Accounting for construction
& home services.
Contractors don't fail on the job — they fail on the numbers behind it. We give builders, remodelers, and home-service businesses the job costing and tax compliance systems they need to bid confidently and keep every project profitable.
Two things contractors can't afford to get wrong.
We build the systems that tell you which jobs make money — and keep the state off your back while you do it.
Job Costing Solutions
Know the true profit on every job — not just at year-end, but while the work is still in the field. We set up cost codes, allocate labor, materials, and overhead correctly, and give you reporting that makes your next bid smarter than your last.
Sales & Use Tax Filings
Connecticut's rules on contractor services, materials, and taxable vs. exempt work are genuinely tricky. We manage your sales & use tax filings end to end so deadlines are met and exposure stays low.
Hand off your filingsAccounting & Tax for Trades
Monthly books, reconciliations, and business tax returns handled by people who understand retainage, progress billing, and seasonal cash flow.
See pricingBuilt for the trades.
From two-truck operations to established general contractors across Litchfield County and beyond.
General Contractors
Multi-phase projects, subcontractor tracking, and WIP schedules your bonding agent will actually accept.
Specialty Trades
Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and roofing — service calls and installs costed separately so you see what really pays.
Remodelers & Builders
Change-order discipline and draw schedules that keep cash flowing through long residential projects.
Home Services
Landscaping, cleaning, pest, and maintenance companies with recurring routes and seasonal swings.
What contractors ask us.
Job costing, sales tax, and the accounting problems specific to the trades.
Why do I need job costing if I already know my overall profit?
Because company-wide profit hides which jobs are carrying you and which are bleeding money. Contractors regularly discover that one crew, one customer, or one type of work is unprofitable while the total still looks fine. Job costing shows profit per project — labor, materials, equipment, and allocated overhead — so your next bid is priced on evidence instead of instinct.
Are contractor services taxable in Connecticut?
It depends on the work and the property. Connecticut treats new construction, renovation of existing residential property, and services to commercial property differently, and materials purchased for a job may be taxable to you or to your customer depending on the arrangement. Getting this wrong creates real exposure on audit. We manage sales and use tax filings end to end and review how you are classifying work.
What is a WIP schedule and do I need one?
A work-in-progress schedule reports revenue earned versus billed on jobs still in progress, showing whether you are overbilled or underbilled on each contract. Any contractor seeking bonding or a bank line will be asked for one. Beyond financing, it is the single best early warning that a job is slipping — you see it in the WIP long before you see it in the bank account.
How should I handle labor burden in my job costs?
Wages alone understate what an employee costs by a wide margin. True labor burden includes payroll taxes, workers compensation, general liability, benefits, vehicle costs, and non-productive time. Contractors who bid using base wage rates typically underprice by 25 to 40 percent. We calculate your actual burden rate and build it into your cost codes so estimates reflect reality.
Can you work inside my existing QuickBooks file?
Yes. As Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisors we work in QuickBooks Online and Desktop, including contractor-specific setups with cost codes, items, and job-level reporting. If your file has drifted over the years, we will tell you honestly whether it is better to repair it or rebuild it — and we will handle either.
How do I account for retainage?
Retainage held by your customer is revenue you have earned but cannot collect yet, and it belongs in a separate receivable account rather than mixed into normal AR. Retainage you hold from subcontractors works the same way in reverse. Tracking it separately keeps your aging reports honest and makes it obvious how much cash is sitting in completed work waiting on release.
When should a contractor switch from cash to accrual accounting?
Cash basis is simple but tells you almost nothing useful mid-project, and larger contracts and certain revenue thresholds require accrual or percentage-of-completion for tax purposes. If you are bonding work, seeking financing, or running jobs that span months, accrual with a WIP schedule gives you a true picture. We will tell you where you stand and handle the change if one is needed.