Construction
Construction Bookkeeping Services
Construction bookkeeping is different from general bookkeeping. Every cost ties to a job. Billing follows AIA G702/G703 or progress invoices. Payroll has certified reporting. The right bookkeeping service treats each project as its own mini P&L while keeping the company books clean.
Core services
- Job cost setup and tracking by phase and cost code
- AIA G702/G703 progress billing or simple progress invoicing
- Retainage receivable and payable tracking
- Subcontractor compliance: W-9, COI, lien waivers
- Certified payroll for prevailing-wage projects
- Equipment cost allocation and depreciation schedules
- Monthly job profitability and WIP reports
- QuickBooks, Sage 100, Foundation, or Buildertrend support
Who needs it
- Contractors growing past 5 active jobs at once
- Companies that bid on bonded or public work
- Specialty trades managing 10+ subcontractors
- Developers tracking multiple property cost codes
- Service-and-installation contractors with mixed billing
- Any contractor whose CPA is asking for WIP at year end
How to choose a provider
- Confirm experience with construction-specific software
- Ask for sample WIP and job cost reports
- Confirm certified payroll experience if you do public work
- Ask how retainage is tracked separately from A/R and A/P
- Confirm the firm coordinates with your construction CPA
- Get a fixed monthly fee based on job count, not transactions
Frequently Asked Questions
How is construction bookkeeping different?
It tracks every cost and revenue by job, supports retainage and progress billing, and produces WIP and job profitability reports that general bookkeeping does not.
Do construction bookkeepers handle payroll?
Most do, including certified payroll for prevailing-wage jobs. Confirm they file all required state and federal reports and handle union fringe benefits if applicable.
How much does construction bookkeeping cost?
Most contractors pay $800 to $3,500 per month depending on job count, payroll complexity, and whether AIA billing is included.
What software is best for construction bookkeeping?
QuickBooks Online with a job-costing app works for smaller contractors. Larger or bonded contractors typically move to Sage 100 Contractor, Foundation Software, or Procore + Sage Intacct.
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