See every job's true cost with job costing software

FAQs on Xero's job costing software?

What is job costing?

Job costing means adding up every cost tied to one job, from labor and materials to subcontractors and overhead, so you know what it really costs to deliver. With software like Xero Projects, you track those costs against your estimate as the work happens.

Job costing means adding up every cost tied to one job, from labor and materials to subcontractors and overhead, so you know what it really costs to deliver. With software like Xero Projects, you track those costs against your estimate as the work happens.

What's the difference between job costing and general project tracking?

General project tracking keeps an eye on time, billing, and high-level status. Job costing goes deeper, capturing every direct cost and comparing it to your original estimate, so you see true profit per job. That detail matters most for trades, construction, engineering, and professional services, where each job carries a different margin.

General project tracking keeps an eye on time, billing, and high-level status. Job costing goes deeper, capturing every direct cost and comparing it to your original estimate, so you see true profit per job. That detail matters most for trades, construction, engineering, and professional services, where each job carries a different margin.

Who is job costing for?

Job costing suits any business where each job has its own scope, costs, and margin. That includes construction crews, trade contractors, landscaping businesses, engineers, consultants, and creative agencies that quote work project by project.

Job costing suits any business where each job has its own scope, costs, and margin. That includes construction crews, trade contractors, landscaping businesses, engineers, consultants, and creative agencies that quote work project by project.

Can I track my time and costs with Xero?

Yes, you can. With Xero Projects you can record time and costs against every project, then see them add up in real time. Log hours from your desk or on site, and set a cost rate per hour to capture true labor cost. Explore Xero time tracking software to see how it fits your workflow.

Yes, you can. With Xero Projects you can record time and costs against every project, then see them add up in real time. Log hours from your desk or on site, and set a cost rate per hour to capture true labor cost. Explore Xero time tracking software to see how it fits your workflow.

How can I use the Xero Projects mobile app to track costs?

Once you subscribe to Xero Projects in your Xero organization, download the Xero Projects mobile app to any iOS or Android device and sign in. From there you can create projects, record time, add expenses, and check profitability while you're out on site.

Once you subscribe to Xero Projects in your Xero organization, download the Xero Projects mobile app to any iOS or Android device and sign in. From there you can create projects, record time, add expenses, and check profitability while you're out on site.

Can I track my tasks and expenses against my budget?

Absolutely. Open the Project Financials report to see how your tasks and expenses are tracking against the budget you set, line by line. It's an easy way to catch a task creeping over budget before it eats into your profit.

Absolutely. Open the Project Financials report to see how your tasks and expenses are tracking against the budget you set, line by line. It's an easy way to catch a task creeping over budget before it eats into your profit.

Can I compare estimated vs actual costs?

Yes. Add an estimate for each cost type when you set up a project, and as you log actual costs, Xero shows a running estimated-versus-actual comparison at the project level. That way overruns show up early, while you can still do something about them.

Yes. Add an estimate for each cost type when you set up a project, and as you log actual costs, Xero shows a running estimated-versus-actual comparison at the project level. That way overruns show up early, while you can still do something about them.

How can I compare my planned project costs with what I've invoiced?

Xero's job costing software includes a profitability dashboard that sets your planned job costs against what you've invoiced. You get your gross profit margin per project at a glance, so you always know which jobs are making money and which need a closer look.

Xero's job costing software includes a profitability dashboard that sets your planned job costs against what you've invoiced. You get your gross profit margin per project at a glance, so you always know which jobs are making money and which need a closer look.

How does job costing help me quote future jobs?

Every project in Xero Projects keeps its own estimated-versus-actual history. Whether you run a construction crew or a manufacturing shop, you build the next quote from what similar jobs really cost rather than a rough guess, so your pricing gets sharper over time.

Every project in Xero Projects keeps its own estimated-versus-actual history. Whether you run a construction crew or a manufacturing shop, you build the next quote from what similar jobs really cost rather than a rough guess, so your pricing gets sharper over time.

How does job costing work in the construction industry?

Construction jobs vary a lot, so working out what to charge can be tricky. You decide whether to price a job as a whole or break it down by phase, then track labor, materials, subcontractor, and equipment costs against each estimate. For a full walkthrough, read the guide to job costing in construction.

Construction jobs vary a lot, so working out what to charge can be tricky. You decide whether to price a job as a whole or break it down by phase, then track labor, materials, subcontractor, and equipment costs against each estimate. For a full walkthrough, read the guide to job costing in construction.