If you've read our Davis-Bacon and certified payroll guide, you already know that general small-business payroll platforms — Gusto, Patriot, QuickBooks Online — don't generate a compliant WH-347 or calculate prevailing wage automatically. The four platforms below were built specifically to close that gap. They range from self-service software to a fully outsourced service, so the right fit depends heavily on whether you want to run certified payroll yourself or hand it off entirely.
Certified Payroll Software Compared
| Platform | Model | Native WH-347 | Union / CBA Support | Est. Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miter | Self-service software | Yes | Yes | Quote-based — third-party sources cite roughly $50/mo + $6.50/employee, though figures vary by source |
| eBacon | Self-service software | Yes | Yes | Quote-based, not publicly listed |
| Lumber | Self-service software (AI-assisted) | Yes | Yes | Quote-based — one third-party source cites around $200/mo starting |
| Payroll4Construction | Full-service (they run payroll for you) | Yes | Yes | Quote-based, typically higher than self-service software given the full-service model |
Miter
Miter is a cloud-based workforce platform built specifically for contractors, combining payroll, HR, expense management and field operations (time tracking, scheduling, daily reports) in one system. It generates WH-347 and a range of state-specific certified payroll formats natively, applies prevailing wage rates by county and trade, and pushes fully burdened labor costs to job costing in real time. It integrates with Procore, QuickBooks Online, Sage 100, NetSuite, BambooHR and several construction-specific tools.
✓ Pros
- Native WH-347 generation and county/trade-level prevailing wage tables
- Combines field operations (time tracking, scheduling) with payroll in one platform
- Broad integration list — Procore, QuickBooks, Sage, NetSuite
- Union CBA and fringe automation supported
✗ Cons
- Some verified reviews report declining support responsiveness and slow ticket resolution
- At least one verified review describes compliance reporting errors that led to tax jurisdiction penalties — worth stress-testing this specifically during a trial before committing
- Pricing not published; third-party figures for starting cost are inconsistent between sources
eBacon
eBacon is built specifically around Davis-Bacon and prevailing wage compliance. It transfers payroll data directly into certified payroll forms with electronic submission options, automates prevailing wage rate calculations, and includes fringe benefit management tools including bona fide fringe trust handling. It also supports multi-state compliance and union payroll reporting.
✓ Pros
- Purpose-built specifically for certified payroll and prevailing wage, not a general construction platform with compliance bolted on
- Electronic submission support for certified payroll reports
- Fringe benefit and bona fide trust handling built in
✗ Cons
- Does not administer benefits in every state — check coverage for your specific states before signing
- No published pricing — requires a sales conversation for even a rough estimate
Payroll4Construction
Unlike the other three, Payroll4Construction is a full-service payroll provider, not self-service software — their team processes your payroll, handles tax filings, W-2s, and generates certified payroll reports across federal, state and local formats on your behalf. It's backed by Foundation Software (a long-established construction accounting platform, founded 1985) and integrates directly with Foundation's ERP for contractors already on that system.
✓ Pros
- Full-service model means no internal payroll expertise required
- Backed by a long-established construction accounting company (Foundation, since 1985)
- Handles union payroll, multi-state and certified payroll as part of the service
✗ Cons
- Full-service model typically costs more than self-service software — you're paying for a team, not just a tool
- Less control over the day-to-day payroll process compared to running it yourself
- Deepest integration benefit is for contractors already using Foundation's accounting software
Lumber
Lumber is a newer, AI-assisted construction payroll platform aimed at specialty contractors and multi-state enterprises alike. It processes payroll online with automatic tax calculations and filings across all states, and builds prevailing wage, certified payroll and union compliance into the core platform rather than as an add-on layer.
✓ Pros
- Compliance features built into the core platform, not a bolt-on module
- Scales from small specialty contractors to larger multi-state operations
- Modern, AI-assisted interface positioning
✗ Cons
- Newer to the market than Miter, eBacon or Payroll4Construction — less of a track record to evaluate
- No published pricing; the one third-party estimate we found (~$200/month starting) is not confirmed by Lumber directly
Which One Should You Choose?
✅ Want to run payroll yourself, need native WH-347
Miter, eBacon or Lumber all generate certified payroll reports without manual export. Compare their integrations against your existing accounting software (QuickBooks, Sage, NetSuite) to narrow it down.
✅ Want it handled for you entirely
Payroll4Construction's full-service model means you're not the one running payroll or generating reports — worth the premium if you have no internal payroll capacity.
✅ Heavy union / CBA workforce
All four platforms support union payroll, but get specific during your demo about how many CBAs and fringe packages each can handle — this is exactly the kind of feature that looks supported in marketing copy but varies in practice.
❌ Occasional, small prevailing-wage exposure
If certified payroll only comes up on the rare project, the overhead of switching to a construction-specific platform may not be worth it yet. Many contractors in this position handle WH-347 manually alongside a general platform like Gusto or OnPay until federal work becomes a regular part of the business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Miter, eBacon, Lumber and Payroll4Construction?
Miter, eBacon and Lumber are self-service software — you run payroll yourself and the platform generates compliance reports. Payroll4Construction is a full-service provider that processes payroll on your behalf. All four generate certified payroll (WH-347) reports natively, unlike general platforms like Gusto or QuickBooks.
Is construction-specific payroll software worth the extra cost?
If you regularly bid on federal or prevailing-wage state contracts, yes — manual WH-347 preparation and prevailing wage rate lookups carry real compliance risk, and penalties for errors can run into the thousands of dollars per violation. For contractors with only occasional public-works exposure, the calculation is closer, and it may make sense to handle it manually alongside a general payroll platform until federal work becomes routine.
Can I use one of these alongside my existing accounting software?
Generally yes — Miter integrates with Procore, QuickBooks, Sage 100 and NetSuite; Payroll4Construction is built around Foundation's accounting platform. Confirm your specific integration during a demo, since integration depth varies by platform and by which accounting system you use.
Sources: Miter · eBacon · Payroll4Construction · Lumber · U.S. Department of Labor · Third-party review platforms · Figures checked September 2026, subject to change