Houston, Texas
Houston Construction CPA and Accounting Services
Contractors need job-cost accounting, not generic bookkeeping. Houston construction CPAs and accountants help general contractors, builders, and trade businesses manage job costing, WIP schedules, AIA billing, certified payroll, contractor tax rules, and the cash flow swings that come with construction work.
Why Houston contractors reach out
- Jobs are running over budget and no one caught it in time
- Change orders are not billed or tracked cleanly
- WIP schedules do not tie to the P&L
- AIA billing and retainage are done in spreadsheets
- The bonding company wants CPA-prepared financials
- Certified payroll reports are late or wrong
Services
- Contractor and construction company tax preparation
- Job costing and work-in-progress (WIP) reporting
- AIA G702/G703 progress billing and retainage tracking
- Certified payroll and prevailing-wage / Davis-Bacon compliance
- Subcontractor compliance: W-9, COI, and lien waivers
- Project profitability analysis by job and cost code
- Construction-specific bookkeeping and monthly close
- QuickBooks setup for construction companies
- Texas sales and use tax on materials
- Equipment depreciation and Section 179 planning
- Bonding and lender-ready reviewed or compiled financials
- Multi-state contractor tax filings
Job costing by project
Chart of accounts and item lists built for job costing — labor, materials, subs, equipment, and burden allocated to the job so margin per project is visible in real time, not discovered after the job closes.
Cash flow & working capital
Retention receivables, progress billing, and credit-line management so payroll and material buys are covered between draws.
Tax planning for contractors
S-corp election review, reasonable comp, equipment Section 179 and bonus depreciation, and quarterly estimates so April is never a surprise.
Who hires a Houston construction CPA
- General contractors and home builders
- Specialty trade contractors — electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing
- Commercial and industrial builders with multi-job projects
- Civil and heavy highway contractors
- Remodelers, custom builders, and design-build firms
- Subcontractors managing 1099 status and equipment
Why local expertise matters
A Houston, Texas-area professional understands state and city tax requirements, regional industry mix, and the local lender, attorney, and insurance networks your business is likely to interact with.
How to choose
- Experience with job costing and percentage-of-completion accounting
- Familiarity with QuickBooks Contractor, Sage 100, or Foundation
- Understanding of Texas sales tax rules for contractors
- Comfort with WIP schedules required by bonding companies
- Certified payroll and Davis-Bacon / prevailing-wage experience
- Ability to coordinate with your bookkeeper and project managers
- Clear, predictable fee structure
What it typically costs
Fees vary based on scope, complexity, and whether work is project-based or ongoing. Ranges below reflect common engagement tiers; always confirm scope in a written engagement letter before work begins.
Job-cost bookkeeping
From $900/mo
Job-costed bookkeeping and monthly reports.
- Job cost tracking
- Reconciliation
- Monthly P&L
- AP support
WIP + AIA
From $1,800/mo
For contractors with bonding and AIA billing needs.
- Everything in job-cost
- WIP schedules
- AIA billing
- Retainage tracking
- Bonding-ready reports
CFO / controller
From $3,500/mo
Controller or fractional CFO for larger contractors.
- Cash flow forecast
- Bid margin analysis
- Bonding relationships
- Board-quality reporting
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a construction CPA or accountant cost in Houston?
Monthly bookkeeping and accounting engagements typically run $900–$3,500 based on job volume, WIP complexity, and whether AIA billing and bonding reports are included. Tax return preparation runs $2,500–$7,500/year separately, depending on company size and complexity.
What is job costing and why does it matter?
Job costing tracks revenue and expenses for each individual project so you know which jobs are profitable. It is the single most important accounting practice for construction businesses and the foundation for accurate WIP reporting and bidding.
Do construction companies in Texas pay sales tax on materials?
It depends on the contract type. Lump-sum contracts and separated contracts are taxed differently in Texas, and the rules around new construction vs. remodeling add complexity. A Houston construction CPA can structure invoicing to comply correctly.
What is a WIP schedule and do I need one?
A work-in-progress schedule shows revenue earned vs. billed on each open job. Bonding companies, banks, and sureties require WIP schedules for any contractor seeking surety credit or larger projects.
Do you handle certified payroll for Houston prevailing-wage jobs?
Yes — WH-347 filings, fringe benefit tracking, and multi-jurisdiction payroll are standard for construction engagements involving Davis-Bacon or state prevailing-wage jobs.
Can a CPA help me classify workers as employees vs. subcontractors?
Yes. Worker classification is a major exposure for construction businesses. A CPA can review your relationships and help document compliance with IRS and Texas Workforce Commission rules.
Do you help with bonding and lender relationships?
Yes. Reviewed and compiled financials formatted for surety and lender review are a standard deliverable for contractors seeking bonding capacity or credit lines.
Advisor-grade guides
Downloadable ebooks & templates
CPA-ready playbooks and templates you can use today — instant downloads, no signup required.
The Small Business Tax & Profit Playbook
A CPA-ready guide to deductions, quarterly taxes, S-Corp strategy, owner pay, cash flow, and year-round tax planning.
Business Tax Deduction Checklist
A CPA-curated checklist of 80+ business deductions most owners miss — organized by category so you can sweep it before filing.
The Definitive Bookkeeping Cleanup & Recovery Guide
The CPA's step-by-step playbook for diagnosing messy books, reconstructing missing history, and restoring a clean, audit-ready ledger.
The Freelancer Tax Guide
The practical tax playbook for freelancers, contractors, and solo creatives — deductions, quarterly estimates, and self-employment strategies.
The Year-End Tax Planning Guide
The CPA's December playbook — practical strategies to reduce your tax bill before the year closes.
The Premium Bookkeeping Template Pack
Automated dashboards, multi-account reconciliations, and CPA-ready reporting workbooks for serious owners and bookkeepers.
Tax & Bookkeeping Resource Library
Our complete advisor-grade collection — every premium asset an owner needs to run clean books, lower taxes, and recover messy ledgers, in one bundle.