Set up a job reference before work starts
The reference links quotes, purchase orders, time records, parts issues and customer invoices. We agree which costs are direct and how shared costs will be handled. Allocations should be consistent and understandable, with the owner aware of the limits of comparisons between different types of work.
Changes require their own trail. A field instruction may create extra labour before the customer approves an additional charge. Keeping that amount as an unapproved change prevents the report from presenting uncertain recovery as confirmed revenue.
Review costs while the job can still change
A weekly or milestone review can compare committed costs with invoices received and identify missing supplier bills. That is particularly useful when a subcontractor’s statement arrives after the crew has moved on. We distinguish a preliminary margin from a completed-job result and explain what is still estimated.
Illustrative Regina example
A Regina contractor agrees a $28,000 project and records $8,600 of labour, $7,400 of materials and $3,100 of subcontract work. The preliminary contribution is $8,900 before overhead, tax effects and any remaining costs. An additional $2,200 supplier commitment reduces that view to $6,700. The owner can now review the pending change order before treating the job as complete.
Questions about this work
Can we start with only major jobs?
Yes. A focused pilot often shows whether time and purchasing records support the desired detail before expanding the process.
Is the contribution figure our final profit?
No. Shared overhead, financing, tax and unrecorded costs may still affect the final result. Reports explain which items are included.
Put this into practice
Sources and current guidance
A practical next step
Bring the records you have.
We can identify missing information, agree on the scope and organize the next bookkeeping step.
Request a bookkeeping review