Not generic bookkeeping. Built specifically around how contractors, trades, and construction businesses actually operate.
Every bank and credit card transaction categorized, every account reconciled, every month. You get a clear, accurate picture of your finances without lifting a finger.
What this means for you: Clean books ready for your accountant, real-time view of your cash position, and no panic when CRA asks questions.
We prepare and file your HST returns quarterly or annually, depending on your reporting period. We also assess whether the HST Quick Method could save you money. Many trades businesses qualify and it's worth checking every year.
Ontario-specific: We know the 13% Ontario HST rules, quick method rates, and how to handle mixed-use inputs correctly.
We process payroll for your employees, calculate CPP, EI, and income tax deductions, and handle your remittances to CRA on time. We also prepare T4 slips at year end.
Trades note: Not sure if your helper is an employee or a subcontractor? We can walk you through CRA's rules. Getting this wrong is one of the most common (and expensive) mistakes in construction.
We track what you owe and what you're owed: invoicing, payment tracking, and follow-ups so you're not leaving money on the table or going past-due with suppliers. For trades businesses dealing with 30–60 day commercial payment terms or progress billing on larger jobs, having clean AR is the difference between knowing your cash position and guessing.
We work directly in QBO or Xero, so you can see exactly where you stand any time from your phone.
This is where specializing in trades businesses actually makes a difference for you.
Track materials, labour, and expenses per project so you know exactly what each job cost you and what margin you actually made.
Why it matters: You might be billing $20,000/month but making less than you think. Job costing tells you which work is worth taking and which you should be pricing higher.
If you're a month behind or three years behind, we'll get you caught up. This is one of the most common situations for trades owners. We're experienced at untangling the mess without judgement.
Once you're current, we move you onto a regular monthly plan so it doesn't happen again.
If you pay subcontractors $500 or more in a calendar year, you're required to file T5018 slips with CRA. We track your sub payments throughout the year and handle the filing.
Common mistake: Many general contractors don't know T5018s are required, or confuse them with T4s. Missing them is a CRA audit flag.
Construction contracts often require a 10% holdback under Ontario's Construction Act. We track holdbacks correctly so your cash flow picture is always accurate. You know exactly what's still owed, when it releases, and how much you're entitled to collect.
Why it matters: Holdbacks sitting untracked in your AR skew your financials and make it impossible to know your real cash position month to month.
We set up QuickBooks Online for your business from scratch (QBO is included in every plan), or migrate you from whatever you're using now (spreadsheets, another software, or nothing at all). Already on Xero? We work with that too.
We build a chart of accounts specifically for how trades businesses invoice, track job costs, and separate materials from labour, not a generic template designed for retail or office businesses.
Monthly profit & loss reports, balance sheet, and cash flow summaries, delivered in plain English. Know where you stand every month without having to wait for your accountant.
We also build custom dashboards for things like job profitability and revenue by trade type, if that's useful for your business.
Every month, after we close your books, you get a Profit & Loss report, a balance sheet, and a simple summary written for a business owner, not an accountant.
Everything runs in QuickBooks Online (included in your plan). You can log in from your truck and see exactly where you stand, any time. Already on Xero? We work with that too.
| Category | This Month |
|---|---|
| Income | |
| Service & Emergency Calls | $9,800 |
| New Construction Contracts | $12,400 |
| Maintenance Agreements | $2,100 |
| Total Income | $24,300 |
| Expenses | |
| Materials (pipe, fittings, fixtures) | $5,640 |
| Labour / Subcontractors | $3,200 |
| Vehicle, Fuel & Tools | $1,120 |
| Insurance, WSIB & Permits | $830 |
| Total Expenses | $10,790 |
| Net Profit | $13,510 |
Working with a bookkeeper who doesn't know Ontario-specific regulations can cost you. Here's what we handle that generalist bookkeepers often miss:
Many service-based contractors save money on the quick method vs. regular reporting. We run the numbers for you.
Required for subcontractors paid $500+/year. We track payments and file on time.
Tracking WSIB premiums and ensuring your coverage and reporting are in order.
CRA's rules on this are strict. Misclassification is a major audit risk we help you avoid.
10% statutory holdback rules, proper accounting treatment, and release timing.
CCA classes for your truck, tools, and equipment, tracked properly for maximum deductions.
Book a free 30-minute call. We'll figure it out together and recommend only what actually makes sense for your business.