Scheduling tools that feel less intuitive than what CoConstruct offered
When your team has to relearn a platform they did not ask for, productivity takes a hit. And when clients notice the difference in their portal experience, it reflects on your business.
Complexity That Gets in the Way
Buildertrend is a big platform built for a wide range of contractors. That breadth comes with complexity. Menus are deeper, settings are more scattered, and finding what you need takes longer than it should.
For custom builders and remodelers who valued CoConstruct’s focused, purpose built feel, the switch to Buildertrend often feels bloated. You end up paying for features you will never use while struggling to find the ones you need every day.
Projul takes the opposite approach. The interface is clean and built for how contractors actually work. Your team can find what they need without clicking through five menus to get there.
CoConstruct (Buildertrend) vs. Projul: Feature Comparison
Here is how the two platforms compare on the features that matter most.
| Feature | CoConstruct / Buildertrend | Projul |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Per project or per user tiers | Flat rate, unlimited users |
| Estimating | Available, recently restructured | Advanced templates with cost databases |
| Job Costing | Available | Real time tracking with budget alerts |
| QuickBooks Integration | Yes | Yes, two way sync |
| Scheduling | Calendar based | Visual drag and drop with crew assignments |
| Mobile App | Yes | Yes, full featured for field work |
| CRM / Lead Tracking | Basic | Built in CRM with pipeline stages |
| Invoicing | Yes | Yes, with payment tracking |
| Client Portal | Yes (changed post merger) | Yes, clean and client friendly |
| Selections Tracking | Yes (modified post merger) | Available through project notes and specs |
| Document Management | Yes | Yes, photos and files per job |
| Onboarding Support | Paid tiers | Free onboarding and training |
| Unlimited Users | No | Yes, all plans |
| Time Tracking | Yes | Built in with job cost integration |
| Reporting | Available | Custom reports with real time data |
The biggest wins for contractors switching to Projul are predictable pricing, a cleaner interface, and an onboarding team that actually helps you get set up at no extra charge.
What Transfers From CoConstruct (And What Needs Fresh Setup)
Knowing what moves easily and what takes effort will help you plan your migration timeline.
Transfers Easily
- Client and contact information. Export your client list from CoConstruct/Buildertrend as a CSV. Names, emails, phone numbers, and addresses import cleanly into Projul’s CRM.
- Active job details. Job names, addresses, and project notes can be exported and recreated in Projul quickly.
- Financial records in QuickBooks. Your accounting history lives in QuickBooks, not in CoConstruct. Disconnect CoConstruct, connect Projul to the same QuickBooks account, and your books are unaffected.
- Estimates and proposals. Export as PDFs or spreadsheets, then use them as a reference when building templates in Projul’s estimating tool.
- Photos and documents. Download project photos and files from CoConstruct, then upload them to the matching jobs in Projul.
Needs Fresh Setup
- Estimate and proposal templates. Your CoConstruct templates will not import directly. You will rebuild them in Projul, but the template builder is straightforward and you only do it once. Many contractors find Projul’s templates are actually faster to work with.
- Selections and specifications. If you used CoConstruct’s selections tool heavily, you will need to set up your selection process in Projul. Projul handles this through project specs and client portal features.
- Scheduling and task assignments. Your schedule will need to be recreated for active jobs. Projul’s drag and drop scheduler makes this quick, and most contractors have it done in a day.
- Automated workflows. Any automations you built in CoConstruct need to be recreated. Projul’s workflow tools cover the most common automation needs with less configuration.
- Team accounts and permissions. Create fresh accounts for your whole team. With unlimited users, there is no reason to leave anyone out.
- Invoice templates. Rebuild your invoice templates in Projul. This takes about 15 minutes per template.
Step by Step Migration Guide
Follow these steps to switch from CoConstruct to Projul without disrupting your active projects.
Step 1: Choose Your Projul Plan
Review Projul’s pricing and pick the plan that matches your needs. All plans include unlimited users, so focus on the features rather than counting heads on your team.
Then schedule a demo with the Projul team. They will show you the platform, answer your questions, and help you build a migration plan based on your specific situation.
Step 2: Export Everything From CoConstruct
Before you disconnect anything, get your data out:
- Export your client and contact lists (CSV format works best)
- Download all project photos and documents from active jobs
- Export estimates, proposals, and change orders as PDFs
- Pull any financial reports or summaries you want to keep
- Screenshot or document any custom workflows or automations you want to recreate
Save everything to a dedicated folder on your computer or cloud drive. This is your backup.
Step 3: Build Your Foundation in Projul
Set up the core pieces of your Projul account before migrating jobs:
- Company profile. Add your logo, company information, and default settings.
- Estimate templates. Build your most used templates using your CoConstruct exports as a guide. Projul’s estimating tools include cost databases that speed this up.
- Invoice templates. Set up your standard invoice format.
- QuickBooks connection. Link Projul to your QuickBooks account. Disconnect CoConstruct/Buildertrend from QuickBooks first to avoid duplicate entries.
- Import contacts. Upload your CSV contact list into Projul’s CRM.
- Add your team. Invite everyone. Unlimited users means your whole crew gets access from day one.
Step 4: Migrate Your Active Jobs
For each active project:
- Create the job in Projul with the client, address, and project details.
- Rebuild or import the active estimate and any change orders.
- Upload photos, plans, and documents.
- Set up the schedule with tasks and crew assignments.
- Enter any outstanding invoices or payment records.
Start with your most urgent or active jobs. Completed projects do not need to move over. Keep those in your exported files for reference.
Step 5: Set Up Your Client Portal
If you used CoConstruct’s client portal (and most users did), set up Projul’s client portal for your active projects. Share access with homeowners so they can:
- View project progress and updates
- Approve selections and change orders
- Communicate directly with your team
- Access documents and photos
The transition is a good opportunity to reach out to clients personally. A quick message saying “we upgraded our project management system and here is your new login” goes a long way.
Step 6: Train Your Team
Get everyone comfortable with the new platform:
- Office staff and estimators: Walk through estimating, job costing, invoicing, and CRM features. Most people are comfortable within one or two sessions.
- Field crews: Focus on the mobile app. Show them how to check schedules, view task details, upload photos, and log time. The app is straightforward and most crew members pick it up the same day.
- Project managers: Cover scheduling, client portal management, and reporting. These are the people who will use Projul the most, so give them extra time.
Projul provides free onboarding support. Take advantage of it. Their team has helped hundreds of contractors make this exact transition.
Step 7: Run a Brief Overlap Period (Optional)
Some contractors like to keep CoConstruct/Buildertrend active for a week or two while the team gets comfortable in Projul. This gives you a fallback if anyone needs to reference old data.
Others prefer a clean break. Either way works. Just make sure your data export is complete before you cancel.
Step 8: Cancel CoConstruct / Buildertrend
Once your team is settled and all active jobs are running in Projul:
- Do a final check that all important data has been exported.
- Cancel your CoConstruct/Buildertrend subscription.
- Archive your exported data somewhere safe for future reference.
You are done.
What to Expect After the Switch
Here is what most contractors experience in the first month after moving to Projul.
The first few days feel different. Your team is navigating a new layout and asking questions. This is normal. Lean on Projul’s support team during this window. They respond quickly and know the platform inside and out.
By week two, things start clicking. Your estimators are building proposals faster. Your field crews actually like the mobile app. Your office staff spends less time fighting the software and more time on work that matters.
By month one, you are settled in. Job costing is tighter because the tracking is more intuitive. Scheduling runs smoother with visual tools your team actually uses. And your monthly software bill is predictable instead of creeping up.
The most common thing we hear from former CoConstruct users is relief. Relief that they do not have to deal with the Buildertrend transition anymore. Relief that their software bill stopped climbing. And relief that their team actually enjoys using the new platform instead of complaining about it.
Is It Time to Make the Move?
If you are reading this, you are probably already leaning toward switching. Here is a quick gut check:
- Your CoConstruct/Buildertrend bill is higher than what you signed up for
- The merger changed features you depended on
- Your team is frustrated with the new interface
- You are spending more time on workarounds than actual work
- You want unlimited users without per seat pricing
- You miss having software that feels built for your type of work
If any of those hit home, schedule a demo with Projul and see the difference for yourself. The migration is simpler than you think, and the Projul team will be with you every step of the way. Your first month will prove it was the right call.