Trades businesses · Greater Vancouver
Accounting for trades businesses.
You are quoting jobs, buying materials and keeping work moving. The bookkeeping still needs to get done. DSJM handles accounting, tax and bookkeeping for incorporated trades businesses, with David Moon, CPA, as your direct point of contact.
Based in Vancouver, serving Greater Vancouver and working remotely across Canada.
Sound familiar?
Busy on site. Behind on the numbers.
For incorporated owners in electrical, plumbing, HVAC, carpentry, renovation and other trades, the questions often start with the day-to-day business.
- Materials, fuel and subcontractor invoices are spread across cards, bank accounts and receipts.
- You are busy, but cannot clearly see what is left after labour and materials.
- Customer payments and supplier bills land at different times, making cash tight between jobs.
- Payroll and filing deadlines compete with quoting and running the crew.
- The books need attention before you can get the year-end work started.
The accounting work
Support around how the business runs.
Records
Bookkeeping that stays current
Monthly or quarterly bookkeeping in QuickBooks Online or Xero, with reconciliations and a consistent approach to recording business activity. Discuss how you track materials, labour and subcontractor costs so the scope fits your setup.
Year-end
Corporate and owner tax together
The corporation and the owner are considered together when planning the year-end work. Discuss how you pay yourself, the state of the books and which returns or financial statements you need.
Crew and filings
Payroll and sales tax
Payroll support and GST/PST work agreed around the business and its filing requirements. Tell David whether you have employees, use subcontractors or need help identifying what is outstanding.
Management information
Understand cash flow and job profitability
If you need more than bookkeeping, discuss reporting by job, cash flow forecasting or help understanding margins. This is additional management reporting and advisory work, scoped separately from routine bookkeeping.
Already behind?
Start with the backlog.
If the bank accounts have not been reconciled for months, the first job is to establish what is complete and what needs fixing. Explain how far behind you are and any approaching deadline. Cleanup is scoped separately from ongoing bookkeeping.
Before we talk
A few details help us start in the right place.
01
Your business
Which trade you work in, whether you are incorporated, and whether you work alone, employ a crew or use subcontractors.
02
Your records
The software you use, who keeps the books and the last period completed. Describe any backlog or filing correspondence.
03
Your priority
What you need help with first: catching up, year-end, payroll, cash flow or understanding which jobs make money. The scope and fee are agreed before work starts.
Common questions
Accounting for trades, explained.
Do you work with sole proprietors as well as corporations?
DSJM's focus is incorporated owner-managed businesses. If you operate personally or are considering incorporating, explain that on the first call so David can establish whether the practice is a fit.
Can you work with my existing bookkeeper?
Tell David which work is already covered and where you need support. The engagement can then identify responsibilities for bookkeeping, year-end work and any additional reporting without assuming everything needs replacing.
How much does it cost?
Our pricing page lists starting fees in Canadian dollars for bookkeeping, tax, payroll and other services. Your quote depends on the work, records and transaction volume. Cleanup and additional management reporting are scoped separately.
Can you tell me whether each job is profitable?
We can discuss the reporting you need and the records available to support it. Useful job reporting depends on how revenue and costs are recorded. Any setup or ongoing reporting belongs in the agreed advisory scope.
Next step
Tell David how the business works.
A free 15 to 20 minute conversation about your trade, the records and the work you need help with. You speak directly with the CPA who will handle your file.
info@dsjmaccounting.com