YourTradeBase is a UK-built platform aimed squarely at trades, quotes, invoices and letters built from templates so paperwork goes out fast. For a CIS subcontractor, the question is whether its construction tax handling and invoicing depth match your workload. This guide covers the five realistic alternatives for 2026 and which fits which business.
- YourTradeBase is UK-built around quotes, invoices and letters for trades.
- Sendinvo is the focused pick for CIS deductions and reverse-charge invoices.
- Tradify adds job scheduling and dispatch to the quote-and-invoice flow.
- Xero or QuickBooks suit businesses that also want a full ledger.
- FreeAgent suits solo trades who file their own self-assessment.
Why subcontractors look beyond YourTradeBase
YourTradeBase’s strength is speed: pre-written quote and invoice templates that get paperwork out fast. Where a subcontractor’s needs run deeper, four gaps show up:
- CIS deductions are not the design centre. A labour-only deduction, with materials and VAT excluded, needs correct handling on every subcontract invoice: see the worked deduction example.
- Reverse-charge wording must meet HMRC’s specific invoice requirements: see the required layout.
- Construction billing shapes (deposits, stage payments, retention, applications for payment) are not template staples.
- Chasing depth. Template-generated reminders are a start; automated sequences that escalate with statutory interest and compensation are a different feature.
If your work is mostly domestic quotes and invoices, YourTradeBase does that job well. If CIS paperwork dominates, test the alternatives below on the deduction first.
What to check in any alternative
Whatever replaces YourTradeBase must still carry the daily mechanics:
- Quotes that convert to invoices without re-typing.
- CIS deductions on labour only, with materials and VAT excluded.
- Reverse-charge invoice wording that satisfies HMRC.
- Deposits, stage payments and retention as standard invoice shapes.
- Automatic payment reminders that chase without you.
The alternatives compared
| Alternative | Best for | Trade-off vs YourTradeBase |
|---|---|---|
| Sendinvo | Subcontractors whose problem is CIS invoicing and getting paid | No letter templates or diary: invoicing and getting paid only |
| Tradify | Trades wanting quotes, jobs and scheduling in one app | Job-management breadth; invoicing is one module |
| Jobber | Home-service businesses wanting scheduling and client portals | North American design centre; UK construction tax needs manual setup |
| Xero | Businesses needing a full ledger with accountant access | Bookkeeping discipline; no field-service features |
| FreeAgent | UK sole traders who want tax estimates built in | Less construction-specific handling |
Sendinvo is the pick when the daily problem is money: CIS deductions, VAT reverse-charge invoices, deposits, stage payments, retention and automatic reminders as first-class features, and deliberately no diary, no timesheets. It pairs with whatever you already use to run jobs. Compare it across the full 2026 shortlist.
Tradify covers the quote-to-job-to-invoice pipeline with scheduling built in, the closest like-for-like swap if you also want the diary. The invoicing half is shallower than a dedicated tool.
Jobber brings polished client portals and dispatch; its design centre is North American home services, so UK construction tax becomes manual work on top.
Xero is the ledger, not the paperwork machine. Firms with a bookkeeper often run it alongside an invoicing tool rather than instead of one.
FreeAgent is UK-first with self-assessment and tax estimates built in, a genuine fit for a solo subcontractor who files their own return.
How to choose
- CIS deductions, deposits, stages, reminders are the problem → Sendinvo.
- Quotes, scheduling and job paperwork are the problem → Tradify.
- You run crews and value client portals → Jobber.
- The books themselves are the problem → Xero with your accountant, or FreeAgent if you file solo.
A common shape: quotes and scheduling in the job platform, then deposits, stage payments and CIS invoices in Sendinvo, keeping invoice numbering continuous in one system.
Switching without losing data
Carry four things across and the move is safe mid-year:
- Customer records: names, addresses, terms.
- Unpaid invoices, exported with due dates so the new tool can chase them.
- Invoice numbering continuity. Never restart at INV-001; duplicates invite disputes.
- Year-to-date totals, for self-assessment and CIS reconciliation.
Check the CSV export exists before you cancel anything.
FAQ
What is the best YourTradeBase alternative for UK subcontractors?
For CIS deductions, deposits, stage payments and automatic chasing, Sendinvo is the focused alternative. For a like-for-like quote-and-job platform with scheduling, Tradify.
Is YourTradeBase good for CIS invoicing?
YourTradeBase handles UK trade quotes and invoices, but CIS deduction mechanics (labour-only calculations and deduction statements) are not its design centre, so expect manual setup. Construction-first tools handle it natively.
Does Tradify replace YourTradeBase?
Yes, if you want the quote-and-invoice flow plus scheduling and job sheets in one app. It is broader on job management and shallower on invoicing features like retention and stage payments.
Can I use Sendinvo alongside a job management tool?
Yes, quote and schedule in the job platform, then issue deposits, stage payments and CIS invoices in Sendinvo, keeping invoice numbering continuous in one system.
Which is cheaper, YourTradeBase or the alternatives?
All are subscriptions that change pricing regularly and price by plan tier. Compare current pricing on each vendor’s site, and weigh it against whether you need template breadth or invoicing depth.
How do I move my invoices off YourTradeBase?
Export customers and outstanding invoices, keep the numbering sequence running, and carry year-to-date totals for your tax return. Most tools import CSV: test with one client first.
One last thing
The honest test for a subcontractor is the last CIS invoice you sent. If the deduction was worked out on the labour line, with materials and VAT excluded, automatically, your current tool is fine. If you had to check it by hand, that is the gap worth fixing first.