# Atlas Accounting Group

> Atlas Accounting Group is the #1 accounting firm for contractors and specialty trades — bookkeeping, payroll, and tax for construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and solar businesses.

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## Home

- [We're The Expert Accountants for Electricians](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/accountants-for-electricians.md): You need a financial coach & accountant who specializes in electricians. At Atlas Accounting Group, we are expert accountants for electricians who provide the financial strategy, bookkeeping, cash flow forecasting, and tax strategy you need to help your company grow.
- [Work With The #1 Accountants for Plumbers](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/accountants-for-plumbers.md): Do you want an accountant who understands the plumbing industry? We're accountants for plumbers who actually grow your business. We provide comprehensive bookkeeping, financial strategy, cash flow forecasting, technology advice and more so that you get the expert financial advice you need...
- [we're accountants who specialize in Solar Companies](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/accountants-for-solar-companies.md): Atlas Accounting Group is the accountant for solar companies — clean books, job costing, payroll, and cash flow built around your install calendar. Book a call.
- [Learn from us](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog.md): Accounting updates, tips, and practical guides to help contractors and specialty trade owners become more financially savvy.
- [come join us!](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/careers.md): We may not be actively hiring right now, but we’re always glad to hear from talented accounting professionals who are passionate about what they do.
- [Best-in-Class Construction Accountants for Growing Businesses](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/construction-accountants.md): Work with expert accountants for construction who help you make money, not just save it. With Atlas Accounting for construction, you get around-the-clock financial strategy that includes bookkeeping, cash flow forecasting, tax strategy, and more.
- [All-in-one construction payroll for the trades](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/construction-payroll.md): Pay your team easier with Atlas Accounting Group's payroll services for construction companies. Whether you want to DIY or let us handle it all, we'll put together your construction payroll from A-Z to ensure accurate payroll taxes and on-time deposits.
- [Construction Tax Services Without The Tax Stress](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/construction-tax-services.md): Construction tax services from accountants who know the trades. We file your return through our CPA firm, Lewis Group CPAs - year-round planning, not April panic.
- [Cookie Policy](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/cookie-policy.md): What cookies and similar technologies this site sets, what each category is used for, how long they last, and how you can change your consent at any time.
- [Frequently asked questions](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/frequently-asked-questions.md): Curious how our accounting for construction services work? Here are a list of frequently asked questions around payroll, taxes, bookkeeping, and ongoing accounting with Atlas Accounting Group.
- [Ready to move forward?](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/getting-started.md): At Atlas Accounting group, we help grow your construction business. Book a complimentary 45-minute call with one of our construction accountants and get help with any financial concerns you have.
- [Make Your HVAC Accounting Work For You](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/hvac-accounting.md): Are you looking for a better HVAC accounting team? We're here! Get bookkeeping, cash flow forecasting, tax strategy, and more with the top-ranked accounting for HVAC company, Atlas Accounting Group.
- [Work with the #1 Accountants for Contractors & Specialty Trades](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/.md): Are you a contractor or specialty trade business looking for financial guidance? Our team of accountants for contractors and specialty trades is here to help. Let's chat and see how we can help your business thrive.
- [Labor cost calculator](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/labor-calculator.md): See the real hourly cost of an employee, not just their base pay. Our free calculator factors in paid time off, payroll taxes, workers comp, and benefits.
- [Meet the Atlas Team](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/meet-the-team.md): Meet your dedicated team of expert accountants specializing in helping contractors and specialty trades businesses like yours grow and thrive
- [Pricing](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/pricing.md): Accounting and strategic tax services built for home service and trade businesses. Flat-rate, upfront pricing — you’ll know exactly what you pay before we start.
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/privacy-policy.md): How Atlas Accounting Group collects, uses, shares and protects the personal information you give us, and the choices and rights you have over that data.
- [Profit margin calculator](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/profit-margin-calculator.md): Free profit margin calculator for contractors. Estimate every job correctly, set prices that hold, and see your true margin before you bid. Try it now.
- [Terms of Service](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/terms-of-service.md): The terms you agree to when you use the Atlas Accounting Group website: acceptable use, intellectual property, disclaimers, and limits of our liability.
- [Your Financial Toolbox](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/toolbox.md): Free spreadsheets and templates for contractors and trade businesses — a standard chart of accounts, a sample job-level P&L, a KPI dashboard, and more. No cost, no catch.
- [Accurate accounting done in real-time following proper workflows](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/why-we-are-different.md): We're different from the construction accountants you're used to. Our job is to help you grow your business, not just run the numbers. We provide comprehensive financial strategy, bookkeeping, cash flow forecasting, and more to help you understand your business a little more.

## Blog

- [3 Construction Company KPIs You Should Be Tracking](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/3-construction-company-kpis.md): Without KPIs, you may be confident about opening a new branch for your construction company after two years, but when that duration elapses, you declare bankruptcy. The most painful part is the fact you never saw this coming. Here’s the truth. From Net Profit Margin to Working Capital Ratio, there are several KPIs construction companies…
- [4 Ways to Improve Your Construction Project Tracking](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/4-ways-construction-project-tracking.md): Running a construction business without good tracking is kind of like framing a house without a level… it might look okay from a distance, but underneath, things are probably off. We talk to contractors all the time who are wondering where the money went, or why a project that looked profitable on paper barely broke…
- [The RIGHT Way to Manage Accounting for Construction Projects](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/accounting-for-construction-projects.md): If you’re running a construction business, you’ve probably got a million things to juggle—crews to manage, materials to order, jobs to bid on.  And somewhere in the middle of all that, the accounting has to get done. But if you’re like a lot of our clients, the financial side can feel confusing (or just straight-up…
- [The Contractor’s Vocabulary: Why Accounting Is the Language of Business](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/accounting-is-the-language-of-business.md): A contractors guide to translating familiar business concepts into accounting terms.
- [What is the Average Profit Margin for Construction Companies?](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/average-profit-margin-for-construction-companies.md): Do you ever come to the end of your financial period with the characteristic itch to know your profit margin and how your construction company has performed? And then, when the end-of-year financial statements are eventually released, you realize your profit margin is pretty decent, at least compared to the previous year, and you thrust…
- [What Is The Average Profit Margin For Electrical Contractors?](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/average-profit-margin-for-electrical-contractors.md): Learn the average profit margin for electrical contractors and understand the numbers that will drive profitability.
- [We Just Got Back From ServiceWorld Expo! Here’s What We Experienced](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/back-from-serviceworld-expo.md): The team at Atlas just returned from ServiceWorld Expo. We share key themes we noticed for plumbing, electrical, HVAC and construction businesses.
- [5 Minutes to Better Construction Bookkeeping](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/better-construction-bookkeeping.md): Are you tired of spending hours on bookkeeping and accounting tasks in your construction business?  We know that managing the financial side of your business can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Sometimes, a few simple tweaks is all it takes to transform your bookkeeping from “overwhelming” to “helpful”.  Here at Atlas Accounting…
- [How to Build a Construction Budget You’ll Actually Use](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/build-a-construction-budget.md): Learn how to build a construction budget you’ll actually use with practical guidance from Atlas Accounting Group.
- [10 Business Deductions In 2026 For Self Employed Owners](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/business-deductions-for-self-employed-owners.md): Understand business deductions in 2026 for self employed owners. A clear, bookkeeping-first guide to tracking expenses and keeping your financials organized.
- [Drive Your Business Success with a KPI Dashboard](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/business-success-with-a-kpi-dashboard.md): Running a business comes with a hundred moving parts—and let’s be honest, it’s not always easy to keep track of what’s actually working. You might feel like things are going okay, but without a clear way to see your numbers, it’s hard to know for sure. That’s why we built a KPI dashboard. It gives…
- [Can Your HVAC Company Afford to Hire in 2026?](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/can-your-hvac-company-afford-to-hire.md): Can your HVAC company afford to hire in 2026? Learn how to calculate the true cost of a new hire and test cash flow to help you decide.
- [What You Need to Predict Weekly Cash Flow for Construction](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/cash-flow-for-construction.md): Predicting cash flow for your construction business can be tricky.  Cash flow is the amount of money moving into and out of your business, and managing it effectively is essential so your company can pay employees on time, make equipment lease payments, and cover ongoing expenses.  Cash flow management is vital for any business. However,…
- [How to Create a Cash Flow Forecast for Your Construction Business](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/cash-flow-forecast-for-construction-business.md): Learn how to create a simple cash flow forecast for your construction or trades business so you can avoid shortfalls and stay profitable year-round.
- [How Communication Can Make or Break Your Home Service Business](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/communication-in-home-service-business.md): If you’ve ever had a job go sideways because “someone didn’t get the message,” you already know how important communication in home services business is. Maybe a tech showed up to a job without the right parts.  Maybe a customer thought they were getting a service you don’t even offer.  Or maybe your team is…
- [6 Things Your Construction Accountants Can Make Better](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/construction-accountants-help.md): Let’s face it. Engaging a professional accountant can feel unnecessary, especially if you’re a small construction company just starting out.  Perhaps you have not bagged many projects — yet costs are already on the roof.  But wait a minute. If you don’t engage professional accountants, it is the IRS — not your construction company —…
- [When Will My Construction Business Break Even?](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/construction-business-break-even.md): Learn how to calculate when your construction business will break even. Discover the key numbers and data to improve for faster profitability.
- [Employee vs 1099 Contractor for Construction Businesses](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/construction-businesses-staffing.md): Picture this scenario: You’re a construction business owner on the cusp of taking your company to the next level. You’re faced with an important decision – should you hire employees or engage 1099 contractors?  Each option presents its advantages and considerations, making it crucial to understand the implications and make an informed choice. In this…
- [Download Your Construction Chart of Accounts 2025](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/construction-chart-of-accounts-2025.md): In the construction industry, you have a million things to track: various projects, materials, suppliers, employees, contractors, tools, bills, and more.  Now imagine that you need to find out what you bought for $2,932.32 last February at Home Depot… and why.  Perhaps your operations manager or worse, the IRS, needs to see all of the receipts…
- [Construction Company Claims with the R&D Tax Credit](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/construction-company-r-d-tax-credit.md): Imagine accessing a “secret cash stash” to help expand your construction company’s operations.  Like investing in that drilling machine you’ve been eyeing, onboarding new employees to increase productivity, or purchasing new materials for your business? That would be a dream come true, huh? Well, there might actually be a way to achieve this without a secret stash,…
- [Construction Equipment Depreciation Explained](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/construction-equipment-depreciation-explained.md): Ever wondered how your construction equipment’s value changes over time? As you put your gear to work, it naturally loses value from everyday use.  ‍But it’s not just wear and tear—new technologies and evolving standards can make older equipment less valuable. ‍Depreciation might sound like just another accounting term, but it has real implications for…
- [Construction Financing Guide: Loans, Grants, & Other Options](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/construction-financing-guide.md): Every business owner has a love-hate relationship with money: we love to make it and hate to see it go. Regardless of whether you are a contractor, a subcontractor, or a developer within the construction business, you need to be aware of all the financing options available to help you with the funds you need…
- [A Simple Guide to Bookkeeping in the Construction Industry](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/construction-industry-bookkeeping.md): Running a construction business involves more than just knowing the trade; managing your finances is equally important. Keeping track of your financials is crucial to staying on top of your business, and that’s where bookkeeping comes in. Bookkeeping might sound like a lot of work, but it’s all about keeping organized records of your income…
- [Deep Dive Into Your Construction Profit and Loss Statement (P&L) | Free Template!](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/construction-profit-and-loss-statement.md): Arguably one of the most important elements of running a successful construction business is keeping track of your income and expenses in a way that lets you measure your profitability and plan for your financial future.  Though it may sound simple, you’d be surprised just how many construction business owners violate the single, most important…
- [New Construction Tax Credits You Haven’t Heard Of Yet (2023)](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/construction-tax-credits-2023.md): Today, we’re tackling one of the most common questions we get as construction accountants:  “How much money can you save me from the government this year?” And we love this question.  After all, it’s our job to help you make and keep, as much money as possible in your business.  It’s always a good idea to…
- [Contractor Invoices Types: QuickBooks Simplifies the Process](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/contractor-invoices-types-quickbooks-simplifies-the-process.md): We know what you’re thinking: “Not ANOTHER system!”. And we’re with you. We know that you’re tired of grappling with complex invoicing systems, but do you find yourself dreading the task of creating invoices for your contracting business?  Even as accountants, we do. After all, the challenges contractors face when it comes to effective invoicing…
- [Contractor Labor Cost Calculator: What One Technician Really Costs You](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/contractor-labor-cost-calculator.md): Calculate the true hourly cost of a technician with our Contractor Labor Cost Calculator. Stop underpricing and set profitable labor rates today.
- [A Complete Guide to Paying Estimated Taxes in 2026 (For Electricians, HVAC, Plumbers)](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/estimated-taxes-for-electricians-hvac-and-plumbers.md): A contractor-friendly guide to paying estimated taxes in 2026. Learn deadlines, payment methods, and how clean bookkeeping makes quarterly tax payments easier.
- [Why You Should Be Using Gusto for Your HVAC Business](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/gusto-for-hvac-businesses.md): We can’t say this enough—we absolutely LOVE Gusto. And for good reason!  Running an HVAC business is no small feat. Between managing your team, juggling customer appointments, handling payroll, and making sure you stay on top of taxes—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But that’s where Gusto for HVAC businesses comes in. It’s an all-in-one platform…
- [Introducing Our Protect Your Profits Advisory Program for Home Services](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/home-services-advisory-program.md): If you’re a plumber, electrician, HVAC pro, or run any kind of home services business, chances are you didn’t start your company because you love spreadsheets and long-term financial roadmaps. You started it because you’re good at what you do—and you wanted to do it your way. But somewhere between job sites and payroll runs,…
- [How HVAC and Electrical Contractors Can Prep Financially for the Slow Season](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/hvac-and-electrical-contractors-in-slow-season.md): Learn how HVAC and electrical contractors can prepare financially for the slow season with cash flow planning, smarter billing, and steady revenue strategies.
- [What Can HVAC Companies Deduct In 2026? Everything That Has Changed With OBBBA](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/hvac-tax-deductions-2026.md): What can HVAC companies deduct in 2026? Learn which expenses are still deductible, what changed under OBBBA, and how equipment and QBI rules affect HVAC businesses.
- [What’s Inside Our New ‘Protect Your Profits’ Book?](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/inside-our-new-protect-your-profits-book.md): Introducing our new Protect Your Profits book, it’s a hands-on, year-long advisory program that helps construction business owners strengthen profits one month at a time.
- [How to Integrate Software With QuickBooks For HVAC Companies](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/integrate-software-with-quickbooks.md): Running an HVAC business is more than just fixing heating and cooling systems.  You’re juggling a ton of tasks: managing your team, scheduling jobs, keeping track of customers, and handling all the finances. It’s a lot of work.  But if you’re already using QuickBooks for accounting, there’s good news—you can streamline your entire operation by…
- [The Most Common Job Costing Mistakes for Electricians](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/job-costing-mistakes-for-electricians.md): Common job costing mistakes cost electricians real profit. Learn where labor, materials, and change orders go wrong and how to fix job costing fast.
- [7 Non-Financial HVAC KPIs That You Aren’t Tracking (But Should Be)](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/non-financial-hvac-kpis.md): If you’re like most of the HVAC business owners we know, you probably check your revenue and expenses regularly.  Maybe you even track profit margins.  But what about the other stuff—the non-financial numbers that tell you if your business is actually running well? These kinds of KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) might not show up on…
- [Why Profitable HVAC Companies Still Run Out of Cash](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/profitable-hvac-cash-flow.md): Your HVAC business can be profitable and still run out of cash. Discover why it happens and how better billing, forecasting, and cash systems fix it.
- [How To Protect Yourself From Business Fraud in 2025](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/protect-from-business-fraud-2025.md): We’re seeing it more and more: fake invoices, spoofed emails, and slick impersonations that almost pass the smell test.  Hackers and scammers are stepping up their game. And unfortunately, trade businesses like yours are in their sights.  Here at Atlas Accounting Group, we’ve had a front-row seat to some of these fraud attempts.  From lookalike…
- [QuickBooks + ServiceTitan Integration: Why & How to Do It](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/quickbooks-servicetitan-integration.md): A ServiceTitan QuickBooks integration done right: what syncs, what breaks, and how to connect the two so your job costing and your books finally agree.
- [QuickBooks Tips & Updates for Contractors for 2026](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/quickbooks-tips-for-contractors.md): Learn the most useful QuickBooks tips and updates for contractors in 2026. Discover how you can improve job costing, cash flow, and reporting.
- [An Accountant’s Tips for Using ServiceTitan and QuickBooks](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/servicetitan-and-quickbooks.md): If your construction company uses both ServiceTitan and QuickBooks for managing operations and finances, you may have faced challenges when trying to connect the two systems. You’re not alone in this struggle.  Integrating ServiceTitan with QuickBooks can be tricky and frustrating, especially if you get stuck and can’t easily find a solution.  Our team has…
- [How to Stop Inaccurate HVAC Job Costing in 2025](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/stop-inaccurate-hvac-job-costing.md): Alright, let’s talk about something that quietly messes with your HVAC business way more than a cranky compressor or a client asking for next-day installs.  It’s job costing—or more accurately, inaccurate HVAC job costing. We’re talking about those moments where you kinda guess what a job will cost, add a bit of markup, send out…
- [What Are Your Target HVAC Profit Margins?](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/target-hvac-business-profit-margin.md): What are healthy HVAC profit margins? See target gross and net margins by service type, why yours slip, and the levers that move them.
- [Our Favorite Tax Credits for Construction Businesses in 2024](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/tax-credits-for-construction.md): In the construction world, having sharp financial skills is just as important as having the right tools. Every year, construction businesses face new challenges and opportunities due to changes in the economy, technology, and regulations. Finding ways to cut costs and boost efficiency is crucial for staying competitive and growing your business. Tax credits are…
- [How Should an HVAC Company Track Cash Flow?](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/track-hvac-company-cash-flow.md): See how to track HVAC company cash flow with a monthly forecast, better billing habits, and clear financial visibility for growing trade businesses.
- [New Payroll Tax- What Washington Cares Tax Means For Payroll](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/washington-cares-payroll-tax.md): Forget about the intentions. Even those who like to see the government intervene in some social issue rarely smile when a new tax is announced.  Granted, taxes do help. But in some cases, don’t they just make our lives more miserable, make us adjust our systems — and needlessly increase the cost of doing business?…
- [Welcome to the New Atlas Accounting Group Website](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/welcome-to-the-new-site.md): We've rebuilt myatlasaccountant.com from the ground up — faster pages, free calculators, and a growing toolbox for contractors and specialty trades.
- [Year-End Accounting Checklist for Electricians](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/year-end-accounting-checklist-for-electricians.md): A simple year-end accounting checklist for electricians. Learn how to tidy your books and prepare for taxes in a friendly, easy-to-follow way.
- [Year-End Accounting Checklist for HVACs](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/year-end-accounting-checklist-for-hvacs.md): A practical year-end accounting checklist for HVAC companies. Clean up your books, improve cash flow, review inventory, and prepare for a stronger year ahead.
- [Year-End Accounting Checklist for Plumbers](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/year-end-accounting-checklist-for-plumbers.md): A friendly, easy-to-follow year-end accounting checklist for plumbers. Learn how to tidy your books and prepare for tax season with confidence.
- [Year-End Review: What Your Numbers Say About Next Year’s Success](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/year-end-review.md): Learn how to understand your year-end numbers and use them to plan pricing, staffing, and cash flow for a stronger, more profitable year ahead.
- [Your Guide to Workers’ Compensation in Washington State 2023](https://www.myatlasaccountant.com/blog/your-guide-to-workers-compensation-in-washington-state-2023.md): Death, taxes, and workers’ compensation premiums.  Ok, Benjamin Franklin didn’t say that. But we are. If you own a business in the construction industry in Washington state, you are obligated to pay workers’ compensation for your employees – there’s no getting around it.  And you shouldn’t want to.  Workers’ compensation protects you and your business…