Cost Variables To Help You Choose Construction Software

Many contractors with expensive high-end construction software are re-examining if QuickBooks for Contractors is all they really need and if switching over to it makes sense.

The first thing we ask is which of The Four Types of Contractors best describes your company?

Salt of The Earth

Dog And Pickup Truck

Professional

Enterprise Level

Having used several high-end construction software programs costing over $60,000 and a few low cost programs under $500 like QuickBooks and Peachtree, and some of the free online bookkeeping programs I have arrived at the conclusion that for contractors with annual sales volume under $5,000,000 the only answer is QuickBooks For Contractors. For an in-depth comparison of QuickBooks versions click here.

We started using QuickBooks when it was first released in DOS version in the early 1990's and have been raving fans of it ever since. It's had problems and growing pains; however, Intuit the parent company of QuickBooks is good about finding and fixing the issues as evidenced by the number of contractors using it compared to their competitors.

Five Hidden Construction Software Costs

#01 Setup is the most important and least understood part of the selection process. Before you setup QuickBooks for Contractors you click here. A properly setup QuickBooks contractor file will do everything a contractor with less than $5,000,000 in sales will need including generating reports for:

  • Monthly And Quarterly Tax Returns

  • Sales Tax Returns

  • Payroll Processing

  • Payroll Tax Returns, 941 and 940

  • Contractor Invoicing

  • Work In Progress (WIP) Reporting

  • Preparing Pay Application Invoicing For Remodel

  • Preparing Pay Applications For Tenant Improvement (TI)

  • Job Deposit Tracking

  • Retention Tracking

  • Insurance Audit Support Service

  • QuickBooks Financial Reports

  • Job Costing Reports

  • Five Key Performance Indicator Reports for monitoring your business

  • And more

This is the most expensive hidden cost of all. Anyone who suggests the average contractor can buy construction software and have it up and running in less than (200) hours stretched over several months is stretching the truth. There is a big difference between selling construction software and setting it up to use it.

QuickBooks Setup Has Three Main Phases, Chart of Accounts, Item List, Customers, Vendors, Employees, Payroll, cleanup the existing data and input the transactions that are behind.

You can do it yourself = 200 hours x $10 an hour you could earn flipping burgers (opportunity cost) adds $2,000 to the cost of the software.

Give it to your bookkeeper = 200 hours x $25.29 (Paid $15.00 per hour plus taxes and overhead) adds 5,058 to the cost of the software.

In most cases you can outsource the complex and costly QuickBooks Setup and Job Costing Reports to us, get it done right in a fraction of the time and cost of any other option and we can cleanup QuickBooks existing data and input your back-work or as we call it QuickBooks Catch-Up.

From our extensive knowledge base of Construction Accountants and studying highly profitable contractor's QuickBooks setup files we have developed a library of QuickBooks for contractor modules that we use to build your custom QuickBooks Contractor files in a fraction of the time and at lower cost. It has made us the leader in setup QuickBooks for Contractors.

#02 Bloat the more the software costs the more whistles and bells it has or as I like to say "bloat". Software bloat is construction deceiving because it looks like something you've got to have or you are missing out, the good news is you're not. It simply adds fluff and filler to jack up the price just like college and university textbooks which are sold by the pound.

#03 Construction Bookkeepers Talent Pool the more expensive the construction software the more dependent you will be on the developer for tech support and training.

When you pay $1,000 for two days of training for your bookkeeper and their time 16 hours x $25.29 = $404.64 plus lunch $10 x 2 = $20 and parking $10 x 2 = $20 for a total of $1,444.64, they have increased skillsets and they will ask for a raise or seek employment elsewhere!

Worse yet what if you don't pay for training and they learn by trial and error on your payroll? Do you know What Ten Minutes A Day Costs Your Company?

 

#04 Contractors Bookkeeping Services System Everything in your construction company that makes money follows process is called "CONTROL" for example the steps for building a new house are: Foundation | Framing | Mechanical | Roofing | Finish | Cleanup. Everything in your construction company that does costs money does not follow a logical process and is called "CHAOS".

Construction bookkeeping services is a system with logical process and when it is followed you make money when it is not it costs you money.

Fast Easy Accounting Contractors Bookkeeping Services Process

 

#05 Cloud Based Construction Software Is no longer a luxury reserved for enterprise level contractors. Any contractor using QuickBooks Contractors desktop version can have it too.

We offer a way for you to access the full desktop version of QuickBooks Contractor with all of the built in reports and the ability to print on your local desktop printer, email, have documents linked to individual transactions. 

You can do just about anything you are doing now with QuickBooks Contractor on your desktop except lose your data due to computer failure, weather, earthquake, flood, fire or other disaster because it is on a secured cloud server with multiple redundant backups and power supplies.

You can even access your QuickBooks Contractor financial reports in the cloud without having to open QuickBooks.

The Short Video Below Tells The Whole Story

 

If You Are A Contractor You Deserve To Be Wealthy

Because You Bring Value To Other People's Lives!

This Is One More Example of how Fast Easy Accounting is helping construction company owners just like you put more money in the bank to operate and grow your construction company. Construction accounting is not rocket science; it is a lot harder than that and a lot more valuable to people like you and me so stop missing out! Call Sharie 206-361-3950 or sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com and schedule your no charge one-hour consultation.

No Charge One Hour Consultation  

Profitable Contractors and Construction Company owners have known about the value of outsourced bookkeeping services and contractor coaching services like ours for a long time and now you know about it too! 

We Scan Your Receipts And Invoices link the appropriate transactions to QuickBooks or Xero Accounting Online depending on the construction accounting service you are using and provide ongoing Cloud Based Contractors Bookkeeping Services by accountants who understand construction.

Thinking About Outsourcing Your Contractors Bookkeeping Services?

Click On The Button Below To Download A Free Guide

 Contractors Bookkeeping Services Guide >

Need Help Now?

Call Sharie 206-361-3950

sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com

Fast Easy Accounting Strategic Bookkeeping Services For Construction Companies

Xero Outsourced Construction Accounting Services

QuickBooks Outsourced Construction Bookkeeping Services

We Are Construction Accounting Experts Specializing In Construction Bookkeeping Services For Contractors All Across The USA Including Alaska And Hawaii

About The Author:

Randal DeHart, PMP, QPA The Construction Accountant Randal DeHart, PMP, QPA is the co-founder of Business Consulting And Accounting in Lynnwood Washington. He is the leading expert in outsourced construction bookkeeping and accounting services for small construction companies across the USA. He is experienced as a Contractor, Project Management Professional, Construction Accountant, Intuit ProAdvisor, QuickBooks For Contractors Expert and Xero Accounting Specialist and Bill.Com Certified Guru. This combination of experience and skill sets provides a unique perspective which allows him to see the world through the eyes of a contractor, Project Manager, Accountant and construction accountant. This quadruple understanding is what sets him apart from other Intuit ProAdvisors and Xero accountants to the benefit of all of the construction contractors he serves across the USA. Visit http://www.fasteasyaccounting.com/randal-dehart/ to learn more.

Our Co-Founder Randal DeHart - Is a Certified PMP (Project Management Professional) with several years of construction project management experience. His expertise is construction accounting systems engineering and process development. His exhaustive study of several leading experts including the work of Dr. W. Edward Deming, Michael Gerber, Walter A. Shewhart, James Lewis and dozens of others was the foundation upon which our Construction Bookkeeping System is based and continues to evolve and improve. Follow Randal on Google+

Our Co-Founder:

Sharie DeHart, QPA, is the President of  Business Consulting And Accounting (Fast Easy Accounting) in Lynnwood, Washington. She is the leading expert in managing outsourced construction bookkeeping and accounting services companies and cash management accounting for small construction companies across the USA. She encourages Contractors and Construction Company Owners to stay current on their tax obligations. She offers insights on managing the remaining cash flow to operate and grow their construction company sales and profits so they can put more money in the bank. Call 1-800-361-1770 or sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com.