Industry · Construction & Trades
Construction bookkeeper for Canada & the US —
job costing, holdback & HST handled.
Construction bookkeeping is its own discipline. Job costing, holdback accounting, progress billing, subcontractor compliance, and equipment CCA — we handle every layer so your books reflect the true profitability of every project.
What you get every month
- Job cost report: revenue, expenses, margin per project
- Holdback receivable reconciliation
- Progress billing and contract schedule
- Subcontractor payment tracking (T4A / 1099 prep)
- Equipment CCA schedule (year-end)
- HST return preparation (quarterly)
- P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow by the 15th
Who this is for
General contractors
- Residential renovation GCs
- Commercial build-out contractors
- Custom home builders across Canada & the US
Specialty trades
- Electricians and plumbers
- HVAC and mechanical trades
- Roofing and flooring contractors
Heavy equipment operators
- Excavation and grading companies
- Landscaping and civil contractors
- Equipment rental businesses
The Challenge
Why construction bookkeeping is unlike any other industry
A standard bookkeeper records materials as an expense and invoices as revenue — and that's where the problems start. Construction requires job-level tracking, holdback segregation, percentage-of-completion revenue recognition, and equipment depreciation schedules that most bookkeepers simply don't know how to set up.
We've built a bookkeeping practice specifically for contractors — from sole-proprietor tradespeople to multi-crew general contractors with project financing and subcontractor networks across Canada and the US.
Client perspective
"I had no idea which jobs were actually profitable until North Ledger set up job costing. Now I know margin by project every single month — it's changed how I bid."
General contractor, Ontario
What We Do
Our core services for this industry
Job Costing by Project
All labour, materials, subcontractors, and overhead allocated per job so you know margin by project every month.
Holdback Accounting
Dedicated Holdback Receivable account tracked separately from collectible revenue — always accurate under the Construction Act.
Progress Billing & Revenue Recognition
Percentage-of-completion billing posted correctly. Revenue recognized as work is performed, not as invoices are issued.
Equipment & Fleet CCA
Fixed assets register with CRA-compliant CCA calculations (Class 10, 38, 55) posted at year-end.
Subcontractor T4A & 1099
All subcontractor payments tracked, T4A and 1099-NEC prepared and filed before CRA and IRS deadlines.
HST Compliance
HST on construction invoices applied correctly with ITCs claimed on materials and subcontractor costs.
Subcontractor Compliance
T4A and 1099 compliance for Canadian contractors
Subcontractor tax reporting is one of the most commonly missed obligations in construction. Both CRA and the IRS have strict rules — and penalties for late or missing filings are significant.
CRA Filing by February 28
Any subcontractor paid $500 or more for construction services requires a T4A slip. We track all payments throughout the year and prepare your T4A summary and slips before the February 28 deadline.
IRS Filing by January 31
US-based subcontractors paid $600 or more require a 1099-NEC filed with the IRS by January 31. We collect W-9s, track payments, and prepare 1099 packages for cross-border contractors.
Cross-Border Subcontractors
Contractors working with subcontractors on both sides of the border have both CRA and IRS obligations. We coordinate dual-country compliance so nothing falls through the cracks.
Pricing
Most construction & trades clients start on the Growth plan. Most contractors need job costing, multi-account reconciliation, and monthly reporting.
Getting Started
How we onboard a new contractor
Books Review
We review your existing QuickBooks or Xero file, identify gaps in job costing setup, and flag any holdback or HST misclassifications.
Chart of Accounts
We build or rebuild your chart of accounts for construction: job cost classes, holdback receivable, equipment assets, and subcontractor tracking.
Monthly Close
By the 15th each month you receive a job cost report, P&L, balance sheet, and holdback reconciliation — every month, without chasing.
Year-End Package
CPA-ready year-end package including equipment CCA schedules, T4A summaries, and HST reconciliation — clean books handed off before tax season.
FAQ
Common questions
GET STARTED TODAY
Know your margin on
every project.
Most contractors find out a job lost money after it's done. We give you that data every month — before you bid your next one.
Your free quote includes:
- Full review of your current bookkeeping setup
- CRA / IRS compliance gap identification
- Custom quote based on your transaction volume
- Clear onboarding timeline — starting within 5 business days
- No pressure, no hard sell
No contracts · Cancel anytime · CAD & USD billing
See Pricing →