> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.fieldpulse.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Projects vs. Jobs vs. Site Visits

# Overview

FieldPulse gives you three record types for managing work: **Projects**, **Jobs**, and **Site Visits**. Each one serves a different purpose, and understanding how they relate to each other will help you keep your work organized and your team on the same page.

Here's the short version:

* **Projects** are the big picture: a folder that holds all the jobs and invoices for a large or long-running engagement.
* **Jobs** are the individual units of work, whether they stand alone or live inside a Project.
* **Site Visits** are extra appointments tied to a single Job, perfect for return trips, call-backs, or multi-day work that doesn't warrant its own separate job record.

***

# Projects

## What is a Project?

Think of a Project like a folder. It organizes all the Jobs, estimates, invoices, and files related to a single large scope of work, so everything stays connected and easy to reference.

Projects are ideal for long-term work: work that span weeks, months, or even years, involve multiple phases, or require multiple invoices over time.

## When to use a Project

Consider creating a Project record when:

* You're building an entirely new facility
* You're doing work across multiple units (e.g., rewiring each unit in an apartment complex, where each unit can be its own Job record within the Project)
* You'll be invoicing your customer multiple times as phases of work are completed (e.g., plumbing new construction floor by floor)
* You're managing a large commercial installation that goes through multiple defined stages before final completion

## Key things to know

* Project Notes cascade to any Job record created within that Project, so your team always has the right context.
* You can create Custom Status Workflows for Projects to track exactly where each one stands.

### Example Project Status Workflows

**Electrical New Construction:** Accepted → Deposit Collected → Permits Approved → Materials Ordered → Rough In → Trim-Out → Final Inspection → Final Invoice → Completed

**Overhead Door Installation:** Accepted → Deposit Collected → Site Measured/Verified → Door & Parts Ordered → Materials Received → Installation Visit #1 → 2nd Payment Received → Installation Visit #2 → Inspections → Final Invoice Sent → Completed

**Commercial Elevator Installation:** Accepted → Deposit → Pit & Framing (Phase 1) → Rough In (Phase 2) → Selections → Final Measures → Equipment Procurement → Pre-Install Checklist → Ready for Install → Equipment Installation → Ready for Inspection → Final Invoice → Paid and Completed

***

# Jobs

## What is a Job?

A Job is the core work record in FieldPulse. Jobs can be standalone records for work that's completed that day, or they can be part of a Project, representing individual appointments, stages, or phases within a larger scope of work.

## When to use a Job

* As a standalone record: Use for any single visit or day's work, like a service call, installation, or repair that starts and finishes within a relatively short window.
* Within a Project: Use Jobs to represent individual phases or appointments. Each one can be scheduled, invoiced, and tracked separately under the umbrella of the Project.

## Key things to know

* You can create **Custom Status Workflows** and **Status Action Flows** for Jobs, giving you granular control over how your team moves work through your process.

### Example Job Status Workflows

**Install:** New → Install Scheduled → Truck Preparation → On the Road → Prep & Inspection → Install in Progress → Testing & Clean Up → Install Complete → Invoice Paid & Complete → Pending → Canceled

**Emergency:** New → Emergency Dispatch Scheduled → En Route → On-Site → Service Complete → Invoice Paid & Complete → Paused → Canceled

**Service Call:** New → Service Scheduled → On the Way → Service in Progress → Service Go Back → Service Complete → Invoice Paid & Complete → On Hold → Canceled

***

# Site Visits

## What is a Site Visit?

A Site Visit is a sub-record tied to a Job. It lets you schedule an additional appointment under an existing Job without creating a brand-new record. All the visits stay organized in one place, each with their own date, team assignment, notes, and status.

## When to use a Site Visit

Site Visits are best for return trips: situations where your team needs to come back, but you're not creating new work or a new invoice. Common examples include:

* Service call-backs or "go-backs"
* Follow-up appointments tied to the same job

## Key things to know

* You can create **Custom Status Workflows** for Site Visits. Since overall progress is tracked at the Job level, it's best to keep Site Visit workflows simple.

### Example Site Visit Status Workflows

**Simple:** New → On the Way → On Site → Completed

**With escalation:** New → On the Way → In Progress → Management Needed → Completed

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# Quick Reference

|                             | **Project**                 | **Job**                  | **Site Visit**             |
| :-------------------------- | :-------------------------- | :----------------------- | :------------------------- |
| **Best for**                | Long-term, multi-phase work | Individual units of work | Return visits / call-backs |
| **Can be standalone**       | Yes                         | Yes                      | No (must be tied to a Job) |
| **Supports invoicing**      | Yes (multiple)              | Yes                      | No                         |
| **Custom Status Workflows** | Yes                         | Yes                      | Yes                        |
| **Status Action Flows**     | No                          | Yes                      | No                         |

***

**Have additional questions?**

*Contact us at [support@fieldpulse.com](mailto:support@fieldpulse.com) or use the chat feature in the bottom right corner of your screen.*
