Trades
You run from call to call fixing problems. We track each job so you know which service types actually make money and which ones you should stop taking.
The Industry
Trades businesses operate differently than general contractors. You might run four service calls before lunch, each one requiring different parts, different labor time, and different travel distance. Then you spend the afternoon on a larger installation project. By the end of the week you have dozens of jobs completed, but you’re not entirely sure which ones made money.
Cash flow adds another layer. Residential customers often pay on the spot. Commercial accounts want net 30 terms. The supply house needs to be paid whether your customers have paid you or not. Managing that timing while keeping the trucks stocked and the technicians paid requires financial tracking that most trades businesses just don’t have time for.
Who This Covers
Who This Covers
Plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, and other licensed trades professionals serving residential and commercial customers across Macomb County and Metro Detroit. Whether you’re a one-truck operation or running multiple crews.
The Friction
The Friction
Parts get charged to your supply house account throughout the week. Time spent at each job varies wildly. Mileage adds up fast. At the end of the month you see total revenue and total expenses, but you have no idea which service calls were profitable and which ones cost you money.
What We Handle
We focus on job costing for trades businesses. Every service call and project gets tracked individually. Parts, labor hours, and drive time are allocated to each job. This gives you actual cost data on your emergency calls versus your scheduled maintenance versus your larger installation projects.
We also handle the payroll and compliance side. Technicians get paid correctly with overtime calculated. Tax deposits go through on schedule. If you use subcontractors, we track those payments and handle the 1099 filings at year end. The supply house receipts get organized and matched to the right jobs so nothing falls through the cracks.
Job Costing by Service Type
Job Costing by Service Type
Emergency calls have different economics than maintenance agreements or new installations. We track them separately so you can see the true margin on each type of work. This data becomes the foundation for better pricing decisions.
Payroll and Compliance
Payroll and Compliance
Technicians paid on time with overtime calculated correctly. Tax withholdings and deposits handled automatically. Year-end 1099s prepared for any subs you use. No more Friday afternoon scrambles trying to figure out hours and deductions.
Common Problems
Flat-rate pricing is standard in the trades. You charge $125 or $150 for a service call because that’s the market rate. But you don’t actually know if that covers your truck expenses, your technician’s time, your parts markup, and your overhead. Some calls take 20 minutes and you’re in and out. Others turn into two-hour headaches. Without job-level tracking, you’re guessing at profitability.
Tax time creates its own chaos. Receipts from the supply house accumulate in a box or get lost entirely. Vehicle expenses aren’t tracked throughout the year. Tools and equipment purchases get forgotten. When April arrives, you’re scrambling to reconstruct the year while leaving legitimate deductions on the table.
Underpriced Work
Underpriced Work
Without knowing your true cost per service call, you might be losing money on certain job types and not realize it. That commercial maintenance contract you signed could be bleeding cash if the actual labor and drive time exceed what you quoted.
Missed Deductions
Missed Deductions
Vehicle mileage, tools, equipment purchases, licensing fees, continuing education, and phone bills. These add up to real tax savings but only if they’re tracked properly throughout the year. Most trades businesses miss thousands in deductions simply due to poor recordkeeping.
What Changes
You gain pricing confidence. When you know exactly what it costs to roll the truck for an emergency call versus a scheduled appointment, you stop underpricing work. You see which service types generate healthy margins and which ones barely break even. You adjust your pricing or stop taking certain jobs based on actual data.
Tax season becomes a non-event. Everything is organized throughout the year. Your tax preparer receives clean records. Vehicle expenses are tracked. Equipment purchases are documented. You capture every deduction you’re entitled to without the last-minute scramble.
Clear Job Profitability
Clear Job Profitability
You see which service types, customer types, and geographic areas are worth your time. Maybe residential service calls in your immediate area are gold while commercial accounts 30 miles away eat up profit in drive time. The data tells you where to focus.
Time Back in Your Week
Time Back in Your Week
No more doing books at night or on weekends. Payroll is handled. The numbers are tracked. You focus on running calls, training technicians, and growing the business instead of fighting with spreadsheets and shoeboxes full of receipts.
Metro Detroit's Small Business Bookkeeper
The Next Step:
A Short Conversation
Tell us about your business and your current bookkeeping situation. We'll listen, answer your questions, and give you a clear quote.
