Feb 24, 2017
Contractors Are Torn Between Over Or Under Managing Their
Bookkeeping
Contractors want to maintain control without making any changes.
“Keep doing the same thing but expecting a different result.”
Throwing the receipts in a shoebox (behind or under the seat in the
truck) is the favorite way to deal with paperwork.
This is “Under Managing” and frustrates everyone around them who is playing “Where’s Waldo.” Job costing is nonexistent; bills are usually paid late, customers are unbilled, lost and forgotten.
Micromanaging Every Detail Is An Over-Reaction
From Years Of
Doing As Little Bookkeeping
As Possible To Get The Tax Return Prepared
Just Don't Let Not Knowing What To Do Stop You From Making A Mess Of It
Frustrated Contractors
Call Me Every Day And Say:
· I can’t get any reports
· I don’t like the reports I am getting
· My tax accountant is not answering all of my
questions
· How can I improve my business?
Frustrated In House Bookkeepers Call Me and say they have inherited the “CRAP” from everyone who worked in QuickBooks before they arrived and are expected to produce good reports.
Bookkeepers are expected
to use:
o Old Equipment
o One Or Two Tiny Monitors
o Dot Matrix Printer (or equal – the noise an old
printer makes when printing is unforgettable)
Do you how long it takes to print on old equipment? Will it print a picture, jpg, pdf? It is a false saving to not buy new equipment. (What are 10 minutes costing you) Are you practicing “Seagull Management?” Fly in, make snap decisions without any facts, details or understanding of the paperwork after it leaves your hand and Flies out?
Contractors Expect Good Reports, “You Know One When You See It” But No Clue What Is Needed To Get It There
Frustrated Spouses Call Me because spouses usually get “Seagull Management” from the contractor.
The in-house Bookkeeper gets that and “Zap Management.” That is when people learn what to do by doing something wrong and getting "Zapped" by the contractor in the form of an insult or nasty comment and doesn't do much of anything at all.
Under both styles, the core problem does not lie with whoever is doing the contractor bookkeeping the source is the Contractor and how the Contractor thinks about their business.
How the Contractor reacts at the moment to a crisis? Making dozens or hundreds of decisions (moment by moment activity) every day is part of what being a Contractor is all about. In a way that non-contractors or even their employees do not understand. Embrace it and decisions will come easier.
M.A.P. = Marketing
Accounting Production
“Success In
Construction Is A Simple Discipline Practiced Every day” -
Randalism
This Is The Least Popular - and yet
the most profitable way to operate a construction company.
Contractors are thinking and acting like a business person.
P.A.M. = Production
Accounting Marketing
“Failure In
Construction Is A Few Simple Errors Repeated Every Day” -
Randalism
This Is The Most Popular - and yet the hardest and least profitable way to operate a construction company. Contractors are thinking and doing what they did while working for somebody else instead of thinking and doing what a business person does.
Is Construction Accounting a necessary expense for Taxes Only and no value otherwise (many contractors think only in the “cost” as an “expense” and anybody can do the bookkeeping in 10 minutes a day or less?
Are good Goods Tools
important?
· Computer, Monitor, Printer, Fax Machine,
Scanner?
· Desk, Chair, Good Lighting, File Cabinet?
· Pens, Pencils, Paperclips, Paper, File Folders,
Reams of Paper?
· Telephone, Radio?
· Central Heating And Air Conditioning?
· Access to Clean Well Stocked Restroom?
· Accounting Software On Your Desktop Computer,
Laptop, Notebook?
· Backup Cloud Storage, Flash Drive Or Other?
· Is Payroll being processed using the IRS
booklet?
I have heard lots and lots of stories about all of these things or should I say lack of those things and more.
Modern technology is for more than
storing family pictures.
Contractors try to control bookkeeping details
How does good Accounting add
value to your business?
· What is worth to you?
· What is the value of Your Time?
· Knowing the Three “O's Financial Reports.”
· Does It help in Keeping Your Customers
Happy?
· In Keeping Your Vendors and Suppliers happy and
paid on time?
· If know the answers to these questions is
important; then having a properly setup Accounting System should be
a priority.
· If Low Price is King, then Shoebox Method and a
Manual Bookkeeping System could be the answer.
· Go to any office supply store and they may
still carry the Bookkeeping Booklet with packages of forms.
Free Or Low Priced Online
Accounting
· If Super Basic is a Free or Low Priced Online
Accounting System is all you need to file taxes there are hundreds
of them.
· Basic Software is where QuickBooks comes into
play.
· QuickBooks can grow and expand as your
contracting company grows.
· QuickBooks is affordable for every business
owner. Even Brand New Contractors starting out.
· It’s most basic function is a checkbook, and
from there it is really how much value do you want to from it?
Think Transportation. How you got around as a
child, pre-teen, teenager, young adult, older
adult?
· Walk Everywhere
· Get a Skateboard
· Bicycle
· Moped
· Used Car (Remember your 1st car?)
· New Car
· Bigger Car
· Van
· SUV
· Truck
· Bigger Truck
How you use
QuickBooks is the same
· Keep it simple – Check Book, Invoice
Program
· Add a little more to get a few reports,
· Improve the setup a little more for Financial
Statements
· Better Financial Statements
· Job Costing Reports
Now as you add more detail (think a painting class, starts with a blank canvas) you need to provide data, receipts, invoices, customer payments, customer details. Accounting in its most basic form is “Garage In = Garbage Out” which sounds very tacky.
It is unrealistic to expect Spouse, In-House Bookkeeper, or Outside Contractor Accounting Services to be able to provide good, clean, detailed reports without good information from the field, project manager, contractor. Everyone around you cannot guess what job the receipt goes to or why you bought it by looking a receipt.
As a contractor, you understand
clearly about the proper tools. My favorite tool is a three-pound
sledgehammer. Why because it gives me the most leverage to pound
the nail in. (of course, I can’t pull a nail out with it) My answer
is a 16P nail works for everything. The funny thing is that Randal
does not agree.
Randal has a specific framing hammer that was his favorite when he
needed one all the time.
I’ll bet yours is a very specific make, model of a nail gun if your
trade is carpentry related.
My point is that the tools for the office are often the first to be
cut, last to be upgraded and usually always considered unnecessary.
In a bad economy, everyone makes choices on what is important.
What to keep, what to chop. Which tool
is the most important to buy? In that case, I will be the first to
say tools for the field are the most important. As the budget
improves; the business tools need to be added into the mix and move
up to the top.
Providing Outsourced Accounting and Bookkeeping Services is one of
the ways where we actually help with the budget.
If bookkeeping is not your skillset, that is ok. We use QuickBooks; we know where to put the transactions into the software. It is optional for clients to have access to their QuickBooks file.
We recommend they have access, but it is not required. If a client wants access to their QuickBooks file; then Intuit requires they own a current copy.
If not – We explain where you can save
money.
· Saving – Do not need to buy QuickBooks PC
Version
· Saving – Do not need to have a new Computer to
support QuickBooks
· Saving – Can Access QuickBooks from your
existing PC | MAC | IPad | Tablet
· Keep QuickBooks up to date with a proper setup
for Construction Contractors
· Keep QuickBooks up to date with the latest
Sales Tax Rates (WA State Only)
· Keep QuickBooks up to date, rebuilding the file
on a regular basis.
· Keep QuickBooks on a server, with a Commercial
Host approved by Intuit.
· Provide annual financial statements for you to
pass on to your Tax Accountant
Look forward to chatting with you on “How We Can Help” and is it a good fit for both parties.
I enjoy chatting even when I have to
explain that a Contractor’s company to too large to be an
Outsourced Accounting Client. We chat and look for ways that are
helpful, referrals that may be useful.
Thanks to everyone who is finding the “Perfect” accounting solution
on our FastEasyAccountingStore.com
Thinking Happy Thoughts for everyone as we all dodge, bob and weave
around the bad weather.
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. http://www.fasteasyaccounting.com/sharie-dehart/ 206-361-3950 or sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com
I trust this podcast helps you understand that outsourcing your contractor's bookkeeping services to us is about more than just “doing the bookkeeping”; it is about taking a holistic approach to your entire construction company and helping support you as a contractor and as a person.
We understand the good, bad and the ugly about owning and operating construction companies because we have had several of them and we sincerely care about you and your construction company!
That is all I have for now, and if you have listened to this far please do me the honor of commenting and rating podcast www.FastEasyAccounting.com/podcast Tell me what you liked, did not like, tell it as you see it because your feedback is crucial and I thank you in advance.
I trust this will be of value to you and your feedback is always welcome at www.FastEasyAccounting.com/podcast
One more example of how Fast Easy Accounting is helping construction company owners across the USA including Alaska and Hawaii put more money in the bank to operate and grow your construction company. Construction accounting is not rocket science; it is a lot harder than that, and a lot more valuable to construction contractors like you so stop missing out and call Sharie 206-361-3950 or email sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com
Thinking About Outsourcing Your Contractors Bookkeeping Services?
Click On The Link Below:
This guide will help you learn what to look for in outsourced construction accounting.
Need Help Now?
Call Sharie 206-361-3950
Thank you very much, and I hope you understand we do care about you and all contractors regardless of whether or not you ever hire our services.
Bye for now until our next episode here on the Contractors Success MAP Podcast.
Warm Regards,
Randal DeHart | The Contractors Accountant
#1 EZ Step Interview inside QuickBooks Setup
#2 Asked Their Tax Accountant To Setup QuickBooks
#3 They Attended A How To Setup QuickBooks Class Or Seminar
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