A note before you read: ABFI is on this list, and we wrote it. Read us with that in mind. We've used the same criteria for every option, said who each one fits better than us, and linked to each provider's own site so you can check what we say.
Most "best bookkeeping services" lists rank firms by price and star rating. For contractors, that misses the point. A service can be cheap, friendly and fast and still hand you a P&L that has no idea which jobs made money. So this list starts with what contractors actually need, then shows which kinds of service deliver it.
What a contractor needs from a bookkeeping service
| Need | Why it matters for contractors | Question to ask the provider |
|---|---|---|
| Job costing | Shows profit by job so you can bid better | "Show me a job profitability report you produce for a client." |
| Labor allocation | Labor is usually your biggest job cost | "How do you get payroll costs onto each job?" |
| Retainage tracking | Money held back looks like late payment if it's not separated | "How do you record retainage receivable and payable?" |
| WIP schedule | Shows over- and under-billing on longer jobs | "Do you prepare a monthly WIP schedule?" |
| Monthly close with review | Catches mis-coded costs before they distort job reports | "Who reviews the books before I see them?" |
| Industry chart of accounts | Separates job costs from overhead | "What does your contractor chart of accounts look like?" |
If a provider can't answer the first three questions clearly, they're a general bookkeeping service. That might be fine for a small, simple business. It won't be fine for a growing one.
For background, see our guides to job costing for contractors, the WIP schedule and a contractor chart of accounts.
How we built this list
We looked at each option against the six needs above, using only what the provider publishes about itself or what a named, dated third-party review reports. We did not use review-site star ratings or invent scores. Pricing changes often, so where sources disagree we describe the pricing model and link to the provider's own pricing page.
The shortlist
1. ABFI Accounting: best for growing contractors who want an accounting department, not just a bookkeeper
- What it is: an outsourced accounting department for US businesses, with a dedicated contractor and trades playbook: job costing, WIP and retainage, a locked monthly close and controller review.
- Pricing: published starting points from $850 a month, with a planning range from the pricing estimator [1]. Cleanup is quoted separately.
- Better fit elsewhere if: you're a sole trader with a handful of jobs a month and simple books. A lower-cost service or a good local bookkeeper will serve you fine. ABFI also doesn't prepare taxes; you keep your own CPA.
2. A local bookkeeper or small firm with construction clients: best for owners who want someone nearby
- What it is: an independent bookkeeper or small firm in your area that already works with contractors.
- Pricing: usually hourly or a flat monthly fee. Varies widely.
- Strengths: local knowledge, in-person meetings, often deep experience with your trade.
- Watch for: capacity (one person going on holiday stops your books) and whether anyone reviews their work. Ask for references from other contractors. Our comparison of a freelance bookkeeper vs an accounting firm covers the trade-offs.
3. Supporting Strategies: best for owners who want a local office backed by a national brand
- What it is: an outsourced bookkeeping and controller services company that operates through franchised local offices. Its site lists bookkeeping, accounts payable and receivable, financial reporting, payroll administration and controller services [2].
- Pricing: packaged monthly fees, quoted by the local office [2].
- Watch for: experience varies by office, so ask your local office specifically about job costing and WIP.
4. Bookkeeper360: best for small businesses that want bookkeeping plus add-ons in one place
- What it is: an online bookkeeping firm that works in QuickBooks Online and Xero, with add-on services such as payroll and advisory [3].
- Pricing: published monthly plans that scale with the business; third-party reviewers report several tiers and add-ons [3][4]. Check their pricing page for current numbers.
- Watch for: it's a general small-business service. Ask how they handle job costing, labor allocation and retainage for a contractor.
5. QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping: best for very small trades businesses already in QuickBooks Online
- What it is: Intuit's own bookkeeping service, delivered inside QuickBooks Online.
- Pricing: monthly, based on business size, on top of your QuickBooks subscription; reviewers report a separate first-month cleanup fee [5].
- Watch for: reviewers note the service doesn't send invoices, pay bills or manage payables and receivables for you [5]. For contractors who need someone to run the whole back office, that's a gap. See QuickBooks Live alternatives.
6. Ignite Spot: best for small businesses that want bookkeeping with financial guidance
- What it is: an outsourced accounting firm offering bookkeeping and advisory services; its help center says each client gets a QuickBooks team [6].
- Pricing: Ignite Spot's own help center describes fees based on a small percentage of annual revenue with a monthly minimum [6].
- Watch for: ask about construction-specific work (WIP, retainage) before signing.
Where's Bench?
Bench was a popular online bookkeeping service for small businesses. It shut down abruptly in December 2024 and was bought by Employer.com days later [7]. Its current offer may have changed since, so check its own site. If you're a Bench customer weighing options, see Bench alternatives.
Side by side
| Option | Job costing | Retainage and WIP | Monthly close with review | Pricing model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABFI Accounting | Yes | Yes | Yes, controller review | Flat monthly, from $850 |
| Local construction bookkeeper | Often | Depends on the person | Depends | Hourly or flat |
| Supporting Strategies | Ask your office | Ask your office | Controller services offered | Monthly packages |
| Bookkeeper360 | Ask | Ask | Ask | Published plans plus add-ons |
| QuickBooks Live | Limited by scope | Not listed | Monthly bookkeeping | Monthly plus cleanup fee |
| Ignite Spot | Ask | Ask | Ask | Based on revenue, with a minimum |
"Ask" means we couldn't confirm it from the provider's public pages. It doesn't mean they can't do it.
How to choose in four steps
- Decide what you need now. Under about a dozen jobs a month with simple books? Categorizing and reconciling may be enough. Multiple crews, bigger jobs, retainage or a lender asking for reports? You need job costing and a reviewed close.
- Ask every provider the six questions in the table at the top.
- Ask for a sample report. A job profitability report and a WIP schedule, with client details removed.
- Check who does the work and who checks it. One person doing everything is a risk at any price.
More questions worth asking: questions to ask an outsourced accountant and how to choose an accounting firm.
Doing it yourself instead?
If you'd rather keep the books in-house with good software, see our list of the best accounting software for contractors and our guide to setting up job costing in QuickBooks Online.
Keep reading
- Best accounting software for contractors
- Chart of accounts for contractors
- How to build a WIP schedule
Sources
- ABFI Accounting, Pricing, www.abfiaccounting.com/pricing. Checked November 6, 2026.
- Supporting Strategies, company website, www.supportingstrategies.com. Checked November 6, 2026.
- Bookkeeper360, company website and pricing page, www.bookkeeper360.com. Checked November 6, 2026.
- NerdWallet, "Bookkeeper360 Review: Pricing, Features, and Top Alternatives", www.nerdwallet.com/business/software/learn/bookkeeper360. Checked November 6, 2026.
- Fit Small Business, "QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping Review & Pricing", fitsmallbusiness.com/quickbooks-live-bookkeeping-review. Checked November 6, 2026.
- Ignite Spot Help Center, "How much do bookkeeping services cost?", help.ignitespot.com/how-much-do-bookkeeping-services-cost. Checked November 6, 2026.
- Accounting Today, "Bench acquired by Employer.com after sudden shutdown", www.accountingtoday.com/news/bench-acquired-by-employer-com-after-sudden-shutdown. Checked November 6, 2026.
Questions owners ask
What should a bookkeeping service do for a contractor?
At minimum: keep books current, reconcile every account, track costs by job, separate job costs from overhead and close the books monthly. Growing contractors also need retainage tracking and a WIP schedule.
How much does bookkeeping cost for a construction company?
It ranges from a few hundred dollars a month for basic online services to well over a thousand for a service with job costing, WIP and controller review. Volume, number of jobs and payroll drive the price.
Is QuickBooks Live good for contractors?
For very small trades businesses with simple books, it can work. Reviewers note it doesn't pay bills, send invoices or manage payables and receivables, which many growing contractors need.
Do I need a construction-specific bookkeeper?
If you run multiple jobs at once, use subcontractors, hold retainage or have a lender or bonding company asking for reports, yes. A general bookkeeper may not set up job costing or WIP.
Should my bookkeeper also do my taxes?
Not necessarily. Many contractors use a bookkeeping service for the books and a CPA for taxes. ABFI does the books and hands them to your CPA.
Want to see what your job reports should look like?
ABFI's complimentary Business Accounting Diagnostic reviews your current books and shows you what's missing for job costing, WIP and a clean monthly close.