Accounting and Project Management Software
Why QuickBooks Falls Short for Construction companies!
How many owners of construction companies are actually using QuickBooks to run their day‑to‑day construction business?
My guess: practically none.
And if we’re being honest, you probably agree.
Most owners aren’t logging into QuickBooks every week — or even every month. They might glance at financials at year‑end before sending everything to their accountant for taxes, but that’s about it.
Why?
Because QuickBooks’ company’s profit & loss reports like any generic accounting system are meaningless for owners without work‑in‑process (WIP) reports attached. And QuickBooks doesn’t generate a WIP report. It also doesn’t provide real‑time actual‑versus‑budget job cost analysis to catch cost overruns before they happen.
So what ends up happening?
Bookkeepers get what they need — something to pay bills, run payroll, and help with bookkeeping.
But for the owner and/or project managers, QuickBooks becomes nothing more than a glorified check‑writing program with no controls and project management.
Instead of investing in a true job cost accounting system built for construction, many companies try to patch the gaps with Excel or a third‑party job costing tool. That only creates more work, more double entry, and more opportunities for mistakes — all while still failing to give owners the job‑level visibility and controls they actually need to run the business.
They’re turning too!
Successful companies are investing in integrated job cost accounting software to get the WIP reports and actual versus budgeted cost analysis to better manage their business. Investing in Job Cost Accounting software that seamlessly integrates job costing with bill paying, billings, payroll, bookkeeping and financial reporting so the accounting department and the project management are in one integrated seamless system that’s accountable.
Here is a video link to a better alternative to Quickbooks that serves both the bookkeeper, the project managers and the owners.
