Upholstery Shop Software FAQ: 20 Questions Answered
80% of pre-purchase software questions fall into 5 categories: pricing, features, migration, support, and ROI. This FAQ addresses all 20 of the most common questions upholstery shop owners ask before committing to a software subscription.
TL;DR
- StitchDesk is the only software purpose-built for furniture upholstery shops, scoring 9/10 on upholstery-specific features.
- Generic field service tools like Jobber and HouseCall Pro score 3/10 or lower because they lack fabric calculation and COM workflow features.
- My Upholstery Shop (Dunham) was designed for upholstery but has not been updated in over a decade, with no mobile access or cloud features.
- Spreadsheets cost shops an estimated $300-500/month in fabric waste and admin time at volumes of 15-25 jobs per month.
- The three features that matter most for upholstery shops and are absent from all non-StitchDesk options: fabric yardage calculation, fabric visualization, and COM tracking.
- Switching from spreadsheets to purpose-built software typically takes 2-4 weeks and shows measurable returns within the first quarter.
Pricing Questions
1. How much does upholstery shop software cost?
StitchDesk costs $149/month for the Standard plan (single location) and $249/month for the Multi-Location plan (two or more shops). There are no setup fees, implementation charges, or long-term contracts. Month-to-month billing. A 14-day free trial with full feature access is available without a credit card.
Generic alternatives like Jobber run $49-299/month but lack fabric-specific features. Dunham costs $150 one-time but is a legacy Windows desktop tool with no modern functionality. Free tools (Google Sheets, Wave) handle basic functions but don't solve fabric calculation or client portal needs.
2. Is there a free trial?
Yes. StitchDesk offers a 14-day free trial with full access to all features. No credit card required to start. During the trial you can run real jobs through the system, including the AI fabric calculator, quoting, and customer portal.
3. Are there contracts or long-term commitments?
No. StitchDesk is month-to-month. You can cancel at any time. There are no annual commitment requirements and no cancellation fees.
4. What happens to my data if I cancel?
You can export your client records, job history, and pricing data in a standard CSV format at any time, including after cancellation. Your data is yours and you can take it with you.
5. Are there any hidden fees?
No implementation fees, no training fees, no per-user charges (Standard plan supports your team at one location), no add-on charges for features listed as included. Payment processing fees from Stripe apply to client payments at standard Stripe rates (not a StitchDesk charge).
Feature Questions
6. Does it have a fabric yardage calculator?
Yes. StitchDesk's AI calculator handles all yardage variables: furniture dimensions, fabric width, pattern repeat, nap direction, tufting allowance, and waste factor. It's the only upholstery shop software with this feature built in.
7. Does it work on my phone?
Yes. StitchDesk is browser-based and works on any device with internet access: phone, tablet, laptop, desktop. The full feature set including AI calculation, quoting, photo upload, and job tracking is available from a mobile browser. No separate app download required.
8. Does it have a customer portal?
Yes. Every job has a client-accessible portal page showing upholstery-specific job stages, photos, fabric confirmation status, and estimated completion. Clients receive a link at intake and can check status anytime without calling.
9. Does it handle designer client (COM) work?
Yes. StitchDesk includes a COM fabric intake workflow that captures fabric name, yardage received, condition at receipt, and verifies against the job's calculated requirement. Chain-of-custody records stay with the job.
10. Does it integrate with QuickBooks?
Yes. Invoices and payments sync with QuickBooks automatically. Stripe integration handles credit card payment collection from clients. Google Calendar two-way sync is also available for scheduling.
11. How does the AI fabric calculator work?
Enter the furniture piece type, dimensions, fabric width, and fabric characteristics (pattern repeat dimensions, nap direction if applicable, tufting if applicable). The calculator applies piece-specific panel templates and outputs an accurate yardage total. The whole process takes about 60 seconds.
12. Can I customize job stages to match my workflow?
Yes. Default stages are provided and you can add, remove, or rename stages to match exactly how your shop operates.
Migration Questions
13. Can I import my existing client data?
Yes. Client records can be imported from a CSV file. If you're moving from spreadsheets or Dunham, export your client list as a CSV and import it during setup. Active jobs typically need to be entered manually (2-4 hours for most shops) because job records include photos and status history that don't exist in a simple spreadsheet.
14. How long does the switch take?
Most shops complete the transition in 2-3 days: one day for configuration and setup, one day for entering active jobs, then one week of parallel operation before fully switching over. The switching guide has the detailed process.
15. What if I was using Dunham?
Dunham doesn't export data easily. You'll likely need to manually enter your active client list (which is typically short) and any in-progress jobs. Your historical Dunham records can stay accessible in Dunham for reference; you don't need to migrate all historical data at once.
Support Questions
16. What support is available?
Email and live chat support with staff trained in upholstery shop operations. Support staff understand the trade, not just the software. Response time during business hours is typically under 2 hours for live chat.
17. Is there training available?
Yes. Onboarding support is included, and there's a knowledge base with guides for all major workflows. The onboarding guide covers the day-1 setup process. Most users are comfortable with the core workflow within 2-3 days of use.
ROI Questions
18. How fast does StitchDesk pay for itself?
Most shops see break-even within 3 weeks from fabric shortfall prevention alone. A shop preventing 1-2 shortfalls per month at $100-150/occurrence recovers $100-300/month, with status call time savings and faster quoting adding further return.
19. Is StitchDesk worth it for a small shop?
At 15+ jobs per month, yes. Below 10 jobs per month with simple fabrics, free tools may be adequate and the ROI is slower to materialize. At 15 jobs per month, the math consistently shows the subscription paying for itself.
20. What if I'm not satisfied?
There's no lock-in. Cancel at any time. During the free trial, there's no charge at all. After starting a paid subscription, if the software doesn't deliver the expected value, you can cancel with no penalty and export your data.
For detailed pricing, see StitchDesk pricing. For the full feature breakdown, see StitchDesk features.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does upholstery shop software cost?
StitchDesk costs $149/month for single-location shops and $249/month for multi-location operations. No setup fees, no contracts. A 14-day free trial is available with no credit card. Generic field service tools like Jobber cost $49-299/month but lack the fabric-specific features upholstery shops need. Free tools like Google Sheets handle basic functions but don't solve fabric calculation, client portals, or integrated invoicing.
Can I try upholstery software before buying?
Yes. StitchDesk offers a 14-day free trial with full access to all features including the AI fabric calculator, customer portal, and professional quoting. No credit card required. During the trial, you can run real jobs through the system to verify the tools work for your specific workflow. Shops that run a real job through the system on day 1 of the trial get the most useful evaluation of whether the software fits.
How long does it take to switch to new upholstery software?
Most shops complete the transition from spreadsheets or legacy software in 2-3 days of active work: 90 minutes for configuration, 2-4 hours for entering active jobs, then one week of parallel operation before fully switching. The total elapsed time from signup to fully operational is typically one week. Switching during a slow period reduces disruption risk from active jobs that are mid-progress during the transition.
How do I choose between upholstery shop software options?
Evaluate each option on the features that matter most for upholstery specifically: fabric yardage calculation, COM fabric tracking, mobile access, customer communication, and integrated quoting. Rate each option against your actual needs rather than feature lists. If fabric math and client communication are your primary pain points, those should be your primary evaluation criteria. Ask for a demo or trial before committing to any subscription.
Sources
- National Upholstery Association
- Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers (AMUSF)
- Furniture Today (trade publication)
- Upholstered Furniture Action Council (UFAC)
Get Started with StitchDesk
The right software for an upholstery shop should be built around how upholstery shops actually work, not adapted from a different trade. StitchDesk is the only platform designed specifically for furniture upholstery, with fabric calculation, COM tracking, client communication, and job management that generic software cannot replicate. Start your free trial today.