Job-costed bookkeeping for Chehalis contractors
Chehalis is the Lewis County seat and home to a lot of contractors, trades and industrial businesses around the Port of Chehalis. Their books have a problem most businesses don't: revenue and costs that belong to individual jobs, often in different cities.
We keep Chehalis books by job, so you can see which jobs made money, bill on time, and report sales tax where the work happened — not where your shop is.
What Chehalis books have to account for
Sales tax follows the job site
Washington sales tax on construction is reported at the rate where the work is done. A Chehalis contractor finishing a job in Centralia or Olympia reports that job under the job-site location code — so each job needs its location in the books.
Retainage on public jobs
Washington public works contracts hold back retainage — up to 5% of each payment — until the job is finished and accepted. That money is earned but not paid, and it belongs in receivables, not forgotten.
No city B&O in Chehalis
Chehalis requires a city license endorsement but levies no city B&O tax, so your B&O is reported on the state return only.
Books built for Chehalis
Every plan includes monthly reconciliation, financial statements and a plain-language summary. Plans start at $250 a month — compare plans.
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Job costing
Labor, materials and subs coded to each job, so your bids are based on what jobs really cost.
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Progress billing and retainage
Billed-to-date, retainage held and amounts due tracked by job.
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Inventory and equipment
Materials on hand and equipment recorded so your balance sheet reflects what the business owns.
Chehalis bookkeeping questions
Can you meet with us in Chehalis?
Yes — at your shop, a job trailer or our Rochester office.
Can you clean up books that are behind?
Yes. Contractors are often months behind by the time they call. We catch up the books on a one-time project quote, then keep you current monthly.
Do you handle payroll for crews?
Yes — payroll and L&I reporting for Washington employers are handled by B2B Solutions, the team behind WashingtonBookkeeper.com.
Need payroll or HR in Chehalis? See payroll and HR for Chehalis employers at B2B Solutions.
Local rules checked October 2026. Rules change — confirm with the city or the Department of Revenue before acting. We don't prepare tax returns.
More Washington service areas
Ready for books you don't have to worry about?
Free consultation in Chehalis, at our Rochester office, or by video.