The Financial Operating System for Construction Companies
Don't just track expenses. Track profitability. We provide Construction Bookkeeping & Fractional Controller services for builders scaling to $10M.
Why Standard Bookkeeping Fails Construction
Most general contractors struggle because standard accountants don't understand the difference between cash flow and profit. We build systems that solve the three biggest financial leaks in construction:
1. True Job Costing (Stop Profit Fade)
The Challenge: You estimated a 20% margin, but ended up with 12%. You don't know why. Our Solution: We implement NAHB-standard job costing. We track every labor hour and material purchase to specific cost codes, showing you exactly which phase of the build is eating your profit in real-time.
2. WIP Reporting (See the Future)
The Challenge: You have cash in the bank, but you might owe it all to subs next week. Our Solution: We build Work in Process (WIP) Reports. This separates your earned revenue from billings, showing you if you are overbilled (safe) or underbilled (at risk), so you never run out of cash unexpectedly.
3. Tech Stack Integration (Eliminate Double Entry)
The Challenge: Your Project Managers use Buildertrend/Procore, but your bookkeeper uses QuickBooks. The numbers never match. Our Solution: We are Integration Architects. We sync your project management software directly with QuickBooks Online, ensuring your field data matches your financial data automatically.
We don't serve retail or restaurants. We are 100% focused on the construction industry.
Member: National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
Software Experts: QuickBooks Online, Buildertrend, Procore, Knowify, CoConstruct.
Service Area: Based in Utah, serving contractors nationwide via cloud-based systems.
Why Construction Companies Choose Us
Construction-Only Focus
We don’t work with every industry. We specialize in construction because your financial world is unique.
NAHB Chart of Accounts
We build your accounting system the way the industry actually measures financial performance.
We eliminate double entry and sync your field operations directly into your financials.
WIP & ASC 606 Expertise
Go beyond tax compliance—get reporting that actually tells you the truth about your jobs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Construction Finance
What is the difference between a Bookkeeper and a Fractional Controller?
A bookkeeper records historical transactions (what happened). A Fractional Controller forecasts the future. At Salisbury Bookkeeping, our Controller services include WIP reporting, cash flow forecasting, and Month-End closing to ensure your financial statements are bank-ready.
Do I need to switch to QuickBooks Online?
Yes, we work exclusively with QuickBooks Online (QBO). It is the industry standard for cloud-based construction accounting and offers the best integrations with tools like Buildertrend and Procore. If you are on Desktop, we handle the migration for you.
How does your "Clean Up" service work?
If your books are messy or your job costing is inaccurate, we perform a "Clean Up & Catch Up." We audit your past transactions, restructure your Chart of Accounts to NAHB standards, and recategorize expenses so you have accurate historical data to bid future jobs.
Why is construction bookkeeping different from regular business accounting? Standard accounting tracks expenses by date, but construction accounting must track expenses by project and phase. We use a "Job Costing" structure that aligns with the NAHB chart of accounts, ensuring you know exactly which jobs are profitable and where you are losing money on materials or labor.
What accounting software do you support for contractors? We specialize in the modern construction tech stack. We are experts in QuickBooks Online but integrated with industry-specific tools like Buildertrend, Procore, and Knowify. We handle the complex syncing between your project management tool and your financial ledger so your data is always accurate.
Do you work with contractors outside of Utah? Yes. While we are based in Utah and deeply understand local regulations, we serve builders, remodelers, and specialty trades nationwide. Our systems are cloud-based, allowing us to act as your fractional controller regardless of your job site location.
Is it a good idea to outsource bookkeeping?
Absolutely, outsourcing accounting services is a fantastic idea for many businesses. It offers numerous benefits, including cost efficiency, access to expertise, increased focus on core activities, scalability, and risk reduction.