Contractors & Trades Bookkeeping

Bookkeeping for
Contractors
& Trades.

General contractors, HVAC techs, plumbers, electricians — your finances move job to job and season to season. Job costing, subcontractor 1099s, equipment depreciation, and material expenses all in one clean monthly system. We handle it so you stay on the job.

No setup fees  ·  Cancel anytime  ·  Dedicated bookkeeper

At a Glance
What We Track for Contractors
Everything handled monthly — nothing falls through the cracks
Job Costing ✓ Tracked
Subcontractor Payments ✓ Categorized
Equipment & Tool Expenses ✓ Logged
Material & Supply Costs ✓ Reconciled
Seasonal Cash Flow ✓ Managed
Mileage & Vehicle Expenses ✓ Deducted
5.0
Star Rating
$0
Setup Fees
Who It's For

Built for Every Trade
& Contractor Type

Whether you're a solo tradesperson or running a crew, we build the bookkeeping system around how your business actually operates.

🔨

General Contractors

Managing subs, materials, timelines, and client billing all at once means your finances can get out of control fast. We track job-by-job profitability so you always know which contracts are worth taking.

  • Job cost tracking per project
  • Subcontractor payment & 1099 management
  • Draw schedule & progress billing
  • Equipment and tool depreciation
  • Owner's draw vs. business income separation
  • Quarterly estimated tax reminders
🔧

Specialty Trades (HVAC / Plumbing / Electrical)

Service calls, parts, warranties, and variable crew sizes create a bookkeeping puzzle most generalists can't solve. We understand how trades businesses operate.

  • Parts and inventory expense tracking
  • Service call vs. install job costing
  • Warranty claim documentation
  • Vehicle fleet expenses and mileage
  • Seasonal revenue forecasting
  • Payroll for hourly and contract workers
🌿

Landscaping & Site Services

Mowing, hardscaping, irrigation, tree services — high-volume, recurring contracts with equipment-heavy operations. We keep the numbers straight so you can grow your route.

  • Recurring contract income tracking
  • Equipment purchase and depreciation
  • Crew payroll and subcontractor payments
  • Seasonal cash flow management
  • Chemical and supply expense categorization
  • Fleet maintenance and fuel costs
Sound Familiar?

The Financial Headaches
We Fix

Contractors and trade businesses face financial challenges that general bookkeepers routinely miss. Here's what we hear from nearly every new client.

😩

No Idea Which Jobs Are Profitable

You finish a job and it feels like a win — but after materials, labor, and subs, did you actually make money? Without job costing, you're guessing.

📉

Cash Flow Gaps Between Jobs

Big projects pay on draw schedules. Slow seasons hit hard. Without visibility into your cash position, you can't plan ahead or make smart hiring decisions.

🧾

Subcontractor 1099s Are a Mess

Paying subs by check, Venmo, or cash through the year — then scrambling in January to figure out who gets a 1099. We track it all in real time.

😰

Mixing Business and Personal Money

Running to Home Depot on a personal card. Paying subs from a personal account. It feels fine until your CPA tells you it'll cost extra to sort out.

What Tides Delivers
Every Month
So you never deal with any of those problems again
Clean Job-by-Job Cost Records Every project tracked separately — income, materials, labor, and subs — so you know exactly what each job made.
Monthly P&L Statement See exactly what you earned, what you spent, and what you kept — broken down clearly every single month.
Tax-Ready Subcontractor Records Every 1099-eligible payment tracked throughout the year. No scrambling in January.
Seasonal Cash Flow Visibility Know your cash position going into slow season so you can plan instead of react.
One Dedicated Bookkeeper A real person who knows your business and responds fast — not a ticket system or a call center.
What's Included

Everything You Need,
Nothing You Don't

Every Tides plan includes all seven core services. Contractor clients also get specific treatment for job costing, subcontractor tracking, and equipment depreciation.

📈

Financial Reporting

Monthly reports that show your income, expenses, and profit by category and by job — so you always know where you stand and can make smarter business decisions.

Monthly Reports
🏦

Bank Reconciliation

Every business account and credit card matched and verified each month. No mystery charges. No unresolved transactions. No surprises.

📑

Accounts Payable & Receivable

We track vendor bills, subcontractor payments, and outstanding invoices so your cash flow stays healthy and nothing gets missed or paid twice.

🔄

Catch-Up Bookkeeping

Months or years behind? We clean it all up before we start your regular monthly service — no matter how far back the backlog goes.

💼

Payroll Support

If you have crew members or pay subcontractors, we coordinate payroll processing and keep your tax filings clean and on schedule.

★★★★★

"Working with Tides has given our contracting business the financial clarity we never had before. We finally know which jobs are making money and which ones aren't."

TW
T.W.
General Contractor  ·  Verified Client
Common Questions

Contractors & Trades
FAQ

Questions we hear from contractors and tradespeople before they sign on with Tides.

Yes — job costing is one of our core capabilities for contractors. We set up your chart of accounts so income and expenses are tracked by project, giving you a clear P&L per job. You'll know exactly which contracts are your most profitable and which ones you should price differently going forward.
We track every payment to subcontractors throughout the year — by check, ACH, or any other method. At year-end, your 1099 data is already organized and ready to file. No scrambling in January, no missing payments, no penalties for late filing.
Seasonal cash flow is one of the biggest challenges for trades businesses, and it's something we plan for specifically. We give you a clear view of your year-to-date income and expenses every month so you can see what's coming and manage accordingly. We also flag quarterly estimated tax due dates based on your actual earnings.
Yes — cleaning up existing QuickBooks files is a standard part of onboarding. We review your chart of accounts, fix miscategorized transactions, reconcile all accounts, and get your books to a clean, accurate starting point before we begin monthly service.
Yes — if you have W-2 employees, we coordinate payroll processing and keep your payroll tax filings current. We work with Gusto for payroll and can set that up as part of your onboarding if you don't already have a system in place.
We use flat monthly pricing based on your transaction volume — no hourly rates, no surprise invoices, no setup fees. Schedule a free 15-minute call and we'll give you an exact quote. Every plan includes all seven services and a dedicated bookkeeper.
📍 Service Coverage

Based in Greenville, SC —
Serving Clients Nationwide

100% remote bookkeeping for small businesses across South Carolina and throughout the United States.

12 Industries

Beyond Contractors,
We Serve All These Businesses

Tides Bookkeeping specializes in bookkeeping across 12 distinct industries. Industry-specific expertise means fewer errors, better categorization, and a bookkeeper who already understands how your business makes money.

View All Industries →
Get Started Today

Stay on the Job.
We'll Handle
The Books.

Schedule a free 15-minute call. We'll review your current setup, answer your questions, and give you a flat monthly quote — no pressure.

No credit card required  ·  No long-term contracts  ·  Cancel anytime