Build a CRM for our landscape lighting business

Vision Outdoor Lighting is a landscape lighting design and installation company based in Orange County, CA, with 13+ years in business. We're looking for a developer or small dev team to build a complete, custom software platform that runs our entire business — from first client inquiry through final invoice. Project Overview We currently juggle multiple disconnected tools for CRM, scheduling, invoicing, and design. We want a single, unified, branded platform that replaces all of it — built specifically around how a design/install lighting business actually operates, not a generic contractor CRM. This is a ground-up build. We have existing tools (a job estimator, a fixture/material cost catalog, a P&L tracker) that can inform the data model, and we're open to discussing whether pieces of those are reused or rebuilt. Core Features Required 1. Design & Proposal Builder Real-scale photo-based design tool: place fixtures, wiring runs, and transformers directly onto a client's property photo Built-in electrical engine: calculates voltage drop and recommends/sizes transformers automatically based on fixture load and wire run length Auto-generates a fixture legend/parts list from the design Converts the finished design into a polished, magazine-style proposal — fully branded (our logo, colors, fonts) Proposal is sent as a shareable link the client opens on any device, no login required 2. Client Funnel & CRM Full sales pipeline / funnel view (lead → qualified → proposal sent → won/lost) Stores complete client information: contact details, property info, communication history, documents, photos Unified communication timeline per client — calls, texts, and emails logged in one place Send quotes via email and text message directly from the platform Quotes support optional/add-on line items the client can toggle before signing Tiered proposal options (e.g., good/better/best packages) 3. E-Signature & Payments Client can review, sign, and pay their deposit in one flow, on the same link — no separate tools Accepts both credit card and bank transfer (ACH) PCI-compliant payment handling Change orders: mid-project scope changes generate a new line item and require re-signature/approval before billing Milestone billing: payments trigger automatically as a job hits defined stages (deposit, rough-in, completion, etc.) Funds deposit directly into our business bank account 4. Scheduling & Field Operations Calendar/scheduling system for install crews Automated "crew is on the way" notifications to clients Mobile-friendly field view for installers: job checklist, fixture/material list, and design/blueprint reference, viewable on-site Photo documentation tied to each job (before/during/after, nighttime final photos) 5. Vendor & Inventory Management Send fixture orders to manufacturers/distributors directly from an approved proposal Basic inventory tracking with low-stock alerts Purchase order generation and status tracking 6. Invoicing & Financial Backend Automated invoicing tied to job milestones Invoice aging tracking Real-time margin and COGS visibility per job Full P&L, cash flow, and profitability reporting Advanced reporting/dashboards: lead source ROI, close rate, average job size, technician utilization QuickBooks (or equivalent) export for accounting 7. Service & Warranty Tracking Post-install service request intake and tracking Warranty claim logging tied to original job/fixtures Recurring seasonal maintenance plans (subscription-style scheduling and billing) 8. Marketing & Retention Automated post-install review request (e.g., Google review prompt after final walkthrough) Follow-up/drip sequences for past clients Referral tracking Technical Requirements Secure, cloud-hosted web application (responsive — must work well on desktop and mobile/tablet in the field) Role-based access: owner/admin, sales, office admin, install crew each see appropriate views Integrated payment processor (Stripe, Square, or similar) supporting card + ACH SMS and email delivery integration (e.g., Twilio, SendGrid, or similar) E-signature capability (native or integrated, e.g., DocuSign-equivalent) Secure data storage and backups; PCI compliance for payment data Data migration plan from our current CRM (Markate) — existing client and job history must carry over API/webhook flexibility for future integrations Nice-to-Have (Phase 2 / Future Roadmap) Native mobile app for field crews (vs. mobile web) Customer-facing portal to view job status, photos, and documents anytime Automated sales tax calculation by jurisdiction Commission tracking for sales reps Ideal Candidate Proven experience building CRM, field service, or project-based business management software Comfortable owning both front-end (client-facing design/proposal tools) and back-end (financials, scheduling, integrations) Experience with payment processing and e-signature integrations Can work from an existing brand identity and apply it consistently across client-facing surfaces Available for ongoing support/iteration post-launch, not just a one-time build Project Structure Fixed-bid or hourly — TBD Estimated timeline — TBD Budget range — TBD