Running a construction or trades business comes with a set of financial challenges that most bookkeepers are simply not equipped to handle. Subcontractor payments, job costing, progress claims, retentions, and the compliance demands of a mixed workforce all require someone who knows how building businesses actually work.
At East Coast BBS, construction and trades have been part of our practice from the very beginning. Melissa’s own background is in the family building and construction industry, and that foundation has shaped how our whole team approaches this sector. We understand the financial pressure of project-based work, the complexity of subcontractor arrangements, and the cash flow challenges that come with waiting on clients to pay.
Whether you’re a sole trader electrician in Nowra, a building company working across the Shoalhaven, or a trades business growing into Wollongong and beyond, we’re the bookkeeper that understands your world.
What we do
Job costing and project tracking
We set up and maintain job costing in your accounting software so you always know where each project stands financially. Track labour, materials, and subcontractor costs by job, and understand your margins in real time rather than at the end of the year.
Subcontractor payments and PAYG withholding
We manage subcontractor payments correctly, including PAYG withholding obligations where applicable, so you stay compliant with ATO requirements without getting caught out at BAS time.
Payroll for construction businesses
We handle payroll for employees and mixed workforces, managing award rates, allowances, and entitlements under the Building and Construction General On-site Award. Whether your team is two people or twenty, we keep payroll accurate and on time.
BAS preparation and lodgement
As registered BAS agents, we prepare and lodge your Business Activity Statements accurately and on time. We receive a four-week extension on lodgements and payments, giving your business extra breathing room at the end of each quarter.
Progress claims and accounts receivable
We help you manage the timing of progress claims and keep a close eye on outstanding payments, so the cash keeps moving as projects progress.
Cash flow management for project-based businesses
Project income is lumpy by nature. We help you understand your cash position between projects, plan for quieter periods, and avoid the common trap of being busy on site while struggling to pay the bills.
Software setup for construction
We set up Xero or MYOB correctly for construction businesses, including job tracking, subcontractor management, and reporting that reflects how your business actually operates.
Who this is for
- Builders, contractors, and construction companies of all sizes
- Sole trader tradies across electrical, plumbing, carpentry, concreting, landscaping, and painting
- Project-based businesses with fluctuating income and complex payment cycles
- Construction businesses transitioning from spreadsheets to cloud accounting
- Businesses operating across Nowra, Shoalhaven, Ulladulla, Wollongong, and the South Coast
Why choose East Coast BBS
- Construction is in our DNA — Melissa’s background in the family building and construction industry gives our team genuine insight into how these businesses work
- Real understanding of job costing, retentions, progress claims, and subcontractor arrangements
- Experienced management of mixed-workforce payroll under the building and construction award
- Registered BAS agents with a four-week lodgement extension
- Cash flow support to help you navigate the peaks and troughs of project-based income
- Based in South Nowra, serving construction clients across the Shoalhaven, Illawarra, and beyond
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work with sole trader tradies as well as larger construction companies?
Yes. We work with businesses of all sizes across the construction and trades sector, from sole trader electricians and plumbers through to multi-crew building companies. Our services are tailored to your business, so whether you’re a one-person operation or managing a team of twenty, we can put together the right level of support.
We use a job management app like BuildXact or ServiceM8 — can you work with it?
In most cases, yes. Many of the construction and trades businesses we work with use job management software alongside their accounting platform. We are experienced in working across multiple systems and can advise on the best way to connect your job management app with Xero or MYOB so your financial records stay accurate and up to date.
How do you handle PAYG withholding for subcontractors?
PAYG withholding for subcontractors is an area where many construction businesses get caught out. As registered BAS agents, we manage your withholding obligations correctly, including the Taxable Payments Annual Report (TPAR) that the ATO requires for the building and construction industry. We make sure you are compliant without having to think about it.
Our business is based outside Nowra — can you still support us?
Absolutely. While we are based in South Nowra, we work with clients across the Shoalhaven, Ulladulla, Wollongong, Illawarra, and all over Australia. Most of our work is done remotely through cloud accounting software, so distance is not a barrier to getting great bookkeeping support.
We have fallen behind on our books — can you help us get back on track?
Yes, and you would not be the first tradie to come to us in that situation. We can conduct a bookkeeping health check, identify what needs to be addressed, and get your records back up to date as efficiently as possible. Once we have caught up, we can put a regular process in place so it does not happen again.
