Bookkeeping for contractors and trades
Know which jobs make money, keep payroll and holdbacks straight, and file GST/QST on time.
What goes wrong in contracting books
- Income and costs are mixed across jobs, so you can’t tell which projects lose money.
- Subcontractor and supplier invoices arrive late and are never matched to a job.
- Holdbacks (amounts a client keeps until completion) are booked as revenue too early or not tracked at all.
- Seasonal crews and cash wages complicate payroll and remittances.
- Input tax credits are missed because receipts are missing.
What we do
- Set up job costing so each project shows revenue, materials, labour and subcontractors.
- Track holdbacks and progress billing against each contract.
- Run payroll with RL-1 and T4 slips and keep remittances on time.
- Reconcile bank, card and supplier accounts monthly and chase missing receipts.
- File GST/QST and claim every eligible credit.
- Coordinate year-end with your tax return.
Rules worth checking for your trade
Quebec construction has its own requirements, such as licensing with the Régie du bâtiment, workers’ compensation premiums with the CNESST and, for some trades, contributions tied to the construction industry. Requirements vary by trade and contract, so we confirm what applies to you rather than assume.
Sole proprietor or corporation?
Many contractors start as sole proprietors, then incorporate as profits grow. We can model both and prepare the owner’s personal return alongside the business filing. Read self-employed tax in Quebec for the basics.
Pricing
Plans start at $350 per month, with payroll available for $75 per month for 1 to 5 employees. See pricing for the full list. Book a free call and tell us about your jobs.
FAQ
Can you track profit by job?
Yes. We set up job or class tracking in QuickBooks so every project shows its own revenue, materials, labour and subcontractor costs.
How do you handle holdbacks?
We record holdbacks separately from the amounts you can collect now, so your revenue and receivables stay accurate until the client releases them.
Do you run payroll for seasonal crews?
Yes. Payroll is $75 per month for 1 to 5 employees, with RL-1 and T4 slips and remittances included.