What are we
learning?
Notes on building software for contractors. Estimating, payments, customer portals, AI, field-team workflows — written from the truck bed, not the conference room.
AI line items for contractor estimates — when they help, when they hurt
AI estimate drafting saves 30-45 minutes per quote when it works and produces dangerous nonsense when it doesn't. How to use it without burning a customer relationship.
Free contractor estimating software with Stripe payments — the 2026 landscape
A real, honest roundup of free and near-free contractor estimating tools that integrate Stripe — where each one shines, where each one breaks down, and how Senku fits.
Kickserv vs Jobber vs Housecall Pro vs Senku — a solo contractor's comparison
Honest side-by-side comparison of the four contractor platforms most solo and small-crew operators actually consider in 2026 — pricing, customer portal, AI, and where each one really hurts.
How a lead-capture quiz on your contractor site converts 4x better than a contact form
Contractor websites have used "Get a quote" contact forms for 15 years. The conversion rate is 1-2%. A multi-step quiz that asks the right questions in the right order converts at 5-8%. Here is why.
How to send contractor estimates by SMS (and why most software won't let you)
SMS estimates close 3x faster than email but most contractor software treats SMS as an afterthought or extra-cost add-on. Here is how to actually do it and why it works.
Why we built Senku
An evening at the kitchen table copy-pasting estimates between five tools. That's the moment Senku started.