Job costs
Margin while the job is running
Labor, materials, equipment and subcontractor costs are coded to each job as they happen, so you see the margin while you can still act on it, not three months after the job closes.
Accounting for general contractors
You carry the owner's contract, the subs, the bond and the bank. We keep the numbers under all of them current: job costs as they happen, a WIP schedule every month, and taxes planned around your jobs.
What we watch for
Where the money is won or lost.
WIP schedules, pay applications, subcontractor 1099s and bonding.
WIP
A WIP schedule every month
For each open job, what you have billed against what you have earned. It shows overbillings and underbillings, it is what your surety and bank ask for, and it is the earliest warning that a job is slipping.
Retainage
Retainage, in both directions
Retainage held on your work is money you have earned but cannot spend yet. Retainage you hold on subs is money you owe. We track both by job, so each one is billed, paid and released on time.
Subs
1099s, W-9s and insurance certificates
A W-9 and a current insurance certificate before the first payment saves a January scramble and keeps uninsured subs off your insurance audit.
Change orders
Change orders that get billed
Approved change orders go into the contract value, the estimate to complete and the next pay application. Pending ones stay on a list, so extra work does not turn into free work.
Bonding
Statements your surety can underwrite
We prepare financials that meet surety and bank underwriting standards, with a WIP schedule that ties to the balance sheet, and show you which ratios move your bonding capacity.
Monthly reporting
The numbers we report every month.
A short schedule, the same every month, so you can see the trend as well as the number.
| Line | Number | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Gross margin by job | Earned revenue less job costs, for every open job |
| 02 | Over and under billings | From the WIP schedule, each month |
| 03 | Backlog | Signed work not yet earned, and the margin in it |
| 04 | Days to collect | How long owners take to pay, retainage included |
| 05 | Overhead rate | Indirect costs as a share of revenue, for pricing the next bid |
Tax
Tax notes for 2026.
$32M
Gross receipts test, 2026
Which contracts can skip percentage of completion
Contracts expected to finish within two years can use simpler methods than percentage of completion if your average annual gross receipts over the past three years are $32 million or less (2026). The method changes when profit is taxed, not whether it is.
$2.56M
Section 179 limit, 2026
Equipment in the year you buy it
Section 179 allows up to $2,560,000 in 2026, reduced once purchases pass $4,090,000, and equipment acquired after January 19, 2025 can also qualify for 100% bonus depreciation. The better choice depends on this year's income, next year's and your state.
$2,000
1099-NEC threshold, 2026 payments
Subcontractor 1099s
For payments made in 2026, file a 1099-NEC for each unincorporated subcontractor paid $2,000 or more (it was $600). Forms for 2026 are due February 1, 2027, because January 31 falls on a Sunday.
Do you prepare our WIP schedule?
Yes. We build it from your job costs and billings each month and walk through the overbillings and underbillings with you, job by job.
Can you help with bonding and lender requirements?
Yes. We prepare financials that meet surety and bank underwriting standards, and advise on the ratios that affect your bonding capacity.
What does it cost?
Construction packages start at $2,275 a month for businesses under $500K in revenue, plus a one-time onboarding fee. The pricing page shows your starting price in six steps, and your formal quote follows a free call.
How do we get started?
Book a free 30-minute call, or send your details and we will follow up within one business day.
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