Design, estimating, job management and accounting — what well-organised workshops run and why.
A coherent software stack for a joinery workshop covers four distinct functions: design and CNC (Cabinet Vision, Microvellum, Mozaik), estimating and quoting, job management and production, and accounts. Each layer can be a dedicated tool or bundled with adjacent functions. The right combination depends on your workshop size and complexity.
For workshops with CNC equipment, the design software determines everything downstream — cut lists, hardware pull lists, CNC programs. If you don't have a CNC yet, design software may be less critical and dedicated estimating tools can handle quoting without a full cabinet design package.
Most cabinet design software produces a materials list from a design, but that's different from a priced estimate. You need: a margin calculator, an overhead allocation, a final quote price using the correct formula, and a client-presentable document. If your design software doesn't do this well, a dedicated estimating tool or the joinery.io calculator fills the gap.
At 3–5 staff, separate job management software (or disciplined use of a shared spreadsheet) becomes important. At 8–10 staff, a proper job management or ERP system is usually warranted. Connect whatever you're using to your accounting software (Xero or MYOB in AU/NZ) to avoid double-entry of every invoice.
Free tools to put these principles to work on your next job.
Open free tools →