Tools that help your books
actually reflect your business
Read contractor bookkeeping guides about job costs, subcontractor records and QuickBooks. The inline checklist below explains common account categories.
Disclaimer: These resources are for general educational purposes and do not constitute accounting, tax, legal, or financial advice. Individual circumstances vary. Always consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.
Job Costing for Contractors: A QuickBooks Guide
A practical walkthrough of how to set up job costing inside QuickBooks Online so you can see the true profit or loss on every project, not just your overall P&L.
- Setting up classes and locations for each job
- Mapping labor, materials, and sub costs to projects
- Reading a job cost report in QuickBooks
- Spotting under-billed and over-budget jobs early
- Common setup mistakes that hide job-level data
Trade-Native Chart of Accounts Checklist
The account categories that matter for contractors, structured so your P&L actually reflects the way your business works. Covers HVAC, plumbing, electrical, general contracting, and landscaping.
- Income accounts split by job type and service line
- Cost of goods sold accounts for labor, subs, and materials
- Equipment and tool depreciation tracking
- Overhead vs. direct job cost separation
- Accounts generic bookkeepers routinely miss
1099 Subcontractor Tracking Guide
How to track subcontractor payments correctly through the year so you are ready for 1099-NEC filing and not scrambling in January for W-9 forms.
- Which sub payments are reportable and which are not
- How to collect and store W-9 information
- Coding subs vs. materials in QuickBooks
- Year-end 1099 preparation checklist
- Penalties for late or missing filings
Key Account Categories for Contractors
A generic QuickBooks setup hides the numbers that matter. These are the account categories most contractors need in their chart of accounts to get useful financial reports.
Contractor bookkeeping guides
Plain-English articles on the bookkeeping that actually moves the needle for a trades business. No gate, just read them.
Choose the bookkeeping topic you want to understand
Read about job costs, subcontractor records and QuickBooks. Our monthly service is in development and intake is closed.