A Guide to QuickBooks for Plumbing Contractors and Businesses

by Team Tradify, July 7, 2023

Anyone who’s run a plumbing business knows how crucial it is to stay on top of finances. Ignoring the books will only make it harder to face tax time, and more difficult to maximise profit. But with the majority of your time already spent on the job, how can you efficiently and easily keep your finances in order? The answer for many is QuickBooks.

The key to maximising profit? Finding the right charge-out rate.

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1. What is accounting or bookkeeping software?

Bookkeeping software like QuickBooks keeps track of your financial records and lets you carry out core accounting functions like sending invoices and calculating tax, in one place. The majority of accounting systems are available online, saving your information securely in the cloud.

The best software providers should always deliver the following services:

  • Invoicing
  • Payroll
  • Bill payments
  • Accounting
  • Financial reporting

2. QuickBooks for plumbers - what is it and how does it work?

Online accounting software like QuickBooks has made running a profitable business easier than ever. It reduces the need for manual financial admin by automating things like reconciling expenses, organizing the payroll, and generating financial statements.

What’s the best QuickBooks version for your plumbing business?

However many jobs you turn over and no matter the size of your team, there’s likely a QuickBooks setup that works for you.

  • QuickBooks Online. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the job, in the van, or watching TV at home — QuickBooks Online lets you tackle financial admin from anywhere at any time. 
  • QuickBooks Desktop. If you prefer to do your bookkeeping in the office, QuickBooks Desktop has all the tools you’ll need with none of the fluff. Perfect for a company with an office-based team.

What are some of QuickBook’s core features?

  • Accounting  - Stay in control of your income and expenditure. Generate and record statements. Scan and file receipts to claim business expenses.
  • Payments - Accepting payment via credit and debit cards, ACH, and eCheck, QuickBooks affords flexibility and ease for you and your customers.
  • Payroll - Pay the right salaries on time, every time. Manage HR and employee bonuses. Automatically have your taxes calculated, filed and taxed.

Pricing and plan options

QuickBooks has a range of different plans suited to different budgets. Just like you’d do for any other plumbing tool, pick what suits your plumbing business best!

Simple Start - Best for new plumbing businesses

  • Track income and expenses
  • Send custom invoices and quotes
  • Connect to your bank
  • Track Sales Tax, GST VAT
  • Insights and reports
  • Capture and organize receipts
  • Progress invoicing
  • For one user, plus your accountant

Essentials - Best for plumbers wanting to consolidate their business

You can access the same features as Simple, plus:

  • Manage bills and payments
  • Track employee time
  • Multi-currency
  • For three users, plus an accountant

Plus - Best for plumbers expanding their business

You can access the same features as Essentials, plus:

  • Pay recurring transactions and bills
  • Track inventory
  • Track project profitability
  • Manage budgets
  • For five users, plus an accountant

3. What is plumbing software?

Today, digital tools like accounting software make plumbing contracting easier. But QuickBooks isn’t the only digital tool all good plumbers should be using. Tradify is the perfect all-in-one plumber’s business management software to streamline and automate your business admin. 

Here’s an overview of what Tradify can do for you:

  • Schedule and manage jobs on the go, from the palm of your hand.
  • Use customizable templates, and upload material lists with prices.
  • Send quotes and invoices from anywhere, helping you get paid faster.
  • Schedule appointments with other plumbing professionals through our connections feature.
  • Record inquiries so you never miss a lead. Tradify will automatically turn them into quotes.
  • Connect Tradify with Google Calendar to see who’s closest to a job for faster uptake.

4. The benefits of bringing the two systems together

Picking the right digital tools is just as important as picking the right pipe cutter. The last thing you want is a mind-melting maze of software and apps.

Tradify syncs with all the best bookkeeping software providers, like QuickBooks. That means you can use whichever app is most suitable for the issue at hand, safe in the knowledge that any data entered has been shared with the other app too.

There are plenty of reasons why plumbers choose Tradify synced with QuickBooks to oversee their accounts and admin:

One source of truth. Tradify and QuickBooks share information with each other, so you only have to enter data once. For example, if a client asks you to repair his piping, you can generate an estimate in Tradify, turn it into an invoice when the job is accepted, and all the information from it will automatically sync to your QuickBooks account. That’s ideal for saving you precious time and simplifying the admin!

Work faster, not harder. When you’ve always got a busy work schedule, there’s no time to double-handle data. With QuickBooks and Tradify’s integrated automated system, you don’t have to manually create all your documents. Made an estimate? Automatically convert it into an invoice, saving you time and energy.

Take control of your finances. Running a viable plumbing business is easiest when you and your accountant are on the same page. By integrating QuickBooks with Tradify, you and your accountant can access all the same data in just one click. That means no more wasted time chasing each other for important figures.

5. How to integrate QuickBooks and Tradify

Connecting Tradify with Quickbooks is simple:

  • Head to Settings, click ‘Integrations’, and then ‘QuickBooks’.
  • Select ‘Log in to QuickBooks’. You’ll be redirected to QuickBooks to log in and authorize Tradify.
  • Enter your QuickBooks login details and click ‘Sign in’.
  • Select ‘Authorize’ to allow data sharing between Tradify and QuickBooks.
  • Next, you’ll be redirected to Tradify and four new account fields.
  • Choose the appropriate account codes for labor, materials, your bank account, and purchases using the fields provided, and click ‘OK’.

Want to discover the benefits of an integrated digital business management system for yourself? Then sign up for a 14-day free trial with Tradify!

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This article is not intended to be financial advice. Please discuss your individual financial situation with your registered financial advisor, bookkeeper, or accountant.