Accounting Logbook Types

The MacNail construction accounting software lets you choose how to handle each type of expense.

Handling Labor

* If you have employees, you will nearly always want to use the Labor Log. Besides providing highly accurate job costing, it also lets you run Payroll automatically from the same time-card information.
* Even if you have only supervisors on your payroll, you will probably benefit from the more accurate job costing that is possible with the Labor Log. If you rarely run more than one job at once, however, you may be able to handle your labor costs directly through the Checkbook Ledger.
* You can use the Labor Log to handle 'subcontracted employees' that you pay by the hour and supervise directly, without withholding taxes. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to justify such a relationship to tax authorities. Unless there are dramatic changes in tax law, you will probably want to convert to either a full and formal subcontractual relationship, or a full employer/employee relationship.

Handling Materials:

* If you buy materials directly for at least parts of your projects, you will nearly always want to use the Material Log. Besides providing highly accurate job costing, it also lets you run Accounts Payable automatically with the same information (see page 193).
* If nearly all of your work is subcontracted, with subcontractors buying nearly all of their own materials, you may be able to handle the remaining material purchases directly from the Checkbook Ledger.

Handling Subcontractors:

* In most cases, you can probably handle subcontractors directly from the Checkbook Ledger. If nearly all of your subcontractor payments cover just one job and just one construction category, the Checkbook Ledger should suffice.
* If many of your subcontractor payments cover more than one job or more than one construction category, then use the Subcontractor Log.

Handling Miscellaneous Payments:

* In most cases, you can probably handle miscellaneous payments directly from the Checkbook Ledger. If nearly all of your miscellaneous payments cover just one job and just one construction category, the Checkbook Ledger should suffice.
* If many of your miscellaneous payments cover more than one job or more than one construction category, then use the Misc Log.