Remodeling & interiors
Books and taxes for stair and railing contractors.
A custom iron railing fabricated by a metal shop sub, wood treads from the lumber yard, a failed inspection that means rework, and a mix of new construction and remodel jobs. Gus sorts every dollar to the job it came from, an accountant checks every transaction, and you get one number a month.
- From $197 a month
- An accountant on every transaction
- Cancel whenever
July came in at $16,000. The Delacroix railing failed its first inspection on baluster spacing, so the rework cost is tied to that job, not counted as a new expense.
- Client payment, Delacroix jobRemodel and replacement jobs
- Builder draw, Ashgrove homesNew construction jobs
- Iron shop fabricationMetal fabrication subs
- Wood tread orderWood and material orders
- Cable rail hardwareCable and hardware
Why your books are different
Stair and railing books go wrong at the fabrication shop and the inspection.
A generalist sees a deposit and a bill. Your custom iron work gets built by a metal shop before you ever install it, your jobs have to pass code inspection on spacing and height, and you work both new construction and remodels. When the books do not track that, one job's rework or a slow-paying builder eats another job's profit on paper.
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1
A metal fabrication sub's invoice looks like a plain material cost
Custom iron balusters and railings are built by a welding or metal shop before you ever touch them, and if that invoice lands in the same bucket as your wood and hardware purchases, you cannot see how much of a job's cost is fabrication versus your own install labor.
What we doKeeps metal fabrication subs in their own line, separate from wood and hardware, so you can see what a job's iron work really costs. -
2
A failed inspection means rework that eats into the original bid
A railing that fails on baluster spacing or handrail height needs rework before it passes, and if that extra labor and material get billed as a plain cost instead of tied to the job, you lose sight of how often code issues are cutting into your margin.
What we doTies rework costs to the job that needed them, so you can see how often inspections are adding real cost, not just hassle. -
3
New construction and remodel jobs pay on completely different schedules
A builder pays you at set stages of their construction schedule, often weeks after your work, while a homeowner replacing an old railing pays on completion. If both land in the same revenue line, you cannot tell which side of the business is actually carrying you.
What we doKeeps new construction and remodel jobs separate, so you can compare which side of the business pays better and faster. -
4
Cable rail and glass panel hardware blend into general materials
Cable rail kits and glass panel hardware cost more than standard wood balusters, and if every material purchase lands in one bucket, a month heavy on premium railing systems can look like costs spiked when it is really a shift in what clients are choosing.
What we doKeeps premium hardware like cable rail and glass systems in their own line, so a shift in product mix shows up as exactly that.
Your categories
The categories Gus keeps for a stair and railing business.
Set up once for how your jobs get paid and what they cost. You never pick a category. He does, and an accountant checks it.
Money in
- New construction jobsBuilder draws released at stages of the build.
- Remodel and replacement jobsHomeowner jobs, paid on completion.
- Change order billingUpgrades like glass panels or cable rail added mid-job.
- RetainageThe final percentage held back until inspection passes and the walkthrough happens.
Money out
- Metal fabrication subsCustom iron work built by a welding or metal shop, tied to the job.
- Wood and material ordersTreads, stringers, and standard balusters from the lumber yard.
- Cable and hardwareCable rail kits and glass panel hardware, kept apart from wood materials.
- Permit and inspection feesPaid to the local building department, with rework costs tied to the job.
- Truck and equipmentThe vehicle and tools that support install.
What we watch for you
- Job margin
What each staircase or railing actually cleared after fabrication, materials, and labor.
- Rework cost
How often failed inspections are adding real cost, not just delay.
- New construction versus remodel margin
Whether builder work or homeowner replacement jobs are actually paying better.
- Open draws
Money billed but not yet collected, so a slow-paying builder does not become a cash surprise.
Ask Gus
Things stair and railing contractors ask Gus.
Text him like you would text anybody. He answers in plain English, and when a question is above his pay grade, an accountant looks and gets back to you.
I tied the rework cost to that job specifically, so you can see it as what it was, an inspection issue, not a sign the job was mispriced from the start.
Yes, I keep metal fabrication in its own line, so you can see exactly what the custom ironwork cost against your own install labor.
If you paid them $2,000 or more this year and they are not on payroll, yes, by January 31. I have been keeping that list all year so it is ready.
The tax side
The tax side of a stair and railing business.
Most of what trips up this business is tracking fabrication subs and rework correctly, and knowing who works for you.
What your return has to get right
Your accountant signs it, so it gets done right the first time.
- Fabrication sub 1099sAnyone not on payroll who you paid $2,000 or more in 2026, like a metal shop that fabricates your ironwork, gets a 1099-NEC by January 31. Gus keeps the list as the year goes.
- Employee or subcontractorAn installer who works your schedule and uses your tools usually looks like an employee, not a sub, no matter what the invoice says. Getting this wrong gets expensive, so Gus flags it before it becomes a habit.
- Tools and equipmentInstall tools and the truck that hauls them can usually be written off the year you buy them. Bonus depreciation is 100 percent for property bought after January 19, 2025.
- The pass-through deductionMost owner-operators can take up to 20 percent of business profit off their taxable income. It comes out right only when the books track fabrication and rework costs correctly all year.
Deductions stair and railing contractors miss
Your bookkeeper knows what to look for in your statements. You never have to.
- Install tools and blades
- Cable rail crimping tools
- Truck fuel and repairs
- Liability insurance
- Bonding costs
- Small tool replacement
- Continuing education and certifications
- Branded uniforms
- Phone and tablet for jobsite use
- Mileage between jobs and the fabrication shop
- Sample balusters and finish swatches
General information about 2026 federal rules, not advice for your business. Your accountant looks at your actual numbers before anything gets filed.
All year, not just April
A stair and railing contracting year, kept every month.
Builder work and remodel jobs run on different schedules all year. Gus keeps taxes on a schedule of their own. Every month in between, your bookkeeper closes the books and speaks up the moment something looks off.
- January
Plan the year
Last year's return gets started, the 1099 list is ready, and you get a monthly set-aside so April is already handled.
- April
Filed. Done.
Your return is filed and signed. No surprise bill, since the set-aside has been running since January.
- July
Halfway check
Where you stand, what you will owe, and whether new construction or remodel work is carrying the year.
- October
Before year-end
Gus looks at whether new tools or equipment before December make sense, and where the year is landing.
What you get
What you pay depends on what your business needs, and it does not move after that, busy season or slow. No hourly bills, no surprise invoices, no setup fee.
Book a call- Monthly bookkeeping
Every transaction sorted into categories set up for stair and railing contractors. You never categorize a thing.
- An accountant checks every transaction
Real review, every month, before your books close. Not a spot check.
- Your business tax return, filed
Prepared, reviewed, and signed by that same accountant every year.
- The monthly number
What you made, what you spent, what to set aside for taxes.
- Your own bookkeeper
A real person assigned to your business, in the app whenever you need them. No hold music.
- On your books all year
Every month, not just in April. Your team speaks up whenever something is worth your attention.
- Cancel any time
No contract. No cancellation call. Your books are yours.
Straight answers
Questions stair and railing contractors ask first.
Can Gus keep my metal fabrication costs separate from wood and hardware?
Yes. Metal fabrication subs get their own line, so you can see exactly what custom ironwork costs against your other materials and labor.
A railing failed inspection and needed rework. Does that hurt my books?
No. Gus ties rework costs to the job that needed them, so you can see how often inspections are adding real cost instead of it looking like a random expense.
I work for builders and homeowners. Can Gus tell me which pays better?
Yes. New construction and remodel jobs are kept separate, so you can compare margin and payment speed between the two.
Do I write off cable rail crimping tools or other equipment all at once?
Often you can. Equipment bought for the business can usually be deducted the year you buy it, and sometimes spreading it out is the better call. Gus flags the purchase and the accountant decides with your whole year in view.
My books are a few months behind. Is that a problem?
No. Send the bank statements you have. Gus sorts them, the accountant checks them, and most owners know where they stand within a week.
Do I need to track retainage on jobs that go through code inspection?
Yes, and Gus does it for you. It gets flagged as money still owed so it shows up once inspection passes and the walkthrough releases it.
Is a real accountant checking my books?
Yes. You get your own bookkeeper, Gus does the first pass on every transaction, and an accountant checks every one before your month closes. That same accountant prepares, signs, and files your business return. Goatkeeper is not a CPA firm, and we never pretend a person looked when they did not.
What does it cost, and can I cancel?
It starts at $197 a month, depending on what your business needs. No setup fee, no hourly bills, no contract. Cancel any time from the app, and your books go with you.
More in remodeling & interiors
We keep books for the business next door too.
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What makes a bookkeeper worth paying for Every business we keep books for
Book a call
Pick a time. That's the whole signup.
Fifteen minutes with a real person on our team. They look at where your books are, tell you straight what it takes to get caught up, and get you set up on the spot if it fits.
- $197 a month to start
- An accountant on every transaction
- Cancel whenever