Monthly job costing for local trades and kitchens

Contractors, restaurants, cafés, small workshops and producers whose costs change often with materials, wages and supplier prices.

A monthly retainer based on the size and complexity of the business, often with a one-off setup fee for building the costing system.

• Bookkeeping and cost tracking
• Spreadsheets or accounting software
• Building trust with business owners
• Reliable monthly routine

• Protected titles: check your provincial CPA body's rules before describing your services as accounting
• Professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance and general liability for site visits
• Handling confidential client data, so check privacy obligations and keep records secure
• Retainers can be cancelled quickly, so avoid depending on one or two clients
• Check local business licence rules and GST/HST registration thresholds
• Quebec clients may expect French-language service and documents, so check the requirements

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your software, equipment and insurance. Check whether you need professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance, plus general liability cover for site visits.

Check your provincial CPA body's rules before describing your services as accounting. Also check insurance needs, privacy obligations for confidential client data, local business licence rules, GST/HST registration thresholds, and French-language expectations if you serve Quebec clients.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on how many retainer clients you have. Retainers can be cancelled quickly, so avoid depending on one or two clients.