One of the most common questions we hear from contractors in Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, Ventura County, and Kern County is simple: What does this cost? Most bookkeeping firms bury their pricing or require a consultation before revealing any numbers. We believe you deserve transparency — so here’s exactly what contractor bookkeeping costs, what’s included at each level, and how to know which tier is right for your business.

Questions? Call us at (818) 679-4451 for a free 30-minute consultation.

Contractor Bookkeeping Pricing Tiers

What’s NOT Included (Add-On Services)

• QuickBooks Setup or Cleanup: $500-$1,500 one-time (first month only)
• Payroll Processing (if not on Full-Service): $150-$300/month depending on employee count
• Tax Preparation (business return): $800-$2,500/year through our CPA partners
• Back-Filing / Catch-Up Bookkeeping: Quoted per year of catch-up needed

How Does This Compare to Other Options?

The ROI of Professional Contractor Bookkeeping

Here’s what we see consistently with new clients: contractors who switch to professional, contractor-specific bookkeeping typically discover they’ve been leaving significant money on the table. The most common findings in the first 90 days:

• Underbid jobs: Without accurate job costing, contractors often discover their actual labor burden rate is 35-45% — not the 20-25% they’ve been using. A job costing system reveals this and corrects future bids immediately.
• Miscoded tax deductions: Average new contractor client has $8,000-$15,000 in legitimate deductions miscoded or missed entirely. CSLB license renewals, continuing education, tool depreciation, vehicle mileage, home office — properly documented, these reduce your tax bill significantly.
• Workers’ comp overpayment: Without proper classification tracking, WC auditors default to the highest-rate classification. Correcting this typically saves $2,000-$8,000 at the annual audit.

For most contractors, the Professional tier ($750/month) pays for itself within 60-90 days through improved bid accuracy alone. The Full-Service tier typically shows positive ROI within 30 days for contractors with payroll compliance issues.

Service Areas

We serve contractors throughout Los Angeles County (San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita, Antelope Valley, LA Basin), Ventura County (Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, Ventura, Camarillo, Simi Valley), and Kern County (Bakersfield, Lancaster, Palmdale area). We work remotely — no in-person meetings required, though we’re always available by phone at (818) 679-4451.

Trades We Specialize In

We work with all CSLB-licensed contractor classifications: General Contractors (B), Electrical (C-10), HVAC (C-20), Plumbing (C-36), Roofing (C-39), Painting (C-33), Landscaping (C-27), Solar (C-46), Concrete (C-8), Drywall (C-9), Framing (C-5), Tile (C-54), Stucco (C-35), Insulation (C-2), Demolition (C-21), Excavation (C-12), Masonry (C-29), Welding (C-60), Fire Sprinkler (C-16), Security Systems (C-7), Pool (C-53), Fence (C-13), Paving (C-12), Waterproofing (C-17), and Cabinet (C-6).

Frequently Asked Questions About Contractor Bookkeeping Pricing

How much does contractor bookkeeping cost per month?

Contractor bookkeeping in Los Angeles ranges from $400 to $1,500 per month. Basic bookkeeping starts at $400/month. Full-service including job costing and payroll runs $1,200+/month. Our most popular Professional tier is $750/month.

Is contractor bookkeeping tax deductible?

Yes — 100% tax deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense under IRC Section 162. At a 25% effective tax rate, a $750/month bookkeeping fee effectively costs $562/month after the deduction.

What is included in contractor bookkeeping services?

At minimum: bank reconciliation, expense categorization, and monthly financial reports. Our Professional tier adds job costing per project and accounts payable. Full-Service adds payroll, certified payroll, WIP scheduling, and CSLB audit prep.

How much does QuickBooks setup cost for a contractor?

QuickBooks setup for a California contractor runs $500-$1,500 as a one-time project. Cleanup of an existing messy file typically runs $800-$3,000. Both are included in your first month fee when you sign up for ongoing service.

Is hiring a bookkeeper better than DIY QuickBooks for contractors?

For most contractors above $500K revenue, yes — the ROI is strongly positive. DIY errors typically cost more in missed deductions, underbid jobs, and payroll penalties than the bookkeeping fee itself.