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Job costing and profit, in plain English
Practical guides for tradespeople who want to know what each job actually made. No accounting jargon.
What Is Job Costing? A Plain-English Guide for Solo Tradespeople
Job costing means tracking what one job actually costs you, then comparing it to what you charged. Here's how it works, in plain English, for solo tradespeople.
How to Track Job Costs From Receipts (Without a Spreadsheet)
Every job cost comes with a receipt. Here's how to turn that pile of slips into real profit per job, without a spreadsheet and without typing anything up at night.
The Best Receipt Scanner App for Tradespeople (and Why Rewards Apps Are Not It)
Most receipt scanner apps are built for reward points or corporate expense reports. Here's what a tradesperson actually needs: every receipt logged against the job.
How to Itemize a Receipt for Job Costing (Line by Line)
Itemizing a receipt means breaking it into its individual line items, not just the total. Here's why that matters for accurate job costs, and how to do it fast.
Job Cost Accounting Explained (in Plain English for Trades)
Job cost accounting sounds like something only a bookkeeper needs. In plain English, it's just knowing what each job costs you. Here's what it means for a trade.
Sole Trader Bookkeeping Software: What UK Tradespeople Actually Need
Bookkeeping software keeps HMRC happy, but it cannot tell you what a job made. Here's what UK sole traders in the trades actually need, and how the pieces fit.
Job Costing for Contractors: A Simple System for Solo and Small Operators
Most job costing advice is written for contractors with an office and a crew. Here's a simple, receipt-first system for the solo and small operator running from one van.
Job Costing for Electricians: How to Know What Each Job Actually Made You
Most electricians price by instinct and discover margins only at year end. Here's what real job costing looks like for a sole trader or small electrical business.
Job Costing for Plumbers: Track What Each Job Actually Costs You
Plumbers often price jobs well but still find margins are thin at year end. Job costing shows you why, job by job, without a spreadsheet or accounting software.
Job Costing for HVAC Techs: Know What Each Install and Service Call Really Made
HVAC jobs swing from quick service calls to multi-day installs. Here's how job costing shows what each one actually made, without a spreadsheet or accounting software.
9 Best Apps for Electricians in 2026 (Estimating, Invoicing, and Job Profit)
The best apps for electricians in 2026, led by VanReceipts for estimates, invoices, expenses, mileage, and job profit, plus the scheduling and reference tools that fill the gaps.
9 Best Apps for Plumbers in 2026 (Estimating, Invoicing, and Job Profit)
The best apps for plumbers in 2026, led by VanReceipts for estimates, invoices, expenses, mileage, and job profit, plus the scheduling and reference tools that fill the gaps.
QuickBooks Job Costing for Contractors: Setup, Limits, and the Receipt Problem
Yes, QuickBooks can do job costing. Here's how to set it up with Projects, where it breaks down for solo trades, and how to fix the receipt-to-job gap it leaves.
QuickBooks Job Costing: Why It Falls Short for Solo Contractors (And What Works Instead)
QuickBooks doesn't give solo tradespeople per-job profit. Here's what it can and cannot do for job costing, and the alternative that actually works from the front seat of a van.
OCR Receipt Scanner: Why On-Device Processing Beats the Cloud for Tradespeople
Most receipt scanner apps upload your receipts to a cloud server. Here's why on-device OCR is faster, more private, and more accurate for tradespeople in the field.