GroundPlan

Accurate project estimation is a critical hurdle for trade contractors and solar installation teams. Relying on manual measurements from paper plans or basic PDF viewers often leads to errors in material counts, resulting in wasted resources or underquoted bids. Groundplan addresses these challenges by providing a digital environment where users can perform “”takeoffs””—the process of measuring and counting items on a plan—directly in a web browser.

Trade professionals such as solar installers, electricians, and plumbers use Groundplan to transition from manual spreadsheets to a centralized digital workflow. By streamlining the measurement of lengths, areas, and item counts, the platform helps businesses produce more consistent quotes in less time, allowing them to bid on more projects without increasing administrative overhead.

What Is Groundplan?

Groundplan is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform specializing in digital takeoffs and estimating. While it serves a variety of construction trades, it is a significant tool for the solar industry, where it is used to design layouts and quantify components for residential and commercial photovoltaic systems. The software is designed for estimators, project managers, and business owners who need to turn architectural plans into detailed bills of quantities.

The platform works by allowing users to upload 2D plans (typically in PDF format) and use digital tools to mark them up. It operates entirely in the cloud, meaning team members can collaborate on the same project from different locations without needing to install desktop software. Verified trust signals include a user base of over 8,000 contractors across Australia, New Zealand, and other global markets, along with high ratings on software review platforms for its ease of use and customer support.

Features

• Digital Takeoff Tools: Enables users to measure lengths, areas, and volumes or count specific items (like solar panels or inverters) directly on digital plans with high precision.
• Cloud-Based Collaboration: Allows multiple team members to access, view, and edit plans simultaneously, ensuring everyone is working from the latest version of a project.
• Customizable Templates: Users can create pre-defined sets of materials and labor rates for common tasks, which can be applied to new plans to speed up the quoting process.
• Count Assist: An automated symbol recognition tool that can scan a plan and automatically count recurring items, significantly reducing the time spent on manual clicking.
• Markup and Annotation: Provides tools to add notes, highlights, and colored shapes to plans, making it easier to communicate design intent to field teams or clients.
• Revision Management: Helps users track changes between different versions of a plan, highlighting what has been added or removed so estimates can be updated accurately.
• Bill of Quantities Generation: Automatically compiles all measurements and counts into a structured list of materials and labor, which can be exported or pushed to integrated software.

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Groundplan Pricing

Groundplan uses a subscription-based pricing model that focuses on per-seat licensing. This allows businesses to scale their costs based on the number of staff members who need active access to the software.

• Free Trial: A full-featured free trial is available, typically for 14 days, allowing users to test the takeoff tools on their own plans without providing credit card details.
• Monthly Subscription: Publicly listed at approximately $99 per month (plus GST where applicable) per seat. This plan offers a “”pay-as-you-go”” approach with no long-term contracts.
• Yearly Subscription: Offers a discounted rate for an annual commitment, which can save users approximately $198 per year compared to the monthly billing cycle.
• Concurrent Licensing: Groundplan uses a concurrent login system, meaning you only pay for the number of users who need to be logged in at the same time, rather than every individual in the company.
• Add-ons: Advanced features like “”Count Assist”” may require an additional fee depending on the specific region and subscription tier.
• Support and Training: One-on-one training with a trades expert is often included for new subscribers at no extra cost.

Integrations

Groundplan is designed to sit in the middle of a contractor’s workflow, connecting the design phase with accounting and project management.

Accounting and Estimating

• simPRO: Provides a deep integration where takeoffs can be pushed directly into simPRO as quotes or service orders.
• Xero: Allows users to export material lists and quantities directly into Xero to generate invoices or quotes.
• AroFlo: Supports the transfer of takeoff data to streamline the transition from estimating to project management.
• QuickBooks: Facilitates the syncing of project costs and material counts for financial tracking.

API and Export

• Excel Export: Users can download all takeoff data into CSV or Excel formats for custom reporting.
• Groundplan API: Available for enterprise users who need to build custom connections between Groundplan and their internal proprietary systems.

How to Set Up Groundplan

1. Sign up for a free trial on the Groundplan website to access the workspace.
2. Attend a complimentary training session with a Groundplan expert to learn trade-specific workflows.
3. Upload your first project plan in PDF format to the cloud platform.
4. Set the scale of the drawing using a known measurement on the plan to ensure accuracy.
5. Create your “”Stages”” and “”Items”” (e.g., Solar Array, Wiring, Labor) to categorize your takeoff.
6. Connect your accounting or project management software (like Xero or simPRO) via the integrations tab.

How to Use Groundplan

The daily workflow in Groundplan starts with uploading a set of project plans for a new lead. Once the plan is uploaded, the user calibrates the scale. Using the “”Area”” or “”Length”” tools, the estimator clicks around the roof perimeter or cable runs to generate measurements. For solar panels, the user can use the “”Count”” tool or “”Count Assist”” to drop icons onto the plan, which automatically populates a tally in the sidebar.

As the measurements are completed, the software calculates the required materials and labor based on pre-set templates. If a client requests a change, the user can quickly adjust the digital markers, and the total cost updates instantly. Once the design is finalized, the user clicks a button to “”push”” the data into their accounting software or exports a professional PDF markup to send to the installation crew.

What You Can Manage with Groundplan

• Project Takeoffs: Digital records of every measurement and count performed on a set of plans.
• Bill of Quantities: Automated lists of every nut, bolt, panel, and hour of labor required for a job.
• Professional Quotes: Data-backed estimates that can be exported to accounting platforms.
• Plan Markups: Visual guides for installation teams that show exactly where components should be placed.
• Revision History: A clear trail of how a project design has evolved from the first draft to the final version.
• Team Collaboration: Centralized project files that prevent data silos between different departments.

FAQs

What does Groundplan do?

Groundplan is a digital takeoff and estimating tool that allows contractors to measure and count items on PDF plans. It automates the creation of material lists and labor estimates, replacing manual spreadsheets and paper-based methods.

Who is Groundplan best for?

The software is built for trade contractors, including those in solar, electrical, plumbing, and fire services. It is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses that need to produce accurate quotes quickly to stay competitive.

Is Groundplan free?

Groundplan offers a free trial that includes all features and one-on-one training to help you get started. After the trial period ends, a paid monthly or annual subscription is required to continue using the service.

What are the main limitations of Groundplan?

Groundplan is primarily a 2D takeoff tool, so it does not offer the 3D rendering or shading analysis found in specialized solar design suites. Additionally, users with complex global pricing needs may find the lack of certain global variables a limitation.

What are the best alternatives to Groundplan?

For general construction takeoffs, alternatives include Bluebeam Revu and Stack. For solar-specific design and sales, installers often consider platforms like OpenSolar, Aurora Solar, or Pylon.