Updated April 2026 · Reviewed by Cory Salisbury, Construction Financial Specialist
Salisbury Bookkeeping's fractional CFO services for construction companies range from $500–$4,000 per month, with one-time setup fees of $2,000–$8,000. A full-time construction controller costs $90,000–$150,000 annually. Salisbury Bookkeeping provides the same expertise at a fraction of the cost, with most clients recovering their investment within 60 days through found revenue and improved collections.
Quick Answer: How much does construction bookkeeping cost?
Construction bookkeeping services typically cost $500–$4,000/month depending on company size and complexity. Basic bookkeeping (bank reconciliation, bill pay, payroll processing) starts at $500–$1,000/month. Full-service bookkeeping with job costing runs $1,000–$2,500/month. Fractional CFO services — including WIP reporting, cash flow forecasting, tax strategy, and financial dashboards — range from $2,000–$4,000/month. For context, a full-time in-house bookkeeper costs $45,000–$65,000/year before benefits, and a full-time CFO costs $150,000–$250,000+.
A free 30-minute look at your books. We'll show you where money is slipping away — no sales pitch.
Best for: $500K–$1.5M contractors
Best for: $1M–$10M contractors
Best for: Contractors who need help NOW
All the visibility, none of the service. Perfect for contractors who want to run it themselves.
Here's the actual value you're getting (and why the setup fee pays for itself):
Starting at $18,000/year
($1,500/mo)
Plus one-time setup: $2,000–$7,000
See how much money you could recover in the next 12 months
It's "How much is NOT having this costing me every single month?"
Unbilled Change Orders
Most contractors miss billing 15–30% of approved change orders. On $3M in revenue, that's $22,500–$45,000/year you already earned but never collected.
Wrong Tax Entity Structure
Construction companies in the wrong tax structure overpay by $8,000–$25,000/year. S-corp election alone saves most contractors $12K+ in self-employment tax.
No Cash Flow Visibility
Contractors without 13-week cash forecasts get ambushed by payroll, material buys, and sub pay that overlap. Emergency credit line draws cost $3,000–$15,000/year in interest — money that could be avoided with basic planning.
Slow Collections
Without automated AR tracking, contractors wait 45–60+ days to get paid instead of 25–30. On $300K outstanding, that's $6,000–$12,000/year in opportunity cost and interest.
Total annual cost of NOT having a financial system:
$39,500 – $97,000
vs. Salisbury Bookkeeping: $18,000–$48,000/year
That's not a cost. That's a 2–5x return on your investment.
Book a Profit Leak Finder call. In 30 minutes, we'll review your QuickBooks, identify where money is slipping through the cracks, and give you a specific action plan.
If we don't find at least $10,000 in recoverable profit leaks within 60 days of working together, your assessment is free.
That's not a soft promise. We put it in writing. We've never had to honor it — because the leaks are always there.
Book Your Free Profit Leak Finder| Feature | In-House Controller | Generic Bookkeeper | DIY QuickBooks | Salisbury Bookkeeping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job Costing by Phase & Trade | ✓ | — | — | ✓ |
| WIP Reporting | ✓ | — | — | ✓ |
| 13-Week Cash Flow Forecast | ✓ | — | — | ✓ |
| PM Software Integration | ✓ | — | — | ✓ |
| Strategic Reviews | ✓ | — | — | ✓ |
| Construction-Specific Expertise | Maybe | — | — | ✓ |
| Annual Cost | $120,000+ | $40,000–$60,000 | $360/year | $18,000–$48,000 |
Construction bookkeeper costs vary widely. A full-time in-house controller typically costs $90,000–$150,000 annually. Freelance or part-time bookkeepers range from $30–$75/hour. Salisbury Bookkeeping's fractional CFO services start at $500/month for basic bookkeeping and go up to $4,000/month for full strategic partnership, with setup fees of $2,000–$8,000. Most clients see ROI within 60 days.
Yes. The setup fee covers NAHB Chart of Accounts configuration, QuickBooks optimization, software integrations, and initial financial systems design. These are one-time tasks that create the foundation for accurate job costing and cash flow management. The Financial Command Center tier, for example, includes $31,900 in value for a $18,000/year investment. Most clients recover the setup cost within the first month through discovered revenue leaks and improved collections.
Construction contractors typically see 200–400% ROI within the first 12 months. Common wins include: recovered change order revenue ($5K–$25K+), improved job costing accuracy (5–15% profit improvement), optimized cash flow (freed-up working capital), and reduced tax liability. Use the ROI Calculator on this page to see what you could recover based on your business metrics.
Absolutely. Many contractors start with Only the Essentials ($500–$1,500/month) and upgrade to Financial Command Center ($1,500–$4,000/month) after 3–6 months when they see results. Your setup fee will be credited toward the new tier. There are no contracts—you can adjust your plan monthly as your business grows.
The Profit Leak Finder is a free 30-minute financial review of your books. We'll analyze your job costing, cash flow, AR aging, change order trends, and labor efficiency. You'll get a personalized report showing your top profit leaks and immediate action items—no sales pitch, no obligation. Book it at the top of this page.
A full-time controller costs $90K–$150K/year in salary alone, plus benefits, payroll taxes, equipment, and training. Salisbury Bookkeeping's fractional CFO service costs $18K–$48K/year and includes strategic consulting, system optimization, and proactive financial management. You get construction-specific expertise without the fixed overhead. See our cost comparison table for a full breakdown.
Want to Start Smaller?
Not ready for full fractional CFO service? Start with our self-service dashboard. Get job costing, cash flow tracking, and real-time numbers — then upgrade to hands-on Salisbury service when you're ready.
Start with a free 30-minute Profit Leak Finder and discover what you could recover in the next 60 days.
Book Your Free Assessment