QuickBooks Projects Training for Contractors (Job Costing + Estimates + Invoices)
These short trainings show contractors how to use QuickBooks Online Projects correctly so job costing reports actually make sense. If your numbers feel messy or you don’t trust “profit by job,” start here.
This training is public by design. It reflects the same workflows I use when setting up and maintaining contractor books.
Who this is for
- Contractors and trades (pressure washing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, general contractors)
- Owners who want to track profitability per job using QuickBooks Projects
- Anyone building estimates and invoices and wants them tied cleanly to the job
Common problem: job costs get miscoded, estimates don’t flow cleanly into invoices, and the Projects report becomes unreliable. These videos fix the workflow.
Training Library
Watch in order: Projects → Estimates → Invoices. That’s the clean workflow for contractors.
Start Here (Projects Setup)
This is the foundation. Get Projects set up correctly first so job costing is accurate.
How to Create Projects in QuickBooks
Set up Projects so job costing works from day one.
Workflow (Estimates → Invoices)
Once Projects are set up, use this workflow so estimates and invoices stay tied to the correct job.
Set Up Estimates
Build estimates that flow cleanly into Projects and invoices.
Create & Manage Invoices from Projects
Invoice from Projects while keeping job costing accurate.
Pro tip: If your job profit looks “off,” it’s usually because costs weren’t assigned to the Project consistently. That’s the #1 reason contractors don’t trust their reports.
Quick FAQ (Job Costing + Projects)
Do QuickBooks Projects work for contractors?
Yes — for many contractors, Projects work well for job costing when Projects are set up correctly and every job-related cost is coded to the right Project.
Why does my profit by job look wrong?
Usually because expenses weren’t assigned to the Project, deposits were applied incorrectly, or costs were categorized inconsistently. A weekly workflow prevents this.
When should a contractor hire a bookkeeper?
When you’re too busy to keep it clean weekly, you don’t trust job profit reports, or you’re making pricing decisions without knowing true job costs.
Want job costing that you actually trust?
If your Projects report is messy, your estimates don’t flow into invoices cleanly, or you’re not sure what your jobs really cost — I’ll review your setup and tell you exactly what needs to be fixed.
You’ll leave with a clear plan
Local in Woodland, WA • Serving contractors nationwide