FOR BUILDERS, REMODELERS & CONTRACTORS
Bookkeeping & Profit First Coaching for Contractors and Remodelers
You estimate the job, manage the subs, order the materials and keep the crews moving, and at the end of the project you’re still not sure what you actually made. Construction and remodeling run on tight margins and long timelines, and one bad estimate or unbilled change order can wipe out the profit on a job.
Abacus gives general contractors, remodelers and small construction businesses clean monthly books, real job costing and Profit First coaching, so you know which jobs make money and can grow with confidence.
The money challenges contractors and remodelers tell us about
- Not knowing if a job made money. Once materials, labor and subcontractors are paid, the profit on each job is often a guess.
- Change orders and scope creep. Extra work that isn’t priced, documented and billed quietly eats into your margin.
- Lumpy cash flow. Deposits and progress payments come in, then long gaps between projects leave you stretched.
- Estimates that don’t match reality. Without comparing actual costs to the estimate, the same mistakes repeat on the next bid.
- Growing without clarity. You’re ready for bigger jobs or another hire, but you’re not sure the numbers support it.
How Abacus helps contractors and remodelers
Monthly bookkeeping in QuickBooks. Every transaction categorized and every account reconciled, with your financial reports ready each month, so your numbers are always up to date.
Job costing by project. We track materials, labor and subcontractor costs against each job, so you can compare actuals to your estimate and price the next one with confidence.
Profit First for project-based businesses. Profit and overhead are set aside from every deposit and progress payment, so the gaps between projects are covered.
Cash flow planning. We help you see what’s coming in and going out, so large material orders and payroll never catch you short.
Monthly reviews with you. We walk through your numbers every month, so you understand them, not just receive them.
Related reading: managing change orders and how job efficiency increases profit.
What you'll know every month
- Your true net profit, not just what’s in the bank
- Which jobs and types of work make the most money
- How your actual costs compare to your estimates
- Whether you can afford new equipment, a hire or bigger projects
- How much you can safely pay yourself
Is Abacus a fit for your construction business?
We work best with builders, remodelers and contractors that:
- Have been in business 3+ years
- Bring in roughly $1–4M+ a year
- Use (or are happy to move to) QuickBooks Online
- Want to understand their numbers, not just hand them off
We work with construction and remodeling businesses across the United States, fully virtually.
Hear from business owners who took control of their numbers and transformed their businesses
Contractor & Remodeler Bookkeeping FAQs
What is job costing for a construction business?
Job costing tracks the actual materials, labor and subcontractor costs of each project, so you can see what every job really made and compare it with your estimate.
How should change orders be handled in the books?
Every change order should be priced, approved and billed, and its costs tracked against the job. Otherwise extra work quietly reduces your profit.
Can Profit First work with deposits and progress payments?
Yes. Profit and operating expenses are set aside from every deposit and progress payment, so the gaps between projects are covered and materials are funded.
Do you work with contractors across the US?
Yes. Abacus is fully virtual and works with builders, remodelers and contractors across the United States.
Do I still need to be involved if you do my bookkeeping?
Yes, but not in the data entry. We meet with you every month to review your numbers, so you understand them and can make better decisions about pricing, spending and growth.
Ready to know what your jobs really make?
Take the free Profit Diagnostic to see where your business stands, or book a call with Kerry to talk it through.