A Fergus alternative with the books built in.
Fergus is job management software for trades that syncs with Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks for the accounting, and charges extra for some kinds of user. Countertop Office runs the jobs and keeps the books itself, for $19 a month solo or $49 a month for up to 20 users.
Which one suits your business.
Neither is right for everyone. If the second list describes you, Fergus is probably the better choice.
- You want one price that doesn't change when you add field staff or office help.
- You'd rather run quotes, jobs, purchasing, stock and the books in one system.
- You prepare your own BAS and TPAR and want them built from the job records.
- You want every feature without choosing between plans.
- You want customers to pay by card.
- You want to keep Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks for the accounting.
- You need compliance certificates produced from the job.
- You want to text customers from the app.
Countertop Office and Fergus compared.
The differences that usually decide it: how you're charged, where the books live, and what each one leaves out.
| Topic | Countertop Office | Fergus |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Solo $19 a month for 1 user. Business $49 a month for up to 20 users. No GST added. | Essentials and Professional plans, with Enterprise for more than 10 staff. Timesheet users and contractor users cost extra. |
| Features by plan | Every feature on both plans. | Phone support and automatic supplier integrations on Professional. Email and chat support on Essentials. |
| Accounting | Double-entry accounts, bank reconciliation, P&L, balance sheet and cash flow built in. | Syncs with Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks, which keep the books. |
| BAS and TPAR | Prepared from your records, with a guided hand-off to ATO Online services. | Done in your accounting software. |
| Card payments | Not built in. Customers pay to the bank details on your invoice. | Card payments at 1.95% + 30c per transaction. |
| Certificates | Not built in. Attach your completed certificate to the job. | Certificates as a paid add-on. |
| Text messages | Email only. | SMS at $15 per 100 messages. |
Fergus details are from Fergus's public pricing page, checked on 25 October 2026. Plans and prices change, so check their site before you decide. Fergus is a trademark of its owner, and Countertop Software isn't affiliated with it.
How switching works.
There's no direct import from Fergus, but the lists that matter move across as spreadsheets.
- 01
Export your lists
Export your clients, suppliers and price list from Fergus, and your chart of accounts from your accounting software, as CSV or Excel files.
- 02
Map and import
Upload each file. Countertop Office suggests which of your columns match its own, and you confirm before anything is imported.
- 03
Fill in the rest
Apply a starter kit for ready-made services, job templates and quote templates, then rename and reprice them.
- 04
Switch at a clean break
Start new jobs in Countertop Office and finish open ones in Fergus. Move the books over at the start of a BAS period.
Common questions from Fergus users.
Straight answers on price, accounting and what changes when you move.
How is Countertop Office priced compared with Fergus?
Countertop Office has two flat plans: Solo at $19 a month for one user and Business at $49 a month for up to 20 users, with no GST added and every feature on both. Fergus has plan prices plus extra charges for timesheet and contractor users, so check its current pricing for your team.
Does Countertop Office sync with Xero or MYOB?
No. Countertop Office keeps its own double-entry books and prepares BAS and TPAR from them, so there's nothing to sync. If you want to keep Xero or MYOB, a job app that syncs with them will suit you better.
Does Countertop Office produce compliance certificates?
No. It doesn't generate certificates or test records. You can attach a completed certificate to the job so it stays with the work and the invoice.
Can I bring my data across from Fergus?
Yes. Export your clients, suppliers and products from Fergus as CSV or Excel files and upload them. Countertop Office suggests which of your columns match its own, and you confirm before anything is imported.
See how Countertop Office fits your trade, or how it compares.
Each page is plain about what the product does and doesn't do, so you can rule it in or out quickly.
Quote one real job and see how it runs.
Solo and Business both include every Countertop Office feature. Choose 1 user or up to 20, with no GST added.