Pencl FAQ
Common questions about Pencl.
- Who is Pencl for?
- Pencl is built for UK self-employed and small-team tradespeople: plumbers, electricians, roofers, plasterers, gas engineers, joiners, tilers, kitchen and bathroom fitters, decorators, bricklayers, landscapers, window fitters and damp specialists.
- What does Pencl cost?
- £25 per seat per month. There is also a 1.5% Stripe Connect platform fee on customer payments processed through Pencl. No tiered plans. No setup fees.
- Do I need to be VAT registered to use Pencl?
- No. Pencl works for sole traders below the VAT threshold and for VAT-registered businesses. The quote builder handles VAT-inclusive and VAT-exclusive pricing both ways.
- Does Pencl handle CIS deductions?
- Yes. Pencl supports CIS-aware invoicing for VAT-registered contractors and subcontractors operating under the Construction Industry Scheme.
- Does Pencl handle VAT reverse charge?
- Yes. For construction services supplied to other VAT-registered businesses, Pencl produces invoices with the reverse charge notice.
- Can my customers pay me through Pencl?
- Yes. Pencl uses Stripe Connect so customers can pay deposits, stage payments and final balances by card directly from the quote portal. Money lands in your bank, not ours.
- Can I take a deposit before starting work?
- Yes. The quote builder lets you set a deposit percentage or fixed amount that the customer pays before the work begins.
- Does Pencl work offline on site?
- Pencl is a web app. It needs an internet connection to sync data. Most survey work can be completed with intermittent signal because forms cache locally between saves.
- Is there an Android or iOS app?
- Pencl is installed as a Progressive Web App. Add it to your home screen on iOS or Android for an app-like experience. Native app store apps are on the roadmap.
- Can I switch from JobLogic, Tradify, ServiceM8 or YourTradebase?
- Yes. Pencl is a focused quoting and customer-portal tool, not a full field service suite. See our compare pages for a side-by-side on Pencl vs Tradify, ServiceM8, JobLogic, YourTradebase, Fergus, Powered Now and Jobber.