QuickBooks* or Xero** Accounting Online for construction depends on how you get paid, your company's type of work, and if you need Job Costing.
QuickBooks works best if you:
- Takes Job Deposits
- Have Change Orders
- Issues Multiple Invoices
- Need Work-In-Progress
- Need Job Costing Reports
- Need Payment Applications
- Need Periodic Invoices For Bank draws
- Need Complex Construction Accounting Reports
At The Price Point, Intuit Offers All Versions Of QuickBooks, including QuickBooks Pro, QuickBooks For Contractors, and QuickBooks For Contractors Enterprise. No other construction accounting software comes close too offering the robust Job Costing Reports, Work-In-Progress Reports And Tracking (WIP), and hundreds of other combined reports and features medium and large contractors need to operate and grow their construction company.
We Are Raving Fans Of Intuit, QuickBooks' makers, and have used QuickBooks since the first version in 1992. In fact, in 2005, we moved our entire client base, including our own accounting firm's QuickBooks files, to an Intuit Approved commercial hosting environment so we could offer our clients all of the benefits of the full desktop version of QuickBooks accessible online 24/7 and it has been a huge success!
Xero Accounting Online works best if you:
- Need To Get paid Faster And Easier
- Have Simple Jobs You Invoice Individually
- Need To Invoice Customers At The Jobsite
- Need Key Performance Indicator Financial Reports
- Want Professional Construction Accounting At Lower Costs
Invoicing In The Field - When you or your employee finishes a job, you can use your smartphone, tablet, or web-enabled device to put together an invoice, and if you are connected to the web, Xero Accounting Online will have updated your Sales Report, Profit & Loss Report, Balance Sheet Report and a lot more reports before you finished reading this sentence.
The Key To Making Xero Accounting Online Work is having it properly setup and maintained. It is easy enough that anyone can setup the basic company file just like anyone can get on a backhoe and run it. Especially if you have watched the professionals do it for several years as I have because they make it look so "Easy..." Famous last words....
In A Failed Attempt To "Save Money" I rented a backhoe, once, and ripped several underground utility lines out of the ground and caused a lot of damage in less than thirty minutes. The total cost of the job skyrocketed and let's just say I understand the value of professional services and should have known better...ah the "Halo Effect"...I am so good at construction accounting of course I can operate a backhoe...NOT!
Do You Own A Small Construction Contracting Company?
Perhaps you own a service and repair firm that specializes in plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or maybe a handyman service or someone who does small construction projects that last from a few hours to a few days and you only need to give your customer or client one invoice?
If this describes you then perhaps Xero Accounting Online is a better fit for you than QuickBooks. We offer both Xero Accounting Online and QuickBooks bookkeeping services and templates for construction contractors and have found the dividing line is how you get paid.
We make getting started with QuickBooks or Xero Accounting Online painless. Contact me today for a free consultation.
About The Author:
Sharie DeHart, QPA is the co-founder of Business Consulting And Accounting in Lynnwood, Washington. She is the leading expert in managing outsourced construction bookkeeping and accounting services companies and cash management accounting for small construction companies across the USA. She encourages Contractors and Construction Company Owners to stay current on their tax obligations and offers insights on how to manage the remaining cash flow to operate and grow their construction company sales and profits so they can put more money in the bank. Call 1-800-361-1770 or email sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com.
*Intuit, QuickBooks, and QuickBooks ProAdvisor are registered trademarks of Intuit Inc. Used with permission under the QuickBooks ProAdvisor Agreement.
**"Xero" and "Beautiful business" are trademarks of Xero Limited.