Construction
CPAs and accounting firms built for builders and contractors
Construction accounting firms specialize in job costing, work-in-process schedules, percentage-of-completion accounting, and surety-ready reviewed or audited financials. They work with general contractors, specialty trades, developers, and design-build firms.
What the specialist does
What a construction specialist actually handles
- Job costing with labor, material, equipment, and burden by cost code
- Work-in-process (WIP) schedules and percentage-of-completion revenue
- Certified payroll and prevailing wage (Davis-Bacon / state equivalents)
- Surety bonding support and CPA-reviewed or audited financials
- Equipment depreciation, Section 179, and bonus elections
Common tax issues
Tax issues this specialist handles every year
Generic firms miss most of these. A specialist surfaces them in planning conversations, not on the next IRS notice.
Method of accounting (percentage-of-completion vs completed contract)
Long-term contracts generally require POC; small contractors (<$30M avg gross receipts) may use completed contract or cash. Switching requires Form 3115.
Look-back interest (Form 8697)
Required for completed long-term contracts when actual vs estimated profit differed materially.
Domestic Production / Section 199A QBI
Construction firms qualify for the QBI deduction — but only when aggregations and W-2 limits are modeled correctly.
Multi-state nexus from job sites
Working on a job in another state creates withholding, sales/use, and income tax filing obligations.
Sales and use tax on materials
Resale vs consumed-in-the-job treatment varies by state; misclassification is a common audit pickup.
Bookkeeping requirements
- Cost-code-level job costing with committed cost reporting
- WIP schedule with over/underbilling reconciliation each month
- Retainage receivable and payable tracking
- Equipment internal billing rates and burden
- Subcontractor compliance: W-9, COI, lien waivers, 1099-NEC
Payroll issues
- Certified payroll (WH-347) for federal and state-funded jobs
- Prevailing wage fringe benefit calculations
- Multi-state withholding for crews on out-of-state jobs
- Union dues, pension, and benefit reporting
- Workers' comp by trade code with audit reconciliation
Software used
The tools a real specialist works in
Pricing ranges
What you should expect to pay
Real market ranges from active engagements. Fees scale with complexity, location, and firm size.
Small contractor monthly
$1,200–$3,500/mo
Job-cost bookkeeping, certified payroll, monthly WIP.
Mid-size GC / specialty trade
$3,500–$10,000/mo
Multi-entity, multi-state, surety package, monthly WIP review.
Reviewed financials for bonding
$8,000–$25,000
Annual CPA review, WIP audit, agreed-upon procedures.
Audited financials
$20,000–$75,000+
Required by larger sureties and banks; scope drives fee.
Featured professionals
Construction accounting firms — vetted pros accepting new clients
Verified specialists appear here as profiles are claimed and reviewed in United States.
Questions to ask
- How many construction clients do you serve and what revenue range?
- Are you on our surety's approved CPA list?
- How do you prepare a WIP schedule and review it with us each month?
- Do you handle certified payroll in-house or partner with a specialist?
- Can you advise on percentage-of-completion vs completed contract elections?
Red flags
- !Doesn't ask about your WIP schedule or surety relationship
- !Posts revenue on a cash basis when contracts clearly require POC
- !Hasn't filed Form 8697 look-back interest on completed long-term contracts
- !Treats every state job as if you only have nexus in your home state
- !No experience with prevailing wage or certified payroll
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FAQ
About construction accounting firms
What's the difference between a construction CPA and a general CPA?+
Construction CPAs prepare WIP schedules, understand percentage-of-completion, and produce surety-ready financials. General CPAs typically can't and shouldn't try.
Do small contractors need a construction-specialized firm?+
Once you exceed ~$2–3M in revenue, multiple active jobs, or you're seeking bonding, a construction-specialized firm is essential.
How much do construction accounting firms charge?+
Most small contractors pay $1,200–$3,500/month for outsourced accounting. Mid-size GCs typically pay $3,500–$10,000+/month, plus annual review or audit fees of $8k–$75k.
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