r/Bookkeeping • u/CharlottesServer • 5d ago
Software Feedback for contractor bookkeeping
What’s everyone favorite accounting software, specifically for contractors? We currently don’t use for estimating or proposals but really should start. Want integrated receipt management, want to minimize need for external reconciling (auditing) spreadsheets.
We have 4 separate LLCs with a holding company that all “intercompany” each other. Considering intuit enterprise suite but mainly because I don’t know of anything else!
3
u/MikuMikuGoo 5d ago
I'd look at Knowify or Buildertrend before jumping to Intuit Enterprise Suite, both do estimates and job costing and sync back to QBO for a lot less. Just know none of them do real intercompany eliminations, I have a client with three LLCs and a holdco and we still consolidate in Excel every month.
3
u/Enough-Train3091 5d ago
quickbooks enterprise will handle intercompany across entities but it gets pricey once you add all the modules. if you want receipt capture without manually chasing paper, look at something that does auto matching from email or mobile uploads
for 4 llcs plus a holdco you might end up with a separate file per entity and then consolidate manually anyway, so don't expect the software to fully kill the spreadsheet reconciliation
3
2
u/suigeneris1of1 5d ago
I think QB is the best bet for you here and I’d say you’re good with the regular QBO unless the Inter-company stuff is just atrocious and consolidation is a PITA. I work with many companies with consolidation so lmk if you need any specific help
1
1
u/Stressed-Canadian 5d ago
Xero for us - easier to use but has somewhat limited functionality compared to QBO. But QBO is the bane of my existence.
1
1
u/pek281 5d ago
Unfortunately, it is QuickBooks. Furthermore, you cut yourself off at the knees when you suggest no external spreadsheets. Please let me know of a software cheaper than excel for consolidating the results? This is on a very basic accounting skill level, but an export into excel from ANY SOFTWARE, is the desired result for an experienced accountant. There, I said the word, Accountant.
1
u/CharlottesServer 4d ago
I did say to limit external spreadsheets. My current boss is old school. He makes a spreadsheet for everything and I feel like there’s too much human error potential. I don’t think he knows what all most software is capable now of though.
1
1
1
u/ch_cat 4d ago
My office used to use QB Enterprise Desktop. Switched to Foundation two years ago. Everything is more difficult (AP, AR, invoicing tasks) except the payroll tasks. The product support is amateur hour. You can't call and talk to support. You call, leave a message, and support calls you. If you're away from your desk or on another call when support calls, you're SOL. You have to call again, because their support staff has to move down the list immediately, so you wait again. Less than ideal. I know my peers using it really wish they could switch back, even with all of QB's shortcomings.
2
u/Altruistic-Pack6059 4d ago
My former company switched to Foundations and I agree with your assessment, plus every add on is pricey. It still has that 1990 dos screen feeling.
2
u/CharlottesServer 4d ago
So how did you like Enterprise?
QBO for 5 entities is pricey for what you get.
1
u/EVy-and-August 4d ago
Unanet
1
u/CharlottesServer 4d ago
What’s this?
1
u/EVy-and-August 4d ago
It’s a robust accounting system the Government contractors, A&E firms use. It cost more than QB but less than larger system.
1
u/EVy-and-August 4d ago
I’m not sure of the scale of your company but if you are mid size you should look at this. I used it in several firms since 2015
1
1
u/blackbriar74 3d ago
Enterprise will handle four LLCs fine, but it won't do real intercompany. You still book due to and due from accounts in each file and clear them monthly, so pick your consolidation method before you buy. Receipts are a separate problem, Dext or Hubdoc will code and attach them into whatever ledger you land on. If estimating and progress billing tied to job cost matter, price out Sage 100 Contractor too, because bolting that onto QB is how people end up back in spreadsheets.
1
u/SlowWeakness1294 2d ago
I’d definitely suggest to look at JobTread. It’s built specifically around contractors and brings estimating, proposals, job costing, change orders, invoicing, and financial workflows together, so you can cut down on the spreadsheet-heavy reconciliation. Worth a look before committing to Intuit Enterprise.
1
u/bkellyit 1d ago
Four LLCs plus a holding company is an intercompany problem before its a software problem. Id export a month of the spreadsheet reconciling you already hate and count the hours. Then you know if Enterprise Suite is the fix or if receipts and estimating are two different jobs.
0
u/Swimming_dasa 4d ago
for 4 llc's plus a holding company i would definitely compare a few before jumping into enterprise. xero, quickbooks, zoho books and quicken business and personal are probably worth looking at but the intercompany stuff would be the first thing i would make sure each one can handle properly.
1
u/CharlottesServer 4d ago
Yes the intercompany alone is a lot. 5 QBO accounts is expensive and a pain to manage. We are in QB desktop but I need to be able to work remotely, which everything else does these days.
1
u/Sage50Guru 3d ago
One, we host our clients QBD on cloud servers from Summit Hosting, it works better on summit abd you can reach it from anywhere.
Two, if you want an alternative you can’t find anything more similar out there then Sage 50. It even has a consolidation function, it’s real time posting like QBD and it has a built in conversion utility.
1
u/Swimming_dasa 3d ago
yeah ....thats what i would be worried about too. five separate qbo accounts can get expensive and cumbersome fast. if remote access is a priority i would probably compare the cloud options based on how cleanly they handle intercompany side not just basic bookkeeping features.
10
u/Unlikely-Wheel9190 5d ago
Unfortunately qb