Frequently Asked Questions on Our Construction Software
Who is this Fred character I keep hearing
about?
What makes FOUNDATION's construction
software different than its competitors'?
Do you have references of contractor's
who use your construction software?
How can I see a demonstration of FOUNDATION's
construction software?
How do I know your company will be around
to support me in a few years?
Why don't you use local dealers to resell
your construction software?
What are the minimum hardware requirements
for your construction software?
Do I need to buy a new server or other specialized
hardware?
How much does FOUNDATION construction software cost?
Will you meet the requirements of my union?
What language is FOUNDATION construction
software programmed in?
How secure is your construction software?
How long does it take to make the switch to FOUNDATION
construction software?
Can you transfer the data from my old accounting
software?
Do you offer support in my local area?
Can you recommend a CPA firm that specializes
in construction?
What is your privacy policy?
Who
is this Fred character I keep hearing about?
Fred Ode is the founder and CEO/President of Foundation Software,
Inc. Fred began the company over 20 years ago. His experience
working with other construction accounting software programs
had shown him what was lacking in the industry - a software
package designed for labor-intensive contractors powerful
enough to meet their accounting demands but flexible enough
to be easily customized to address any unique requirements.
You've probably seen Fred on our company ads, trade show
displays and other marketing materials. While Fred is still
active with the company, he has worked hard to ensure the
business will survive long after him. As a result, you can
often find him traveling to attend construction industry association
meetings and other construction-related events - or relaxing
on the golf course, his favorite place!
Fred offers down-to-earth advice on successful business practices
through a series of articles entitled "Management Basics."
Visit our Construction
Resources Library to view these articles and many more.
Or email Fred for more information.
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What makes FOUNDATION's construction
software different than its competitors'?
There are many reasons that FOUNDATION's construction accounting
software is far superior to its competitors'. Some of its
most unique characteristics are:
- Better technology. FOUNDATION is built on Microsoft
SQL Server, one of the most powerful and secure databases
available. In addition, it is a true 32-bit Windows program,
not a graphic overlay of an older technology, so it capitalizes
on advanced processing power and speed.
- Complete date sensitivity, meaning that any report can
be run for any date. This allows you to run financial statements,
aging reports, etc. for any time period in the past.
- Doesn't force a hard-close. FOUNDATION offers features
to "lock down" the dates of transactions, but
it also has the flexibility to allow adjustments into prior
periods, again maintaining the date sensitivity on reports.
- Fully integrated general ledger and job costing, allowing
you to run financial statements by job - a great tool for
really seeing the impact of a single job on your business.
- Powerful defaulting. Data entry in FOUNDATION is much
easier than in any of its competitors because so much information
can default automatically based on your customized setup.
For example, to enter an invoice, you may have to complete
as little as four fields. The rest of the information can
default automatically.
- Better training and support. Training to go live on the
system is included in your purchase price, as is six months
of toll-free phone support, web support, etc. Many systems
have hidden training and support costs and are much more
difficult to setup on your own.
Click here for more information
on the features of FOUNDATION, or contact our sales
department.
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Do you have references of contractor's who use your construction software?
Absolutely! We have many happy clients who are willing to
talk with you about FOUNDATION. You can view several Building
Success Stories, which describe the process some of our
clients used to select our software, or read testimonials online. If you would like to talk to someone personally, please
contact our sales department for a list of these clients
and their contact information. (We do not publish this information
online to respect our clients' privacy.)
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How can I see a demonstration of
FOUNDATION's construction software?
There are several ways that we offer demonstrations. You
may watch a recorded online demonstration (We recommend you
have a high-speed connection to use this method.), request
a free CD demonstration, schedule an online demonstration
with a sales representative who can discuss the specific features
you need, or schedule an in-person visit with a sales representative. For more information on any of
these options, click here.
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How do I know your company will
be around to support me in a few years?
Foundation Software has a long history of success and has
carefully planned for longevity. We have been in business
since 1985, and we have turned a profit every one of those
years. This cash has been carefully re-invested in our research
and development efforts, as well as in liquid reserves to
ensure the company's stability even in an economic downturn.
We have no outside investors or venture capitalists, allowing
us to maintain complete, internal control over the company's
direction and Balance Sheet. As a result, we can confidently
say that we will be around a long time to sell and support
the FOUNDATION for Windows construction accounting software.
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Why don't you use local dealers
to resell your construction software?
FOUNDATION is programmed, sold and supported out of our
headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, and several direct-sales
satellite offices. Because we select and train all of the
staff involved in Foundation Software, we can ensure that
all of our employees are well educated about our accounting
software and that they follow the Foundation
philosophy. This means that you'll always have a consistent
experience with us, and that you don't have to worry that
the local dealer doesn't know the software well or won't always
be available. While our home office might not be in your backyard,
we promise that, when you work with our sales and support
departments, it will feel just like we are!
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What are the minimum hardware requirements
for your construction software?
FOUNDATION does not require you to buy any specialized computers
or servers, and will work on most businesses' existing equipment.
However, as with any software, there are recommended minimums.
 Click
here for a PDF version of our minimum hardware requirements.
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Do I need to buy a new server or
other specialized hardware?
No. FOUNDATION does not require any specialized computers
or servers.
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How much does FOUNDATION construction
software cost?
We recognize that cost is an important factor in your decision
to purchase FOUNDATION. However, it is difficult for us to
provide pricing on our web site, because it depends on many
factors such as the number of modules purchased, the number
of user licenses required, etc. We would be happy to offer
a ballpark price with some information from you regarding
your needs. Please contact our sales
department for pricing.
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Will you meet the requirements
of my union?
FOUNDATION is specifically designed for the labor-intensive
contractor, many of whom are union or work prevailing wage
jobs. We work hard to ensure that all aspects of the system
will work under the various requirements of local unions and
government authorities. We easily accommodate union payroll
and union reporting (including multiple unions and home/away
functions) as well as certified payroll/Davis-Bacon functions.
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What language is FOUNDATION construction
software programmed in?
The front end of FOUNDATION is programmed in both PowerBuilder
and Delphi, both of which are designed to handle systems with
large numbers of transactions. The database is Microsoft
SQL Server, which is renowned for its stability and security
and can accommodate large amounts of data.
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How secure is your construction software?
All FOUNDATION data is stored in a Microsoft SQL Server database,
which has extensive security, including password encryption
and built-in measures to protect data in the event of hardware
failure. In addition, FOUNDATION software has integrated security
features that let you control each user's access to individual
windows. It offers separate Payroll security to protect sensitive
salary information as well as optional project manager security
to protect job cost information by the manager on each job.
A very thorough audit trail is maintained so that all voids,
reversals and adjustments are saved and can be reported.
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How long does it take to make the switch
to FOUNDATION construction software?
It's difficult to give an exact answer to this question,
because it varies depending on the amount of data you wish
to transfer, the number of people involved with the transfer
and training, etc. However, some clients have "gone live"
in as little as a week. Most take approximately four to eight
weeks. Rest assured that we have developed a systematic approach
to the process and will be with you every step of the way,
ensuring a painless conversion.
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Can you transfer the data from
my old accounting software?
Yes. Our ConversionQuick tool can automatically import "maintenance" data
(such as the master lists of employees, vendors, customers,
jobs, equipment items, etc.) from many systems, including
QuickBooks, Peachtree, Master Builder, and more. Some historical
data can also be imported. For more detailed information on
what's possible, contact our sales
department.
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Do you offer support in my local
area?
Foundation Software offers support out of our headquarters
in Cleveland, Ohio. We do not use dealers or outside sales/support
representatives because we believe we can ensure higher quality
service from one centralized area. All of our support representatives
and trainers go through an extensive training and certification
process to ensure that the best possible help will be available
for you. In addition, we offer instant online support access,
a toll-free telephone number and extended support hours so
that we are available through business hours on the west coast.
Our phone is always answered by a "real person!"
No automated systems or long on-hold times to deal with! And
you can easily convey the urgency of your call. If you're
dealing with payroll or have a CPA or computer specialist
on-site, your call will take priority. We believe this far
outweighs any advantage of local support.
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Can you recommend a CPA firm
that specializes in construction?
We maintain a directory of CPA
firms who work with construction clients, some of which
work with FOUNDATION clients. We do not specifically endorse
any of these firms; however, we are known for accommodating
CPAs and are preferred by many. If your current CPA is not
familiar with FOUNDATION construction accounting software,
we offer documentation and other services specifically for
CPAs to help them understand how the system works and its
advantages for both you and them. For more information on
these services, see our For
CPA Firms page or email
us.
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What is your privacy policy?
Foundation Software values your privacy and never sells or
distributes contact information or email addresses. For
specific details on our privacy policy, please click here.
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