Construction accounting & bookkeeping built for Michigan contractors
FinTruction provides construction accounting and bookkeeping in Michigan for general contractors, subcontractors, concrete companies, HVAC contractors, roofers, electricians, plumbers, and industrial builders. Our construction accounting and bookkeeping services include job costing, percentage of completion accounting, retainage tracking, AIA billing support, subcontractor payment tracking, and monthly contractor financial reporting.
Construction companies in Michigan operate across automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and residential sectors with seasonal challenges and complex project environments. Traditional small-business bookkeeping is not enough for contractors who need accurate job costing, WIP reporting, and construction-specific financial tracking.
We provide contractor bookkeeping services in Michigan designed specifically for construction businesses. Our team maintains clean, reconciled, CPA-ready financial records that account for seasonal fluctuations and multi-project environments.
Every construction platform claims to have a "QuickBooks integration." Most break the moment your books need to be accurate. Sales tax mismaps, retainage disappears, change orders create duplicates, and job costing reports stop matching project reality. We fix the integration so your software, your books, and your job‑level numbers all tell the same story.
Also work with Foundation, Sage 100, Bill.com, ADP, Gusto, Ramp, and more. See all platforms we integrate →
We set up and manage job costing systems so contractors in Michigan can track every dollar by project. Whether you are building EV battery plants, auto manufacturing facilities, or residential developments, our team ensures accurate cost allocation, budget monitoring, and margin analysis across all active jobs.
We prepare WIP schedules and manage revenue recognition for construction companies in Michigan. Whether you are bidding on public infrastructure projects or reporting to bonding companies for large industrial builds, accurate WIP schedules are non-negotiable.
Retainage is one of the most mismanaged line items in construction accounting. Michigan contractors working on large automotive, industrial, and infrastructure projects often hold significant retainage balances that must be tracked precisely. FinTruction manages retainage receivable and retainage payable at the project level so your balance sheet always reflects the true financial position of your construction company.
Michigan contractors face a tax landscape that includes the Corporate Income Tax, individual income tax on pass-through entities, personal property tax on construction equipment, and sales tax on materials. Our construction tax planning services align your job costing, WIP reporting, and revenue recognition with federal and state tax requirements so you stay compliant and minimize your tax burden.
Growing construction companies in Michigan need more than bookkeeping. Our controller services and CFO services give you executive-level financial oversight without the cost of a full-time hire. We provide strategic financial guidance tailored to how Michigan construction businesses operate across automotive, industrial, and infrastructure sectors.
Our construction accounting services support a wide range of contractors and specialty trades operating across Michigan. Whether you are building EV battery plants in the metro area or managing residential developments in West Michigan, we build financial systems that match the way your construction business works.
Are You a Contractor in Michigan?
Let's Build Your Financial ClarityMichigan is one of the most dynamic construction markets in the Midwest, driven by the automotive industry's transformation, major infrastructure investment, and steady residential and commercial growth. The state consistently sees billions of dollars in construction activity ranging from massive EV battery plant developments to Great Lakes bridge and highway projects.
The shift to electric vehicle manufacturing has created a surge in industrial construction across Michigan. Major automakers including General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis are investing billions in retooling existing plants and building new EV and battery manufacturing facilities. These large-scale projects require contractors who can manage complex job costing across multiple phases and extended timelines.
Infrastructure investment is another major driver of construction activity. The Gordie Howe International Bridge, highway reconstruction projects funded through federal infrastructure legislation, and water system upgrades throughout the state are generating steady demand for contractors. Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and the metro Detroit suburbs continue to see strong residential and commercial development as well.
Michigan's harsh winters add a seasonal dimension to construction accounting. Many contractors experience significant revenue fluctuations between summer peak seasons and winter slowdowns. FinTruction understands these patterns and builds accounting systems that help Michigan contractors manage cash flow, plan for seasonal labor costs, and maintain accurate financial reporting year-round.
Michigan Construction Lien Act: The Michigan Construction Lien Act (MCL 570.1101 et seq.) gives contractors, subcontractors, laborers, and material suppliers the right to file a construction lien if they are not paid for work performed. Strict notice requirements and filing deadlines apply. A Notice of Furnishing must be provided within 20 days of first furnishing labor or materials, and a lien must be recorded within 90 days of the last furnishing date. FinTruction helps Michigan contractors maintain project-level accounting that preserves lien rights by tracking contract amounts, payments received, and outstanding balances.
Prevailing Wage (Federal Projects): Michigan repealed its state prevailing wage law in 2018. However, contractors working on federally funded construction projects must still comply with the Davis-Bacon Act, which requires payment of prevailing wages as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor. Certified payroll reports must be submitted for each pay period on covered projects. FinTruction tracks Davis-Bacon wage requirements and prepares certified payroll documentation for Michigan contractors working on federal projects.
Michigan Contractor Licensing: Michigan requires residential builders and maintenance and alteration contractors to be licensed through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). Commercial contractors are not required to hold a state license but must comply with local municipal licensing and permit requirements. Workers compensation insurance is mandatory for all employers. Our financial reporting ensures licensing fees, insurance costs, and compliance-related expenses are accurately tracked in your accounting system.
Sales Tax on Construction Materials: Michigan imposes a 6 percent sales tax on construction materials purchased by contractors. Unlike some states, Michigan does not exempt most construction materials from sales tax. Contractors performing work on projects for tax-exempt organizations may qualify for exemptions with proper documentation. FinTruction helps Michigan contractors manage sales tax compliance within their job costing and accounts payable workflows.
MIOSHA Safety Compliance: The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) enforces workplace safety standards for construction sites throughout the state. While safety compliance is not directly an accounting function, the costs associated with MIOSHA compliance including safety training, equipment, inspections, and potential penalties must be tracked at the project level. FinTruction integrates these safety-related costs into your job costing system for accurate project profitability analysis.
Unlike general accounting firms, we specialize exclusively in construction accounting and contractor bookkeeping.
FinTruction provides construction accounting in Michigan that integrates directly with the systems contractors already use. We connect your construction management software, payroll systems, and accounting platforms to create real time financial visibility and accurate job costing.
We configure QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop specifically for construction companies in Michigan. From chart of accounts structure to job costing classes and progress invoicing, we set up your QuickBooks so it works the way contractors need it to.
Need QuickBooks Setup for Your Construction Business?
We integrate your accounting system with the construction management tools your company already uses. Accurate integrations reduce manual work and improve financial reporting accuracy.
Our construction accounting services in Michigan ensure your systems communicate properly so job costs, revenue, and expenses are tracked accurately.
Labor is one of the largest costs for construction companies in Michigan. We integrate payroll systems with job costing to ensure accurate labor allocation to each project, including seasonal workforce management.
With properly integrated construction accounting systems, contractors in Michigan gain:
FinTruction builds accounting systems that support decision making, not just compliance.
FinTruction provides construction accounting services across major cities in Michigan. Select your city below to learn more about our contractor bookkeeping and job costing services in your area.
Construction accounting is a specialized branch of accounting tailored to the unique needs of construction businesses. Unlike regular accounting, it focuses on job costing, percentage of completion revenue recognition, WIP reporting, retainage tracking, and project-level financial analysis.
Michigan contractors deal with complex financial structures including retainage, progress billing, job costing, seasonal cash flow swings due to harsh winters, and multi-project tracking across automotive, industrial, and infrastructure sectors. General bookkeeping does not account for these construction-specific requirements.
Michigan imposes a Corporate Income Tax of 6 percent on C-corporations. Pass-through entities such as S-corps, LLCs, and partnerships report income on individual returns subject to Michigan's flat 4.25 percent income tax. Construction companies must also manage personal property tax on equipment and vehicles used across job sites throughout the state.
Michigan repealed its state prevailing wage law in 2018. However, federal Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements still apply to federally funded construction projects in Michigan. Some local municipalities and project owners may also impose wage requirements through project labor agreements. FinTruction tracks wage compliance obligations on a project-by-project basis.
Michigan's severe winters create seasonal revenue fluctuations for many contractors. Projects slow or stop during winter months, creating cash flow gaps. Construction accounting must account for seasonal labor costs, equipment winterization expenses, project delay impacts on WIP schedules, and working capital management to bridge low-revenue periods.
Yes. QuickBooks Online can be configured for construction accounting when set up correctly. FinTruction specializes in setting up QuickBooks for Michigan contractors with proper chart of accounts, job costing classes, progress invoicing, and retainage tracking so your books are structured for construction from day one.
The Michigan Construction Lien Act provides contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers the right to file a lien against a property if they are not paid for work performed or materials furnished. Strict notice and filing deadlines apply, including a Notice of Furnishing within 20 days and lien recording within 90 days of last furnishing. Proper accounting ensures lien rights are preserved by documenting contract amounts, payments received, and balances owed at the project level.
Yes. Michigan is a hub for electric vehicle and battery manufacturing facility construction. These large-scale industrial projects require multi-phase job costing, equipment tracking, prevailing wage compliance on federally funded components, and detailed WIP reporting for bonding and financing purposes. FinTruction supports contractors working on EV and advanced manufacturing construction projects throughout the state.
The cost of construction accounting services depends on the size of your company, the number of active projects, transaction volume, and the complexity of your financial reporting needs. FinTruction offers customized pricing based on your specific requirements. Schedule a free consultation and we will provide a clear proposal with no hidden fees.
FinTruction provides construction accounting services across all of Michigan including Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Flint, Kalamazoo, and the Upper Peninsula. Our services are fully remote so we can support construction companies anywhere in the state.
Ready for Professional Construction Accounting?
If you are searching for construction accounting in Michigan, contractor bookkeeping services, or job costing support, FinTruction is ready to help your construction business gain financial clarity and profitability control.
Looking for professional construction accounting in Michigan? Fill out the short form below and our contractor bookkeeping team will contact you within 24 hours.