Bookkeeping for fence and deck builders
A fence or deck builder collects a deposit, buys lumber and hardware before the crew arrives, and gets the balance at completion. Mispar tracks each job from deposit to final payment, matches supply bills to the right customer, and prepares monthly books in your own QuickBooks Online or Xero file. Plans start at $229/mo.
Best for: Residential fence installers, deck and pergola builders, and small outfits that do both.
By job
Deposits
Matched
Lumber and hardware
Reconciled
Crew pay
Tracked
Permits
Where fencing and deck builder books usually go wrong
- Lumber and hardware bought without job coding.
- Crew pay not tied to jobs.
- Deposits booked as income before work.
How Mispar keeps your fence and deck builders books clean
Industry-specific accounts and categorization, with the reporting scope agreed before work starts.
Customer deposits
Hold deposits as money owed against the job until work begins, using a treatment agreed with your CPA.
Lumber, posts and hardware
Match yard and supplier invoices to the job they were bought for, including returns and leftover stock.
Crew and helper pay
Tie crew pay to payroll or contractor records and to the job where the days were worked.
Permits and inspection fees
Record permit costs per job so a pass-through fee is not mistaken for overhead.
Seasonal demand
Show spring and summer volume against slow months so the schedule is planned from real numbers.
Warranty and repair visits
Tag return visits so repeat work is visible apart from billable jobs.
Permit pass-throughs and HOA fees
Record permit and association approval fees charged to a customer separately from your own overhead.
Equipment and trailer costs
Track augers, saws and trailers apart from materials, since they serve many jobs.
Reports a fencing or deck builder can use
- Job profit with material and labor.
- Open deposits.
- Crew payments by person.
A simple, predictable process
From kickoff to your first clean close, here is exactly what happens.
Map jobs and payments
We list how deposits, final payments and supplier accounts work.
Set up job and materials tracking
Each job gets a tag so lumber, labor and permits line up with revenue.
Reconcile each month
Customer payments, yard bills, payroll and card spending are matched to the bank and to the job.
Deliver monthly statements
Monthly statements arrive ready for your CPA with an open-items list.
Illustrative example
A homeowner pays a deposit in March for a deck built in May. The deposit sits as owed work until the job starts, so the spring books are not inflated by a payment for work not yet done. This is an illustration of the method, not a customer case or a guarantee.
Fence and Deck Builders bookkeeping — your questions
How are deposits recorded?
As owed against the job until work begins, using a treatment agreed with your CPA.
Can you track lumber cost by job?
When invoices or tags identify the job, yes. Bulk orders are split on a rule we agree with you.
What do you need each month to keep fence and deck builder books?
Invoice and payment exports, supplier statements, permit receipts, payroll or contractor pay records and access to your bank and card feeds.
Can you handle crews paid by the job?
Yes. Piece-rate pay is matched to contractor records and tagged to each job.
Do you give tax advice? (fence and deck builders)
No. We keep the books and hand them to your CPA, who advises on tax.
Can you track permits per job?
Yes. Permit fees are tied to the job and shown as a pass-through when you bill them.
Can you track material by job?
Yes. Receipts are coded to each job.
Can you handle jobs that span two months?
Yes. Deposits, material and labor are tagged to the job so each month shows what belongs to it.
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Learn more →Customers slow to pay?
Our in-house collections team calls and emails customers who owe your company money, so you can stay focused on the work.