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Trades
Track trades, investments, and portfolio transactions
Residential Roofing and Storm Restoration Bookkeeping: A Practical Guide for Re-Roof Crews and Insurance-Claim Specialists
How residential roofers and storm restoration contractors should handle ASC 606 variable consideration, Section 460 elections, supplemental claim revenue, customer deductibles under state law, OSHA fall protection costs, and the KPIs (squares per crew-day, gross margin by channel) that separate profitable shops from busy ones.
HVAC Contractor Bookkeeping: Maintenance Agreements, Refrigerant Compliance, and the KPIs That Predict Profit
How HVAC contractors should structure their books: deferred revenue under ASC 606 for maintenance plans, EPA Section 608 and AIM Act refrigerant recordkeeping after the 15-pound threshold and R-410A phase-down, Section 179 deductions for service vans, and the five KPIs that actually predict cash flow.
Painting Contractor Bookkeeping: How Residential and Commercial Painters Bid, Job-Cost, and Stay Profitable Without Bleeding Margin on Callbacks
Painting contractors lose margin in three places — unmeasured prep hours, a wrong burdened labor rate, and unreserved callbacks. This guide shows the chart of accounts, EPA RRP cost treatment, warranty reserve journal entries, and lender-grade KPIs that keep residential and commercial painters profitable.
Septic Tank Pumping and Onsite Wastewater Bookkeeping: Per-Pump Revenue, Tipping Fees, Vacuum Trucks, and Drain-Field Warranty Reserves
A practical accounting framework for septic and onsite wastewater operators — splitting residential pumping, grease, portable toilet, inspection, and repair revenue; reconciling disposal manifests; expensing vacuum trucks under Section 179; and reserving for drain-field warranty claims.
Mobile Locksmith Bookkeeping: Emergency Premiums, Transponder Inventory, and Van Depreciation Without Margin Leaks
A guide to the bookkeeping decisions that move locksmith margins — separating emergency from standard revenue, per-SKU transponder inventory, Section 179 van elections, ALOA licensing tracking, and dispatch-software-to-GL reconciliation.
Mobile Mechanic Bookkeeping: Premium Billing, Section 179, Markup Matrix, and Warranty Reserves
A working playbook for mobile mechanic bookkeeping — tiered labor rates, a parts markup matrix targeting 58% gross margin, actual-expense vs 72.5-cent standard mileage, Section 179 on scan tools and upfitted cargo vans, comeback warranty reserves, and quarterly Schedule C obligations.
Tree Service Bookkeeping: Cost-Per-Hour, Workers' Comp Class 0106, Section 179, and Seasonal Cash Flow
How tree care companies should structure their books — separating workers' comp class 0106 payroll, allocating bucket truck and chipper hours per job, reserving for e-mod surges, and pricing crews off a true burdened cost-per-hour rate.
Bookkeeping for Landscaping & Lawn Care: Job Costing, Seasonal Cash Flow, and Crew Labor
Landscaping books need four things a generic ledger lacks — job costing, seasonal cash flow forecasting, burdened crew labor, and a service-line chart of accounts. This guide shows how to set up each so your numbers reveal which work earns margin and how much cash bridges the off-season.
Job Costing for Contractors: Labor Burden, Cost Codes, and Committed Costs
Job costing assigns every dollar of cost to the job that caused it. Fully burdened labor runs 30 to 50 percent above base wage, overhead is applied with a predetermined rate, and committed costs reveal a budget overrun before the invoices arrive — read the variance column weekly.
Section 1256 Contracts and the 60/40 Tax Rule: A Trader's Guide to Form 6781
Section 1256 splits gains on futures, broad-based index options, and qualifying forex 60% long-term and 40% short-term, capping the top federal rate near 26.8% versus 37% on equity options. A 2026 guide to Form 6781, the mark-to-market rule, and the three-year loss carryback.
Trader Tax Status and the Section 475(f) Mark-to-Market Election: How Active Traders Escape the Wash Sale Rule and the $3,000 Capital Loss Cap
Active traders can convert capital losses into ordinary deductions and eliminate the wash sale rule by filing a Section 475(f) mark-to-market election — but the statement must be attached to the prior year's April 15 return. A working guide to qualifying for trader tax status, the three big benefits of the election, Form 3115 mechanics, and the mistakes that invalidate it.
Financial Management Guide for Plumbing Businesses
Effective financial management is crucial for plumbing businesses to thrive. This guide addresses unique financial challenges faced by plumbers and offers insights into managing costs for sustainable growth.