Resources
How to know what a job actually made
A completed job and a paid invoice are not enough to establish profit. Build a review around the same scope and time period, then identify records that have not arrived yet.
What to watch for
- Revenue includes work outside the cost comparison.
- Late receipts make a finished job appear more profitable.
- Cash received is confused with margin.
Harbour Deck Rebuild · CAD
Every dollar, connected.
- Labor
- CA$3,590.00
- Materials
- CA$4,380.00
- Fuel
- CA$420.00
- Other
- CA$850.00
Receipts and labour records, linked to the same job.
A practical routine
Define the scope you are reviewing
List the original work and agreed additions. Separate cancelled or unapproved scope. Use the same scope for both the revenue and cost side of the review.
Reconcile the cost record
Collect material receipts, actual labour and outside-work bills. Avoid counting both an agreement and its bill as two costs. Note expected records that are still missing.
Check revenue and collection separately
Compare recorded revenue with costs using a consistent tax basis. Then review how much has been collected. A profitable job may still have an unpaid balance.
Explain the difference
Write down why the result differed from the estimate: extra preparation, a return visit, wasted materials or a scope change. Use the explanation when estimating similar work, without treating one job as a benchmark.
Using this guide
Use this as an operational checklist with your bookkeeper’s accounting treatment. It is not a replacement for accounting advice or a promise that every cost is captured.
Useful questions
What should I do with missing costs?
Mark the review as provisional and list the missing records. Revisit it when they arrive instead of presenting a partial total as final profit.
Keep the next part connected
Start with your next job.
See how the project record fits your business, then choose a plan.
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