Contractor
Examples: General contractor · Site manager
- Manages workforce and sites
- Tracks attendance and wages
- Posts site updates with photos
- Responds to client requests
- Collaborates with project owners
Onboarding guide
Quick Start Guide
Learn how to sign up, choose your role, set up your workspace, create your first project, invite your team, and collaborate with everyone on your construction build.
Platform overview
Four ways people work together
Every construction project involves contractors, clients, architects, and workers. OnsiteTrax gives each group the right tools — with a dedicated worker onboarding path outside the main role picker.
Client / Homeowner
Examples: Homeowner · Self-managed build
- Creates and owns projects
- Invites contractors and architects
- Monitors progress and milestones
- Raises and tracks requests
- Approves add-on work
Architect
Examples: Design consultant · Site reviewer
- Reviews milestone progress
- Shares plans and documents
- Raises structured requests
- Collaborates with contractors
- Scoped access per project
Worker
Separate path — not on /select-role
Examples: Site crew · Tradesperson
- Claims profile via SMS or access token
- Views attendance and earnings
- Marks GPS self-attendance (where enabled)
- Requests leave from mobile
- No project creation or invites
Getting started
Step-by-step setup
Follow these four steps to go from sign-up to a live project with your team invited.
Step 1 — Create Your Account
Everyone starts at the same sign-up page. Enter your details, agree to terms, and continue — no plan selection at this step.
- Click Start Free Trial on this page or from our pricing page.
- Go to /signup and enter your name, email, phone, and password.
- A verification email is sent; you are logged in right away (unless admin approval is enabled).
- New accounts start on the Free tier — upgrade later when you activate your workspace.
Expected outcome: Your account is created and you are directed to choose how you will use OnsiteTrax.
Step 2 — Choose Your Role
After sign-up you land on /select-role. Pick the platform role that best describes you — this shapes your dashboard and onboarding.
- Contractor — run projects, crews, attendance, and client updates.
- Client / Homeowner — own and track a build; invite your team.
- Architect — design review, milestones, documents, and requests.
- Workers do not use this screen — register at /worker/register with your access token, or open the SMS link from your contractor.
Expected outcome: Your platform role is saved and you proceed to business setup or your dashboard.
Step 3 — Set Up Your Business
Contractors and architects see an optional /setup-business step. Add your company name and logo now, or skip and complete later from settings.
- Enter your business or firm name.
- Upload a logo (optional).
- Click Continue or Skip for now — both take you to your dashboard.
Expected outcome: Your profile reflects your business identity; clients and homeowners skip this step entirely.
Step 4 — Create Your First Project
Your project is the central workspace. Team invites, workers, attendance, requests, and updates all live inside it.
- Project Name — how you and your team refer to the site.
- Project Location — city or site address for context.
- Start Date — when work begins or began.
- Description — scope notes, special instructions, or references.
- Project Type — residential, commercial, renovation, and more.
- Invite contractors, clients, architects, or supervisors from the project team screen.
- When you need more projects or storage, workspace activation lets you pick a paid plan.
Invite Contractor
Invite the contractor responsible for executing work on site.
- Email invitation
- Account access
- Project access with contractor permissions
Invite Client or Architect
Invite homeowners, architects, supervisors, or other stakeholders who need visibility into progress.
- Project access
- Progress visibility
- Request management access
Expected outcome: Your project becomes the hub for collaboration, worker management, attendance, requests, and site updates.
Client / homeowner
Client & homeowner journey
If you are planning a build or managing a site as the owner, choose Client at /select-role. OnsiteTrax keeps you informed and in control without micromanaging daily site work.
Dashboard Monitoring
See everything at a glance from your home screen.
- Project overview
- Progress tracking
- Team visibility
View Progress
Stay informed without chasing phone calls.
- Milestones
- Daily updates
- Activity feed
Manage Contractors
Keep your build team aligned.
- Invite contractors
- Monitor work
- Raise requests
Track Communication
Decisions and discussions stay on the record.
- Discussions
- Request history
- Decisions
Common request examples from project owners:
Design changesAdditional workMaterial requests
Contractor workflow
How contractors run the site
Contractors manage crews, attendance, wages, and updates — while keeping owners and clients informed through the same project workspace.
Workforce Management
Build and organize the crew that works on your sites.
- Create workers with name, phone, trade, and daily wage
- Organize your workforce in one roster
- Assign workers to one or multiple projects
Attendance Tracking
Know who was on site every day.
- Daily attendance marking
- Present, Absent, and Half-day tracking
- Attendance history by worker and by month
Wage Management
Payroll clarity without spreadsheets.
- Daily wage tracking tied to attendance
- Payment recording (cash, bank, or other)
- Outstanding balance tracking
- Worker earnings ledger per project
Progress Updates
Keep owners and clients in the loop.
- Upload site updates with photos and notes
- Share progress tied to milestones
- Respond to project owner and client requests
Architect
Architect journey
Choose Architect at /select-role to review active sites, share documents, and raise structured requests — with permissions scoped to each project.
Milestone Visibility
See how each active site is progressing against the plan.
- Milestone status per project
- Daily site updates
- Activity timeline
Document Sharing
Keep drawings and references where the team can find them.
- Upload plans and references
- Project-scoped file access
- Version context in threads
Structured Requests
Raise clarifications or design issues without scattered chats.
- Change requests
- Scope clarifications
- Issue reporting with photos
Scoped Permissions
Access only what your project role allows — nothing more.
- Per-project architect role
- Read-only where appropriate
- No payroll or workforce admin
Worker management
Worker management flow
From adding a worker to paying them — attendance and daily wage rates drive everything. Workers with a claimed phone account can also use the Worker Portal for their own visibility.
Worker onboarding — separate from main signup
Workers are not listed on /select-role. Your contractor adds you to the roster, then you claim your profile one of two ways:
- SMS invite — Open the link sent to your phone, verify with OTP, and access the Worker Portal.
- Access token registration — Go to /worker/register, enter the 10-digit token from your contractor plus your phone and password.
Add Worker
Capture name, phone number, trade or skill, and daily wage rate.
Assign Worker
Link the worker to one or more projects so attendance and wages roll up correctly.
Mark Attendance
Each day, mark Present, Absent, or Half-day. Wages calculate from effective days × daily rate.
Calculate Earnings
Worked days flow into wage calculation, then payments, then any outstanding balance.
Worked Days → Wage Calculation → Payments → Outstanding Balance
Formula: Attendance + wage rate = earned amount for each period.
Worker Portal — can view
- Assigned projects
- Attendance history
- Earnings summary
- Payments received
- Outstanding wages
Worker Portal — cannot
- Create projects
- Manage budgets
- Invite users
- Modify project settings
Client experience
What clients can do
Clients get clear visibility into progress and a structured way to ask for changes — without access to internal payroll or workforce settings.
Project Visibility
See how your build is progressing in real time.
- Monitor project progress
- View milestones
- See site updates
Raise Requests
Ask for changes or flag issues in a structured way.
- Additional work
- Change requests
- Clarifications
- Issue reporting
Review Request Status
Follow every request from open to done.
- Open
- In Progress
- Completed
- Rejected
Communication
Stay in the conversation without losing context.
- Project conversations
- Request discussion threads
- Shared decision history
Requests
Request management system
Requests keep scope changes and site issues organized. The project owner or client raises them; the contractor responds in a threaded discussion until resolved.
Client or Project Owner
Creates a request with details and optional photos
Create Request
Request appears in the project inbox
Assigned Contractor
Contractor responsible for the work is notified
Discussion
Threaded replies keep context in one place
Resolution
Scope, cost, or timing agreed in the thread
Completed
Status updated when work is done or declined
Example requests:
Design changesAdditional workMaterial requestsAdditional room workMaterial upgradesSite issues
Support
Support center
Help is available inside the app and on the web. When you are logged in, open Support from the menu to submit a ticket tied to your account.
In-App Support
Open Support from the app menu to browse help topics or submit a ticket tied to your account.
Email Support
Reach our team at support@onsitetrax.com for account or billing questions.
Documentation
This guide, plus our Features and How It Works pages, explain the full platform.
Book a Demo
Schedule a walkthrough on our Contact page — we tailor it to homeowners or contractors.
Typical workflow
A typical project from start to finish
Most teams follow the same path — account, project, invites, workers, daily tracking, updates, and requests until handover.
Create Account
Choose Role
Business Setup
Create Project
Invite Team
Add Workers
Track Attendance
Record Wages
Share Updates
Activate Workspace
Complete Project
FAQ
Common questions
Quick answers about teams, workers, wages, requests, and support on OnsiteTrax.
No. New accounts start on the Free tier at /signup. When you create your first project and need more projects, storage, or seats, workspace activation lets you choose a paid plan.
No. Workers use a separate path: register at /worker/register with the access token from your contractor, or open the SMS claim link sent to your phone. That links your roster row to a Worker Portal account.
Your platform role (Contractor, Client, Architect) is chosen once at /select-role and shapes your dashboard. Project roles (owner, contractor, client, architect, worker, etc.) are assigned per project when someone is invited — one user can hold different project roles on different builds.
Yes. A project can include more than one contractor or specialist, each with their own project role and permissions. Invite them from the project team screen when you are ready.
No. Clients and homeowners have visibility and request tools, but workforce management — adding workers, wages, and attendance — is handled by contractors and managers with the right project permissions.
Yes, after a worker claims their profile via phone verification, they can use the Worker Portal to see attendance, earnings summaries, payments received, and any outstanding wages. They cannot change project settings or invite others.
Contractors (or managers) mark daily attendance as Present, Absent, or Half-day. Effective days multiply by the worker's daily wage to calculate amounts due. Workers with portal access can also submit self-attendance where your team enables it.
Yes. Your dashboard lists all projects you own or are invited to. Workers can be assigned across multiple sites from a single roster.
From inside a project, open Requests and create a new item with a title, description, and optional photos. The assigned contractor receives it in their inbox and can reply in a threaded discussion until it is completed or rejected.
Yes. Wage screens show earned amounts from attendance, payments recorded, and the remaining balance per worker and per month — so nothing is missed at settlement time.
Absolutely. You can invite contractors, clients, architects, or supervisors at any point during the project—not only at setup.
When progress reaches 100% or you mark the project complete, status updates for everyone on the team. History, documents, requests, and payment records stay available for reference.
Use in-app Support for tickets, email support@onsitetrax.com, or book a demo via our Contact page. This guide and How It Works cover most onboarding questions.
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