Who is Muriel Murray and Why Should I Listen to Her?

“If you ask me, QuickBooks® is the greatest tool since the cordless drill for managing a PROFITABLE construction contracting business!”

But here's the bad news: QuickBooks is simple to use at a basic level, but it's not so easy to take it to the next level. And the worse news is that you have to take it to the next level, and beyond, to use it right in your construction business.

Bookkeeping for construction is complicated. Even experienced CPAs can get it wrong.

If you are a small construction contractor, QuickBooks is not quite set up to tell you what you need to know. Especially if you are using an older version, the sample construction company (Rock Castle Construction) is not even close to how you should set up. The newer sample, Quality-Built Construction, comes closer, but it still needs work.

And construction-related tutorials are practically non-existent.

OK, But I still don't understand why I should listen to you.

While a number of talented QuickBooks experts offer advice to contractors on the Internet, I'm the only one whose “day job” is in a construction company. Most of the other QB ProAdvisors training contractors and builders how to use QuickBooks are primarily accountants.

I'm a contractor first and foremost. Have been since I got together with my life partner Rob Wright back in the 80's.

My advice is from the trenches.

Whether you are a remodeling contractor, a trade contractor, or a light construction contractor, my goal is to help you with QB so it works better to help you manage profitably.

I want to fill my blog with QB tips and tricks and easy-to-follow step-by-step how-to's especially for small contractors.

I'm also working on some longer tutorials and training videos that I plan to offer for sale.

After struggling for years, making every mistake in the book, tweaking and improving along the way, I've finally learned how to manage our contracting business profitably with QuickBooks, and I'd like to share what I know.

I'm still learning a new trick every now and then, and I'll pass those along too.

I've been where you are.

Rob & I founded Cabinetry & Construction, Inc., together in 1992 to do full-service residential construction, additions, kitchens & baths, and whole house remodeling. I was the first to take and pass the contractor's exam to get our company licensed. Rob was busy winding down his previous construction company. For several years I worked with him as a “volunteer” while I did my own thing as a technology consultant (Electronic Cottage Industries, LLC), stepping in when he needed software set up or bookkeeping caught up.

I helped CCI make the transition from Quicken to QuickBooks back in 1998. At first we were completely lost with QuickBooks. We had a clever and sophisticated system for using Quicken to keep our books, but it just did not translate to QuickBooks. Fortunately we attended a trade show where Judith Miller was teaching a two-day intensive on how to use QuickBooks for construction.

The lightbulb went on for me. I hope to do the same for you.

I know what gets you up in the morning, and what keeps you awake at night. I have felt your pain, and I've known your joy.

Since 2001 I have been employed full-time as VP and Chief Financial Officer for Cabinetry & Construction, Inc. I operate my consulting business, Electronic Cottage Industries, LLC, on the side. In 2008 (you remember 2008, right?) I joined the QuickBooks ProAdvisor program to bring in some extra money while our construction company weathered the downturn.

I'm a practicing veteran of using QuickBooks in a contracting business. I've used QuickBooks since it first came out. I've been Certified in every version of QuickBooks since 2008, and I'm an Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor. I've also consulted with clients and taught classes on how to use QuickBooks in construction.

Your mileage may vary.

A couple of other points: Since I'm a construction executive first, I'm concerned mostly with using QuickBooks in ways that help me and my partner manage our contracting business profitably. I'm a small business profit and growth expert, but I do not pretend to be a CPA. I do not do our company's taxes. I have someone else do what is necessary to make the accounting gods and the IRS happy. Please consider this a blanket disclaimer that you must always consult your own CPA or tax preparer before you decide whether to take my advice.

Second point: I hope it will become obvious to you that I live and breathe construction just as Rob and you do. I know what gets you up in the morning, and what keeps you awake at night. I have felt your pain, and I've known your joy. I understand the delights of seeing beautiful work you've done with your own hands. I appreciate in my soul the fears, disappointments, frustrations, and ultimately the pure satisfaction that comes from owning a construction business.

I'm sure you wouldn't trade it for working for “the Man,” and neither would I.

My goal is to teach you everything I've been taught, and all the things I've figured out myself, to make QuickBooks work for our contracting business.

The Intuit Community site includes an excellent Builders & Contractors forum. For some reason Intuit makes you search for it. Sometimes the answers you find are too brief and incomplete. My goal for this blog and the other training materials I offer is to give more detailed and complete answers to the questions that come up on that forum, and any other questions my readers may raise.

But there's a problem…

I've been using QB so long, I don't know which questions to answer first! I don't remember what I needed to learn before I learned QB at the “black belt” level. I read the forums and discussion boards, and I can tell there's a lot of frustration out there. I don't want you to give up, because I can help. But first I need YOUR help.

To make sure I include everything you need to know, I need to ask you a favor… Would you please tell me…

What Is Your MOST Burning Question About How to Use QuickBooks for Your Contractor Business? 

Whether you have already struggled for a while with your own business (and QuickBooks), or you have just been laid off, or you want to fire your boss and start your own contracting business, whether you are a general contractor like we are, or specialize in one of the construction trades (Rob is licensed as a plumber, HVAC and gas-fitting contractor, too), I want to hear from you.

If you have a question, please leave it here. Even if I don't publish it, I'll do my best to answer it.