Mar 24, 2017
This Podcast Is Episode Number 0209 And It Will
Be About Contractors Struggle Over Choosing The Right
Bookkeeper
Contractors Struggle Between The Cost Of Having A Bookkeeper And
The Value Received Because All Contractors Want To Have Is Peace Of
Mind
Number 1
Frustration is discovering the contractor knows
more about Construction Bookkeeping And Accounting than the
bookkeeper they hired to do the job. Contractors end up trying to
teach The Bookkeeper to do the job thinking every little bit helps.
Number 2
Frustration is the Construction Bookkeeper asks “Is
that part of my job description?”
Number 3
Frustration is the Construction Bookkeeper will “Go
beyond their duties and authority.”
General frustration towards all employees who feel that no matter
what pay rate, benefits and number of hours worked there is “No
Appreciation” for what the Contractor is doing for them.
When times are slow, or there is a lag between jobs The
Contractor goes to great lengths to keep the employee working.
The Employee is guaranteed to receive pay based on Hours Worked.
Productivity on the part of the employee is optional.
The Contractor has no guaranteed profit, or to even break even
on the job. Contractors do not have the luxury of going home at the
end of 4 hours, 8 hours, at 5:00 PM, taking off the weekend and
forgetting about everything until Monday morning.
They would like to; but instead, the Contractor is planning, making
phone calls, sending emails, meeting clients, ordering material,
deliver the material or supplies, so the Office Staff and Field
Employees have the tools and equipment needed to do their job.
The Contractor is researching apps and software to make the job
easier for themselves and their employees. Time tracking software
has the added benefit of GPS. Dispatch software has the added
benefit of choosing the best route and the most efficient order in
which to schedule the jobs.
The Contractor Does Not Need An App To Know Where To Go And What To
Do When He Gets There.
The Contractor is squeezing Time to get the most out of every minute. In addition to their own job which includes “Pick Up Work”; completing the jobs left undone by employees to stay schedule and GET PAID!
Common Complaints
Contractors Have About Field Employees
· Chasing Timecards and receipts
· Messy Paperwork or none at all
· Mistreatment of Tools and Equipment
· Not being proactive and getting fuel in the vehicle
· Cleaning up the job, vehicle, dealing with the trash
· Being polite and respectful to clients, fellow employees,
management
The Contractor Is Exhausted Long Before It Is Time To Begin Working On Their Paperwork
The Last Thing You Need Is One More Problem, One More Task, One More Anything
· Frustration is Looking at QuickBooks and the reports do not
make sense.
· The contractor doesn't know why the reports are off they just
do.
· Why is there are a Ton of Bills To Pay after the job is over?
· How can there be so much profit on the report; and No Money In
The Bank?
· Why Am I Not Getting Ahead?
The Bookkeeper (who might be the spouse) can only put in the information provided.
· Bank Statement and Credit Card statements can be
reconciled.
· Reconciling Statements are important but will not tell the
· The contractor wants to know what jobs are profitable.
· Only tying the receipts (COGS) to the jobs and properly entering
in the income will produce job profitability reports.
Advice For Better Cash
Flow
· Get The Money, Get The Money, Get The Money!
· Immediately Get Change Orders Signed (and paid)
· Be Sure To Charge Sales Tax (if it applies)
· Take Advantage of Supplier Discounts
When looking at a QuickBooks
File there are some common issues that I find:
#1 Cash Is Off (How Much
Money Is On Hand)
· Bank account(s) is not reconciled
· Why is this important? Because when the bank account has
been reconciled you the checks that have cleared.
· Uncleared checks may also not be in the QuickBooks file.
· Are you using Carbonless Wallet Checks to be able to see what
checks you have written?
· Are checks being written at the Supplier’s order desk?
· Paying subcontractors without having an invoice to match your
records?
· Are you using a “Lot of Cash” without any receipts?
· Is the nearest ATM one of your regular stops?
#2 Accounts Receivable (Who
Owes You Money)
· Customer Invoices are not in QuickBooks
· Why is this important? It is impossible to have Job Costing
without customer invoices.
· It is impossible to properly keep track of outstanding Customer
balances unless the invoice is in QuickBooks
· Customer Payments are entered in as deposits directly into the
checking account.
· This means without the Customer Invoices in QuickBooks – the
Sales By Customer Summary is not there.
· This means that there are no Job Profitability Reports
· Forgotten Invoices To The Customer is the Largest Cause of a
Financial Problems
· Change Orders are often Forgotten to be billed by the
Contractor
· Change Orders to be “Dealt With Later” are considered “Part of
The Original Contract” by the customer.
· Change Orders not signed by the Customer are then not considered
valid in the event of a dispute.
#3 Accounts
Payable
· Just writing the check to a supplier or subcontractor and
entering payment directly into check register
· When a bill has been entered into QuickBooks; unless the bill is
paid from Accounts Payable is continues to show as an unpaid
bill.
· When credit card balances or monthly payments are put into
Accounts Payable instead as a credit card it distorts the financial
statements
· When Owner’s Draws, Federal Tax Payments or IRS Payment Plans are
put into QuickBooks as an Accounts Payable, it helps the Contractor
to remember to pay the bill. Distorts the financial
statements.
· Credit Cards are not entered into the Bookkeeping as Accounts
Payable or lump sum numbers.
· Every transaction should go into QuickBooks.
#4 Profit And
Loss
· Missing Income will reflect a Loss that is not true
· Missing COGS or Expenses will reflect a Profit that is not
true
#5 Balance
Sheet
· The summary of everything that happened in the business
· Assets which includes Cash, Accounts Receivables, Job Deposits,
Tools, Office Equipment, Vehicles, Inventory.
· Liabilities which includes all forms of Debt; Credit Cards,
Accounts Payable, Taxes, Long and Short Loans, Vehicle Loans
· Equity which is the value of the company. It becomes a
simple math problem.
· No equity you are not in business.
· Some equity are you just starting out or have a hobby
· Lots of equity you are “Green and Growing.”
Everyone can have a bad year or several years. What are you trying to do make it be better?
Good
Accounting can help you plan and make the proper decisions that are
right for you.
· Do-It-Yourself Bookkeeping (you or your spouse does the
bookkeeping)
· Hire An Employee or in-House Bookkeeper (larger firms this may be
your only answer)
· Outsource Your Accounting to Fast Easy Accounting. (We know what
to do)
· Fast Easy Accounting in the most simplistic form is a “Production
Shop” who has to manage processes to keep costs fair for both sides
(Fast Easy Accounting and The Contractor). It’s a moving Train (see
our logo)
· As much as we would like to – We cannot help everyone.
Sometimes it is not a “Good Fit” for one or both sides.
· Without processes, the contractor bookkeeping and accounting are
in chaos.
· As it is the Bookkeeping can be a little messy as we work through
it.
· What We Need vs. What We Receive and When We Receive It.
The Bookkeeping Department shouldn’t be the last to know. No
benefit to missing documents.
· The Bookkeeping Department should NOT have check writing
authority (owners need to be involved)
· Without Good Bookkeeping (Construction Accounting) you The
Contractor are driving behind a Semi Truck that just ran through a
Big Mud Puddle in a Snow Storm, and your windshield wipers aren’t
working fast enough. Wouldn’t it be better to be in a nice clean
Car Wash instead?
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 Remove Contractor's Unique Paperwork Frustrations
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.
You Deserve To Be Wealthy Because You Bring Value To Other People's Lives!
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
Contractor Bookkeeping Done For You!
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
Our Workflow Removes Your Paperwork Frustrations
For Contractors Who Prefer
To Do Your Bookkeeping
Fast Easy Accounting
Do-It-Yourself
Construction Accounting Store Is
Open
Most Contractors Setup QuickBooks Desktop Version In One Of Three Ways:
#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
And QuickBooks Does Not Work The Way They Want It Too!
The Answer:
#1 Click Here To Buy An Entire QuickBooks Setup For Your Specific Contracting Company
#2 Click Here To Buy Just The Chart Of Accounts For Your Specific Contracting Company
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