Bookkeeping for Architects and Designers: Organize Project-Based Billing
Creative professionals like architects and interior designers face unique financial challenges. You work on project timelines, invoice in stages, pay consultants, and juggle job costs – all while managing your firm’s overhead and client payments.
Download Our Free Brochure →Without the right bookkeeping system, it’s easy to lose track of what’s due, what’s been billed, and whether each project is even profitable.
Why Project-Based Bookkeeping Matters
Design firms often invoice across phases – concept, schematic design, design development, and execution. On top of that, you’re managing:
- Client retainers and deposits
- Consultant invoices (engineers, contractors, artists)
- Expense tracking by project or phase
- Staff payroll or 1099s
- Software, subscriptions, travel, and marketing costs
A specialized bookkeeper helps you monitor income and expenses by project, client, or phase – giving you the data to run a more profitable studio.
Solo Architect in Texas vs. Boutique Interior Design Firm in New York
A solo architect in Texas may only need basic bookkeeping to track income, reimbursements, and quarterly taxes.
A multi-person design firm in New York may need detailed project-based reports, budget variance tracking, staff reimbursements, and monthly profitability snapshots.
Both benefit from having someone else organize the financials while they focus on design.
Real Test Case
An interior design firm in California transitioned to Remote Books Online after struggling with late invoicing and inconsistent cash flow. For $165/month, they now receive:
- Monthly project profitability reports
- Categorized expenses by client
- Staff reimbursement tracking
- Year-end reports for their CPA
They now invoice on time, budget better, and take on more projects confidently.
Download Our Free Brochure →Creative Work Still Requires Compliance
Whether you’re a sole proprietor or a growing firm, you still need to manage:
- Estimated quarterly tax payments
- Sales tax on physical products (furnishings, artwork)
- Payroll and 1099 filings
- Business license renewals and income tax compliance
Bookkeeping ensures you’re not only creative – but compliant and profitable too.
Clean Books = Confident Growth
You manage budgets and materials for every job. Why not manage your business the same way? Bookkeeping gives you visibility on what’s working – and what’s wasting time or money.
FAQs
Can you track income/expenses by project?
Yes — we can break down revenue and costs by project, phase, or client.
I use tools like Ivy, Houzz Pro, or Studio Designer — can you still help?
Absolutely. We’ll sync bank feeds or export transaction reports as needed.
I invoice in phases — how is that tracked?
We’ll work with your milestone schedule and tie deposits, invoices, and expenses to the right phase.
Can you track reimbursable client expenses?
Yes. We can flag reimbursables, manage pass-through costs, and separate taxable vs. non-taxable income.
How soon can I start?
Most studios are onboarded in less than a week.
Let Remote Books Online Handle the Books While You Focus on the Build
We support architects and designers with project-based bookkeeping, so you can stay creative and profitable – without financial guesswork.
Start with a free month of service:
https://www.remotebooksonline.com/bookkeeping/offer
Explore More Creative Business Resources:
- Bookkeeping services for professional practices
- Affordable bookkeeping for creative businesses
- QuickBooks bookkeeping help
- Region-specific support in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Arizona
- Major markets: Los Angeles CA 90001, Austin TX 73301, New York NY 10001, Miami FL 33101, and Phoenix AZ 85001
