Software
Best Construction Accounting Software: 8 Top Tools for 2026
We compared the construction accounting platforms contractors ask us about most, from QuickBooks setups to full ERPs, on job costing, WIP, and fit by company size.
Learning center
Construction finance, explained.
Practical guides and a plain-English glossary for contractors who want to know which jobs make money, where the cash is, and what the numbers are telling them.
- Guides
- 6
- Glossary terms
- 14
- Topics
- 5
FeaturedReporting & WIP
What Is a WIP Report? A Contractor's Guide
The WIP report tells you which jobs are making money, which are fading, and how much of your cash is really yours. Here's how to read one and build it every month.
Read the guideLatest guides
Job Costing
Job Costing for Contractors: How to Track Profit by Project
Company-level profit hides losing jobs. A practical setup for cost codes, labor burden, and committed costs so every project shows its real margin.
Cash Flow
How to Build a 13-Week Cash Flow Forecast for Construction
Profitable contractors still run out of cash. A week-by-week forecast built from pay apps, retainage, and payroll shows the crunch before it hits.
Reporting & WIP
Overbilling vs. Underbilling: What Your WIP Is Telling You
Over and underbillings aren't just accounting adjustments. They're signals about cash, billing discipline, and jobs that are quietly losing money.
Billing & AR
Retainage Accounting: How to Track and Collect What You're Owed
Retainage can lock up 5% to 10% of every contract for months. How to track receivable and payable retainage and get it released faster.
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Glossary
The language of construction finance
The maximum size of a single job and the total backlog a surety will bond for a contractor, based largely on working capital, equity, and track record.
A written amendment to a construction contract that changes its scope, price, or schedule after the contract is signed.
Costs you've contractually agreed to but haven't been invoiced for yet, such as open purchase orders and subcontract balances.
The estimated remaining cost to finish a job. Together with costs to date, it sets total estimated cost and drives percent complete.
A decline in a job's projected gross profit over its life, comparing the margin at bid or contract to the margin projected today.
Tracking labor, materials, equipment, subcontractor, and overhead costs against each individual project and cost code, so you know what every job actually costs.
A document in which a contractor, sub, or supplier gives up some or all of its lien rights in exchange for payment.
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings: you've invoiced more than you've earned on a job. It's recorded as a liability on the balance sheet.
The progress billing request a contractor submits to the owner, typically on the AIA G702 application form with a G703 continuation sheet listing progress by line item.
Done-for-you construction finance
Get your WIP, job costing, and close done every month.
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