We're a small operation — do we really need a bookkeeper?

If you're billing more than $300K a year, yes. At that level, the cost of bad financial data (missed deductions, poor pricing, cash surprises) far exceeds the cost of clean books. Most of our trades clients wish they'd started sooner.

How do you know what margins are normal for our trade?

We work with trades businesses across multiple specialties and track industry benchmarks from RSMeans, NAHB, and trade association data. We'll show you where you stand and what the top performers in your trade look like.

We use QuickBooks — can you work with that?

Yes. We work in QuickBooks Online and Desktop. We can also help you set up job costing within QuickBooks if it's not already configured, so your books actually tell you something useful.

What's a break-even analysis and why does it matter?

A break-even analysis tells you exactly how much you need to bill each month to cover all your costs and pay yourself. Once you know your break-even, you can price jobs with confidence and know when you're actually making money.

Can you help us figure out if we should hire another crew?

Yes — that's exactly the kind of decision our advisory work is built for. We'll model out the financial impact of adding headcount, including the revenue needed to cover the additional cost and the timeline to profitability.

Specialty trades accounting for plumbers, electricians, HVAC, and other contractors

Specialty Trades & Subcontractors

You're Good at Your Trade.
Your Numbers Should Be Too.

Most trade contractors are excellent at their craft and flying blind on their finances. We fix that — with break-even clarity, cash flow visibility, and the margin discipline to run the business you actually want.

Serving plumbers, electricians, HVAC, framing, excavation, roofing, and specialty subcontractors across Montana and the Mountain West.

Get in Touch See What We Fix

Who We Work With

$300K–$5M

Annual Revenue

Specialty trade contractors

1–25 employees

Team Size

Owner-operated crews

Owner-operated

Business Type

Sole prop to S-Corp

Overwhelmed & overworked

Common Challenge

Ready for real visibility into what's working

What Keeps Trades Owners Up at Night

Sound Familiar?

These aren't accounting problems. They're business problems that better reporting and control discipline can solve.

Bidding on Gut Feel

You're pricing jobs based on experience, not numbers. Some jobs make money. Some don't. You're not sure which — and neither is your bank account.

Cash Flow Whiplash

You finish a big job, pay your crew, buy materials for the next one — and suddenly you're waiting on a check that's 45 days out. Cash flow is feast or famine.

No Idea What Your Net Margin Really Is

Revenue looks fine. But after materials, labor, fuel, insurance, and equipment — what's actually left? Most trades owners don't know their true net margin.

Owner Pay Is Whatever's Left

You pay everyone else first — crew, subs, suppliers — and take what's left. There's no structure to your own compensation, which creates tax problems and no predictability.

Bookkeeping Is an Afterthought

You're running the business from your truck. Receipts pile up. QuickBooks hasn't been touched in months. Tax time is a scramble every year.

No Benchmark for 'Good'

Is a 12% net margin good for a plumbing company? What should your overhead ratio be? Without industry benchmarks, you're flying blind on whether your numbers are healthy.

Growing But Not Profitable

Revenue is up. You're busier than ever. But somehow there's less money at the end of the month. Growth without margin discipline is a trap — and it's common in trades.

What Are You Trying to Solve?

Not Everyone Wants to Grow. That's Fine.

Tell us where you are, and we'll meet you there.

I Want to Grow

We build the financial infrastructure that makes scaling safe — not just fast. Job costing, cash flow forecasting, and the controls to support a bigger operation without chaos.

I Want to Work Less

We find the margin leaks and inefficiencies so you keep more of what you already earn. Better pricing, cleaner books, and a business that doesn't need you in it every hour.

I Want to Exit Someday

We build the books and valuation story that makes your business worth what it should be. Clean financials, documented systems, and a transition-ready operation.

Not every trades owner wants to be bigger.Some want to work smarter, keep more, and have a life outside the business. That's a completely valid goal — and we can help with that too. The starting point is the same either way: know your numbers.

What Good Looks Like

A Business That Runs the Way You Want It To

Whether you want to grow, work less, or eventually sell — it all starts with knowing your numbers. Here's what that foundation looks like.

Break-Even Clarity

You know your exact monthly break-even number. Every bid is priced to cover costs, pay you fairly, and generate margin — not just keep the lights on.

Cash Flow Predictability

A rolling 13-week forecast means no surprises. You know three months out whether you'll have a cash gap — and you have time to act before it becomes a crisis.

Margin by Job Type

You know which types of jobs are most profitable for your business. You bid more of those, and you stop chasing low-margin work that keeps you busy but doesn't build wealth.

Structured Owner Pay

Your compensation is planned, consistent, and tax-efficient. You're not just taking what's left — you're paying yourself like the business owner you are.

Clean Monthly Books

Your financials are updated every month, not just at tax time. You can answer 'how's business?' with a real number, not a feeling.

Benchmarked Performance

You know how your margins, overhead, and labor costs compare to top performers in your trade. You have a target to aim for — not just a hope.

How We Help

Services Built for Trades Businesses

From break-even analysis to full controller services — we meet you where you are and build toward where you want to go.

Break-Even Analysis

Know exactly what you need to bill each month to cover costs and pay yourself. Stop guessing on pricing.

Cash Flow Forecasting

A 13-week rolling forecast so you always know what's coming in, what's going out, and when to be concerned.

Job Costing Setup

Track labor, materials, and overhead by job so you know which work is profitable and which is costing you.

Bookkeeping

Clean, consistent monthly books. No more scrambling at tax time or guessing at your numbers.

Owner Pay Structure

Set up a predictable, tax-efficient compensation structure so you're not just taking what's left.

Industry Benchmarking

Compare your margins, overhead ratios, and labor costs against industry averages for your trade.

Tax Planning & Prep

Proactive tax strategy for owner-operated trades businesses — not just filing, but planning ahead.

Controller Services

When you're ready to scale, we build the financial controls and reporting that let you grow with confidence.

Trades We Serve

Your Trade Is on Our List

Excavation & Grading

Framing Contractors

Plumbing

Electrical

HVAC

Roofing

Concrete & Masonry

Drywall & Insulation

Painting

Landscaping & Irrigation

Welding & Fabrication

Flooring & Tile

+ Don't see your trade? Ask us.

The Transformation

Before & After 406

Before 406

Pricing jobs based on gut feel

Cash flow surprises every month

Owner takes whatever's left

No idea what net margin actually is

Bookkeeping done at tax time

After 406

Break-even clarity on every bid

13-week cash flow forecast always current

Structured, tax-efficient owner pay

Monthly P&L with margin by job type

Clean books updated every month

Start the Conversation

Client Results

What We've Done for Trades Contractors

Real outcomes from real trades businesses — not projections.

Profitability22% margin lift

HVAC Contractor — $3.2M, Idaho

Implemented job-level costing by technician and service type. Owner discovered residential service calls were subsidizing commercial installs. Realigned pricing and recovered $180K in annual margin.

Cash Flow$400K freed up

Electrical Sub — $6.8M, Montana

Built a 13-week cash flow model around draw schedules and sub payment timing. Identified $400K in receivables that had aged past 60 days without follow-up. Collections process overhauled in 30 days.

BondingBonding limit 2×

Plumbing Company — $5.1M, Colorado

Cleaned up 2 years of commingled books, separated personal and business expenses, and built a CPA-reviewed financial package. Surety doubled their bonding limit within one quarter.

Client Testimonials

What Trades Contractors Say

“I never knew which service calls were profitable until 406 set up job costing by technician. Now I can see it in real time. We stopped taking calls that were losing us money.”

Jason K.

HVAC Contractor, $3.2M revenue, Idaho

“406 doubled our bonding limit in one quarter. Our old CPA had no idea what a surety underwriter needed to see. 406 did.”

Brian M.

Electrical Contractor, $6.8M revenue, Montana

Common Questions

Questions We Hear from Trades Owners

Free Tool

Job Costing Calculator

Know your true cost per job — including labor burden, materials, equipment, overhead, and markup. Built for trades contractors who need to bid profitably.

Open Calculator

Ready to Know Your Numbers?

Ready to See What's Holding You Back?

We'll look at your current financials, identify where the gaps are, and tell you exactly what we'd do to fix them. No pressure, no jargon.

Serving specialty trades and subcontractors across Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, and the Mountain West.

Get in Touch View Advisory Projects

You're Good at Your Trade.Your Numbers Should Be Too.