#job-costing
Track costs per project or job for accurate profitability analysis
Underapplied overhead means actual spending beat applied overhead — close a small variance to COGS, prorate a material one across WIP, finished goods, and COGS.
A CM at risk caps cost with a guaranteed maximum price and open books; a GC bids fixed on finished drawings — pick by design status.
Direct federal buys follow the Buy American Act while grant-funded infrastructure follows BABA - 100% US iron and steel, 55% domestic manufactured products.
When two responsible small firms can perform at a fair price, the contract is set aside; certified firms can win direct awards up to $5.5M.
Fixed-price puts overrun risk on you; cost-plus puts it on the client. Price either from burdened labor, add overhead recovery, and track each job weekly.
Keep 80 to 150 accounts and tag each line by project, customer, or cost center — one Travel account with tags replaces dozens of Travel-Project-X accounts.
US tariffs added about $5 to every blank garment. Bill setup fees separately, amortize digitizing files across units, and reprice quotes from landed cost.
Customer deposits are liabilities, not revenue — book them right, charge mobilization honestly, and job-cost every build by code.
Bid drainage tile by the foot: 30-foot spacing doubles footage per acre versus 60-foot. Price the outlet separately, and use Section 179 on the plow.
Installs pay once; battery plans and service calls pay every year. Split install, recurring, and warranty-reserve lines or winter eats the margin.
A museum crate often costs more than the miles it travels — cost builds like manufacturing jobs and price transport per mile, or one subsidizes the other.
Price sign jobs per square foot, bill gold leaf and lift rental to the job, and keep cash reserves for weather days.
