Contractors and tradespeople run great businesses, but bookkeeping rarely makes the priority list — until it has to. If you’re an electrician, plumber, HVAC tech, GC, or any kind of trades professional in Rhode Island, Tradepoint CFOs handles your books so you can stay focused on the work that actually pays. We’ve worked with dozens of RI tradies, from solo operators running everything from their truck to crews of 10+ growing into full operations.
Bookkeeping Challenges Specific to Contractors
Trades businesses have bookkeeping needs that off-the-shelf bookkeepers don’t always understand:
- Job costing. Knowing whether each job is actually profitable, not just the business overall
- Materials and labor allocation. Tracking costs by job, by customer, or by project type
- Subcontractor 1099s. Managing 1099 thresholds, W-9 collection, and year-end filings
- Sales tax on materials vs labor. Knowing what’s taxable in Rhode Island
- Truck and equipment depreciation. Tracking Section 179 and bonus depreciation correctly
- Cash vs accrual accounting. Picking the right method for tax purposes
- Workers’ comp audits. Keeping payroll classifications clean
- Customer deposits and progress billing. Recognizing revenue correctly under accrual rules
Services We Provide for Contractors
- Monthly bookkeeping with job costing
- QuickBooks setup or migration tailored to construction/trades
- Historical book cleanups (especially for trades businesses that grew faster than their books)
- Subcontractor 1099 preparation
- Sales tax filing
- Payroll services with workers’ comp class tracking
- Tax preparation and tax planning
- CFO advisory for trades businesses scaling beyond owner-operator
Common Trades Business Pain Points We Solve
“I don’t know which jobs are actually making money.”
This is the most common complaint we hear from contractors. We set up job costing in QuickBooks so you can see profit margins by job, by customer, or by service type. Within 90 days, you’ll know which jobs to pursue and which to walk away from.
“My truck is my office and my books are a mess.”
We’ve cleaned up books for contractors who hadn’t reconciled in 18 months, lost receipts, mixed personal and business accounts, and skipped 1099s. None of that scares us. We’ve seen worse, and we’ll get you to clean books in 4–8 weeks.
“Should I be an LLC or S-Corp?”
For trades businesses earning $80K+ in net income, S-Corp election usually saves real money in self-employment tax. We can run the numbers for your specific situation. If S-Corp makes sense, we can guide you through the decision and partner with a CPA to handle the actual conversion and filing.
Why RI Contractors Choose Tradepoint CFOs
Tradies and contractors are our stated niche. Our founder, Robert Douangmala, has been working with Rhode Island trades businesses since 2019. We understand the realities of running a trades business — the cash flow swings, the seasonal patterns, the workers’ comp complexity, and the unique tax considerations.
- Direct access to your bookkeeper — not a rotating call center
- Real understanding of construction and trades accounting
- QuickBooks ProAdvisor expertise
- Local Rhode Island knowledge — RI sales tax, filing deadlines, workers’ comp rules
- Honest, plain-spoken communication (no jargon, no upselling)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need a bookkeeper, or can my spouse handle it?
Many trades businesses start with the spouse handling books. That works at small scale. Once you cross $250K in revenue or hire your first employee, professional bookkeeping usually pays for itself in saved time, missed deductions, and decision-quality.
Do you handle workers’ comp audits?
Yes. We track payroll by classification throughout the year so the year-end audit is fast and accurate. We’ve reduced clients’ workers’ comp premiums by getting their classifications right.
Can you help me figure out my real labor cost?
Yes. Most contractors underestimate their loaded labor cost (wages plus payroll tax, workers’ comp, benefits, and overhead). We can build that number for your business so you can quote jobs with accurate margins.
Areas We Serve
- Providence
- Cranston
- Warwick
- Woonsocket
- Pawtucket
- Newport
- East Providence
- Cumberland, Lincoln, and the surrounding RI region
Schedule a Free Consultation
If you’re a Rhode Island contractor or tradesperson and your books are slowing you down, schedule a free 30-minute consultation. We’ll talk about your business, your books, and whether we’re a good fit. No pressure, no sales pitch.
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