NAHB Cost Codes in Action: How to Set Up Profit-Focused Reports in QBO

If you’re a builder, remodeler, or specialty contractor using QuickBooks Online (QBO), you’ve probably asked yourself at some point: “Why can’t I get a clear picture of our job costs—or see which projects are making money?” The answer is almost always the same: Your QuickBooks isn’t structured for construction profitability. At Apparatus, we fix that—starting…

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Why Your Financial System Should Match the Way Your Construction Business Actually Works

Most construction companies start with a basic system: QuickBooks, spreadsheets, a bookkeeper (internal or external), and maybe a construction management platform like Buildertrend®, CoConstruct®, or JobTread®. But somewhere between $2M and $30M in annual revenue, the cracks appear: The field is doing one thing, the office is doing another Estimates and actuals don’t match Job…

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The Bookkeeper, the CPA, and the CFO: Who Does What—and What You Actually Need

If you’re a construction company owner generating $2M to $30M in revenues annually, you’ve likely said: “I think our bookkeeper is handling that.” “Let me ask my CPA.” “Maybe we need a CFO?” But most construction businesses at this stage struggle with blurred financial roles—and as a result, end up with inaccurate books, unmet expectations,…

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Eight Hidden Financial Liabilities in Construction Companies

In construction, what you don’t see can hurt you. Contractors in the $2M–$30M revenue range often think that profit equals cash, that booked revenue is earned, or that their balance sheet is “good enough.” But behind the scenes, many construction businesses are carrying hidden financial liabilities—numbers and obligations that don’t show up clearly on a…

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Stop Flying Blind: The Power of Job-Level Profitability Tracking

If you’re a construction business owner in the $2M–$30M revenue range, you already know this truth: Not every job that adds revenue adds profit. And yet, most contractors are still tracking project performance by gut feel, spreadsheets, or month-end guesses from their bookkeeper. That’s a huge risk. Because when you can’t see job-level profitability, you’re…

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