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NewestBookkeeper vs controller vs CFO: who comes first
A bookkeeper records, a controller checks and closes the month, a CFO plans. What each does for a trades business, and the order to add them.
Latest articles
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QuickBooks for contractors: how we set it up
We keep contractors' books in QuickBooks Online, fed by ServiceTitan, Jobber or Housecall Pro and by Gusto or ADP. Here's the setup and when it's wrong.
Bookkeeping ·
How to calculate labor burden for your crew
Labor burden is what a tech costs beyond the wage: payroll taxes, workers' comp, benefits and paid time off. Here's the math, with 2026 IRS rates.
Cash and pricing ·
Year-end accounting checklist for contractors
Close the books, then handle what changed for 2026: the new 1099-NEC threshold, overtime on W-2s, bonus depreciation and Section 179.
Taxes ·
How to price HVAC jobs
Price an HVAC job from its cost per billable hour plus parts, divided by one minus your target margin. Here's the math on an example repair call.
Cash and pricing ·
Can contractors deduct mileage? 2026 IRS rules
Yes, for business trips. The IRS rate changed July 1, 2026, so here's the split-year math, the fleet rule and the records the IRS wants to see.
Taxes ·
Outsourcing payroll: pros and cons in the trades
Outsourcing payroll takes deposits, filings and W-2s off your desk, but the IRS still holds you responsible. The pros and cons for a crew, with 2026 rules.
Payroll ·
HVAC profit margins: how to benchmark yours
Most HVAC companies net single digits. How to check your gross and net margins against ACCA survey data, with a worked P&L and the fixes that move them.
Cash and pricing ·
How to separate business and personal finances
Separating business and personal finances takes one business account, one business card, set owner pay and a same-week fix when something slips.
Bookkeeping ·
How to manage payroll taxes for your crew
What payroll tax is, how to figure payroll tax expense for a W-2 crew with 2026 IRS rates, and the deposits and filings that keep you out of trouble.
Payroll ·
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