How Much Do Accountants Charge for a Construction Company?
Running a construction company involves more than just managing crews and materials-your books can be just as complex as your job sites. From job costing to payroll compliance, construction accounting requires specialized knowledge, and pricing for these services can vary widely.
Download Our Free Brochure →So, how much do accountants really charge for construction companies? Let’s break down the factors, pricing models, and how to find the right fit for your business.
Typical Accounting Fees for Construction Companies
The cost of accounting services for a construction business depends on several variables, including business size, project complexity, geographic location, and the accountant’s expertise.
Here’s a general breakdown of pricing:
| Service Type | Typical Cost |
| Hourly Rate | $100 – $300/hour |
| Monthly Bookkeeping (Small Firm) | $500 – $1,200/month |
| Monthly Bookkeeping (Mid-Sized Firm) | $1,500 – $3,000/month |
| Job Costing & Financial Analysis | $150 – $250/hour |
| Tax Preparation & Filing | $750 – $5,000+ annually |
| Payroll Management | $100 – $500/month depending on staff size |
Some accountants offer bundled or flat-fee packages tailored for construction companies, which can be more cost-effective for ongoing work like progress billing, WIP reporting, and multi-project reconciliation.
Factors That Impact Accounting Costs
1. Size of Your Business
A solo contractor will pay significantly less than a general contractor with multiple crews, job sites, and subcontractors.
2. Volume of Transactions
Construction companies typically have a high volume of transactions-material purchases, labor costs, change orders-which requires deeper reconciliation.
Download Our Free Brochure →3. Job Costing Requirements
Accurate job costing is vital in construction and takes time and expertise, which increases the cost.
4. Payroll Complexity
Union wages, prevailing wage laws, and subcontractor payments add layers to payroll complexity-and therefore cost.
5. Industry Expertise
Accountants with experience in construction (especially those who understand GAAP, retainage, and project-based financials) charge more-but they also make fewer mistakes.
Test Case: SteelCore Framing, Inc.
SteelCore Framing is a small steel-framing company based in Nevada. With five full-time employees and subcontractors on rotating projects, their books quickly became unmanageable using generic bookkeeping software.
They hired an accountant experienced in construction to:
- Set up job costing and class tracking in QuickBooks
- Handle payroll and 1099 contractor payments
- File quarterly taxes and produce WIP schedules
Cost Breakdown:
- $950/month for full-service bookkeeping and payroll
- $1,250 annually for tax filing
- $1,800 one-time setup and cleanup fee
Outcome: Their accountant uncovered $22,000 in missed deductions and created job-level financials that helped improve project profitability.
In the construction industry? Our Construction Bookkeeping service delivers specialized financial expertise-so you can focus on building, not balancing the books.
If you’re behind on your books, our catch-up bookkeeping services can help you get current fast-no stress, no mess.
Stay organized and tax-ready year-round with our flat-rate monthly bookkeeping services.
Tax professionals and CPAs rely on our QuickBooks bookkeeping services to streamline financials and scale their practices efficiently.
Not sure which bookkeeping software fits your needs? Use our bookkeeping comparison tool to see how QuickBooks, Xero, and FreshBooks stack up – and choose the best fit for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I hire an accountant or outsource bookkeeping for my construction company?
It depends on your needs. If you’re just starting, a remote bookkeeping service like RemoteBooksOnline may suffice. If you require job-level forecasting or audits, hiring an accountant might be better-or you can do both.
Can I manage my construction accounting with QuickBooks alone?
Yes, but only if it’s set up correctly. You’ll still need a professional to ensure accurate job costing, retainage tracking, and tax compliance. We can help with setup and ongoing management.
What’s the difference between regular and construction-specific accounting?
Construction accounting tracks each job as a mini-profit center. It includes WIP reporting, job costing, and billing schedules, which are often not needed in traditional businesses.
What if I’m behind on bookkeeping?
We specialize in catch-up bookkeeping for construction businesses. Our team can bring your books current and set up job-level tracking to keep you CPA- and IRS-ready.
Can RemoteBooksOnline handle contractor and payroll filings?
Yes. We support contractor payments, generate 1099s, and offer support for payroll journal entries if you use a third-party payroll provider.
Construction accounting isn’t just about tracking revenue and expenses-it’s about knowing which jobs are profitable, keeping up with tax obligations, and avoiding costly compliance mistakes. While prices vary, investing in the right financial partner is worth every penny.
At RemoteBooksOnline, we offer dedicated bookkeeping services built for construction companies-without the high hourly rates. Let us handle the numbers, so you can focus on building.
