Remodeling & interiors
Books and taxes for tile installers.
A general contractor invoice on net-30 terms, a homeowner job paid on the spot, a waterproofing membrane system, and the extra tile bought for pattern cuts. 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
August came in at $14,000. The Reyes Construction invoice from June finally got paid on its net-30 terms, so I matched it back to that job instead of counting it as new work.
- Reyes Construction, GC invoiceGeneral contractor jobs
- Client payment, Dunlap showerDirect homeowner jobs
- Tile distributor orderTile and stone
- Schluter Kerdi orderWaterproofing systems
- Thinset and grout supplySetting materials
Why your books are different
Tile installer books go wrong between invoicing a GC and getting paid.
A generalist sees a deposit and a bill. Your business bills general contractors on net-30 terms, gets paid on the spot by homeowners, and buys tile with extra cut into every order for waste. When the books do not track who owes what and which job it belongs to, unpaid GC invoices quietly pile up.
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1
GC invoices sit unpaid longer than a homeowner job ever would
A general contractor typically pays on 30-day terms or later, and if unpaid invoices are not tracked as money still owed, a slow-paying GC can look like lost income instead of a receivable that is just running late.
What we doTracks what each general contractor owes and how long it has been outstanding, so a late payment shows up as overdue, not lost. -
2
Direct homeowner jobs and GC jobs get mixed into one number
A homeowner pays on completion while a GC pays weeks later, and if both land in the same revenue line, you cannot see whether GC work is actually worth the wait compared to direct jobs.
What we doKeeps GC jobs and direct homeowner jobs separate, so you can compare which side of the business is actually paying better. -
3
Tile bought for waste and pattern cuts looks like overbuying
Herringbone, large format, and natural stone all need extra material ordered for cuts, and if that overage is not tracked against the job, it looks like the business is wasting money instead of following a normal waste factor.
What we doTies tile purchases to the job and its waste factor, so a well-run job with expected overage does not look like a mistake. -
4
Waterproofing systems get bundled into the tile bill
A shower or wet area membrane system like Schluter Kerdi is a distinct cost from the tile itself, and if it blends into one material number, you cannot see how much wet-area work is really adding to a job's cost.
What we doKeeps waterproofing systems in their own line, separate from tile and stone.
Your categories
The categories Gus keeps for a tile installation 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
- General contractor jobsWork billed to GCs on net-30 or similar terms, tracked as it gets collected.
- Direct homeowner jobsJobs sold and paid directly to you, without a GC in between.
- Change order billingAdded tile scope or upgraded stone, billed on top of the original quote.
- Commercial and property manager jobsMulti-unit tile work billed separately from residential jobs.
Money out
- Tile and stonePorcelain, ceramic, and natural stone bought for jobs, including waste factor.
- Waterproofing systemsMembrane systems for showers and wet areas, kept apart from tile.
- Setting materialsThinset, grout, spacers, and sealers.
- EquipmentWet saws, slab lifters, and mixers, along with their upkeep.
- Truck and fuelThe vehicle that hauls tile and equipment between jobs.
- Dumpster and demo disposalHauling out old tile and setting bed material.
What we watch for you
- GC receivables
How much general contractors currently owe you and how long it has been outstanding.
- Job margin by client type
Whether GC jobs or direct homeowner jobs are actually more worth your time.
- Material waste rate
Whether tile overage for cuts is running in line with what a job's pattern actually needs.
- Days to collect
How long it typically takes to get paid, so slow GCs get noticed early.
Ask Gus
Things tile installers 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.
No, I have it tracked as an open receivable from that job. It is overdue past their usual terms, worth a call, but it is not gone from your books.
I tied that order to the job's waste factor, and it is in line with what a herringbone layout usually needs, not overbuying.
If you paid him $2,000 or more this year and he is 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 tile installation business.
Most of what trips up this business is tracking who owes what and who works for you, not the tile itself.
What your return has to get right
Your accountant signs it, so it gets done right the first time.
- Setter and helper 1099sAnyone not on payroll who you paid $2,000 or more in 2026, like a second setter you bring in for bigger jobs, gets a 1099-NEC by January 31. Gus keeps the list as the year goes.
- Employee or subcontractorA setter 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 equipmentWet saws, slab lifters, and mixers 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 GC receivables and job costs are booked correctly all year.
Deductions tile installers miss
Your bookkeeper knows what to look for in your statements. You never have to.
- Wet saw blades and repairs
- Trowels and setting tools
- Knee pads and safety gear
- Truck fuel and repairs
- Liability insurance
- Dumpster and disposal fees
- Small tool replacement
- Continuing education and certifications
- Branded uniforms
- Phone and tablet for job coordination
- Mileage between jobs and supply houses
- Tile and stone sample boards
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 tile installation year, kept every month.
GC work and direct jobs pay 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 GC receivables are collecting on time.
- October
Before year-end
Gus looks at whether new equipment before December makes 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 tile installers. 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 tile installers ask first.
Can Gus track what general contractors owe me separately from what I've been paid?
Yes. He tracks each GC's open invoices and how long they have been outstanding, so a slow payer shows up as overdue instead of getting lost in the numbers.
I work for both GCs and homeowners directly. Can Gus keep those separate?
Yes. GC jobs and direct homeowner jobs get their own categories, so you can see which side of the business is actually more worth your time.
Do I need to track the extra tile I buy for pattern cuts?
It helps a lot. Gus ties tile purchases to the job's waste factor, so expected overage does not look like a mistake.
Do I write off a new wet saw or slab lifter 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 separate waterproofing tracking for shower jobs?
Yes, and Gus does it for you. Waterproofing systems are kept apart from tile and stone, so you can see what wet-area work is really adding to a job's cost.
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.
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We keep books for the business next door too.
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- Outdoor audio & TV installers
- Playground & swing set installers
- Putting green installers
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