Construction software wasn't built for permit tracking
Platforms like Procore and PlanHub are powerful project management tools — but they don't include municipality permit fee databases, requirement lookups, or change alerts. Permit Guide does exactly that for $29/month.
Side-by-side comparison
| Category | Construction Management Software | Permit Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Project management, bidding, RFIs, submittals | Permit requirements, fees, and deadline tracking |
| Monthly cost | $500–$2,000/month (enterprise pricing) Slow | $29/month for Pro plan Live |
| Municipality-specific fee data | Not included — requires manual entry Slow | 190+ Wisconsin municipalities, updated quarterly Live |
| Fee change alerts | None — no permit data monitoring Slow | Automatic alert within 24 hours of published change Live |
| Setup complexity | Weeks of onboarding, dedicated implementation team | Ready in minutes — enter your jurisdictions and go |
| Target user | Enterprise GCs with project management teams | Small-to-mid contractors managing their own permits |
| Permit requirement lookup | Manual — no jurisdiction database included Slow | Instant lookup by jurisdiction and permit type Live |
The problem with using a Swiss Army knife for permit data
Enterprise construction platforms are built for GCs running million-dollar projects with full project management teams. The $500–$2,000/month price tag reflects that scope — along with weeks of onboarding and a dedicated implementation specialist.
For a contractor who needs to know what a deck permit costs in Waukesha or whether Madison changed its electrical permit fee schedule this quarter, that's significant overhead for a problem that doesn't require enterprise software.
Permit Guide is purpose-built for that exact use case — jurisdiction fee lookups, requirement checklists, and change alerts — at $29/month with no contracts and no implementation process.
What you get with Permit Guide
- Purpose-built for permit tracking — not a feature bolted onto project management
- 190+ Wisconsin municipalities with verified fee schedules
- Automatic alerts when fees, requirements, or procedures change
- Side-by-side jurisdiction comparison for multi-location bids
- Document checklist generation for each permit type
- $29/month — no enterprise contracts, no implementation fees
Frequently asked questions
Does construction management software like Procore include permit tracking?
General construction management platforms like Procore, PlanHub, and BuilderTREND are built for project management workflows — bidding, RFIs, submittals, and scheduling. They do not include municipality-specific permit fee databases, permit requirement lookups, or alerts when permit rules change. You would need to manually enter and maintain all that data yourself. Permit Guide is built specifically for that function.
Is Permit Guide a replacement for construction management software?
No. Permit Guide is a permit intelligence tool, not a full project management platform. It tracks permit requirements, fees, and deadlines across jurisdictions and alerts you to changes. Many contractors use Permit Guide alongside their existing project management software — Permit Guide handles the permit data layer that general platforms don't cover.
Why is there such a large price difference between Permit Guide and enterprise construction software?
Enterprise construction platforms price for large GCs with multiple teams and complex project management needs — the $500–$2,000/month reflects that scope. Permit Guide is designed for contractors who need accurate, up-to-date permit data without the overhead of an enterprise platform. At $29/month, it's priced for the individual contractor or small crew who just needs to know what permits cost and when requirements change.
Get the permit intelligence your construction software doesn't include
Municipality fee schedules, requirement checklists, and change alerts — built specifically for permit tracking. Free for up to 3 jurisdictions.