Cash goes out before it comes in
You pay for materials and crews up front, then wait 30, 60 or 90 days to get paid, with retention held back on top. One slow-paying GC can squeeze the whole month.
For Bay Area contractors and trades
You build it.
We book it.
Bookkeeping, payroll, 1099s and tax preparation for contractors, so you can stay on the job site instead of catching up on QuickBooks at 10pm.
- Income and costs tracked by job, so you can see what each project made
- W-9s collected from your subs and 1099-NECs filed for you
- Starting prices published on this page
Rather talk it through? Call (510) 962-7300
Quote request
Free 30-minute consultationFree consultation30 minutes, no obligation
Bookkeeping from $250/moUp to 100 transactions a month
Fremont, CA office39159 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite 115
Client referencesAvailable on request
Sound familiar?
Where contractor finances usually break
The work is the easy part. These are the money problems we see most often in construction and trade businesses.
You don’t know which jobs made money
Without job costing, you find out a project lost money months after it closed, and the next bid repeats the same mistake.
1099 season turns into a chase
Subs get paid all year, but W-9s weren’t collected up front. For forms due in 2026, the IRS charges $60 to $340 per late or incorrect 1099, plus a separate penalty for the copy each sub should receive.
Payroll spreads across jobs and trades
Crews move between jobs, and workers’ comp is rated by job class. Hours coded to the wrong class can mean an unexpected bill at your insurance audit.
Business and personal money are mixed
Materials, fuel, truck payments and groceries all run through one account. Untangling it at tax time takes hours and makes it easy to miss deductions.
Taxes are a surprise every April
No quarterly estimates and no plan for the year means a bigger bill than expected, sometimes with penalties added on.
What we handle
Accounting set up around how contractors work
Every service below is part of our standard scope. If you need something that isn’t listed, ask during your consultation and we’ll tell you straight whether we can take it on.
Monthly bookkeeping with job costing
Bank and card accounts reconciled each month, expenses categorized, and income and costs tracked by job so you can see each project’s margin. Monthly reports in plain language.
Bookkeeping cleanup
Months or years behind? We catch your books up and reconcile them so you’re current and ready for tax filing.
Payroll
Regular payroll for your crew, with hours allocated to each job and payroll records kept in order.
W-9s and 1099s
We collect W-9s from subs as you bring them on, track what you pay each one, and prepare and file your 1099-NECs.
Business and personal tax returns
Returns prepared with the deductions contractors commonly have, such as vehicles, tools and equipment, plus help planning quarterly estimated payments.
Business formation and registered agent
Setting up an LLC or corporation as your business grows, and registered agent service to receive official notices for your entity.
Pricing
Starting prices, up front
You’ll know the starting point before you call. Your final quote depends on your volume and the work involved.
| Service | Starting at |
|---|---|
| Bookkeeping & accountingMonthly, up to 100 transactions | $250per month |
| Bookkeeping cleanupCatch-up work on past months or years | Quoted after a free review |
| Payroll managementBase fee plus $15 for each employee | $150+ $15 per employee |
| Business tax preparationPer return | $650 |
| Personal tax preparationPer return | $550 |
| Business formationLLC or corporation setup | $2,500 |
| Registered agent serviceAnnual service | $199per year |
Prices shown are starting prices with no hidden fees. The final cost depends on your transaction volume, number of employees, filing requirements and the condition of your books.
How it works
From first call to books you can trust
Free consultation
Thirty minutes on your business, your current books and what you need, followed by a quote for your scope. No obligation.
Setup
We connect to your bank and accounting software, set up tracking by job, and catch up any backlog first if you’re behind.
Ongoing support
Books closed every month, payroll on schedule, and 1099s and returns prepared at deadline time, with one point of contact for questions.
Common questions
How do you price bookkeeping?
By monthly transaction volume. It starts at $250 a month for up to 100 transactions. We confirm your price after the free consultation, once we know your volume and how many jobs you run.
What if my books are months behind?
That’s common. We start with a free review, quote the cleanup separately, and get you current before monthly bookkeeping begins.
What should I have ready for the consultation?
Nothing is required. If it’s handy, know roughly how many jobs you run at once, how many people you pay, and which accounting software you use, if any.
Is the information on this page tax advice?
No. It’s general information. What applies to you depends on your entity, your numbers and your situation, and we go through that with you directly.
Get back to the job site.
Book your free 30-minute consultation online, or call and talk it through with us.
Bay Area Accounting Solutions is a private bookkeeping, accounting and tax preparation firm. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with the IRS, the California Franchise Tax Board, the EDD or the Contractors State License Board. Content on this page is general information, not legal or tax advice for your specific situation. Prices shown are starting prices; your final price depends on the scope of work. Penalty amounts cited are IRS figures for information returns due in 2026 and are adjusted annually.