The rising cost of building swimming pools makes job costing more important than ever. Pool and spa companies have to price jobs for profitability despite rising costs, but customers don’t like surprises, especially on their final bill. Accurate job costing can take your business to the next level, allowing you to drive repeat business and improve operational efficiency.

What Is Job Costing?

A method of tracking direct and indirect costs and revenues of a project, including material, labor. and overhead. Job costing helps your company be more profitable. Accounting for and planning around these important elements is essential for successful and timely delivery of projects. Taking this a step further and analyzing the profit or loss of each job will help you understand any changes you may need to make to improve the accuracy of future estimates.

How Is Job Costing Useful In Retail?

Job costing is one of the best ways for small businesses to realize their gross profit margin goals. It helps you provide accurate quotes for your customers while also creating an accurate record of completed work for your accounting department. Knowing how the actual cost of each job compares to the estimate will also help you reduce inefficiencies and better anticipate potential cash flow issues.

Job Costing Aids Pool & Spa Businesses Should Look For

Easy-To-Use and Accurate Quoting Tools

RB’s swimming pool quote software helps you estimate costs to prepare accurate job quotes. Business-specific customized template questions cues staff to ensure all relevant questions are addressed and that crucial specifications aren’t missed. You can use the Custom Kit Builder as a worksheet to calculate your expenses and determine appropriate selling prices.

Accurate Job Progress Management

Tracking job progress is essential to increasing efficiency and profitability. RB’s project management software allows you to keep track of all aspects of the project, from permits to completion. It allows you to schedule and track all costs and the schedules of everyone involved: your employees, subcontractors, and inspectors. No matter what stage of the project, you can instantly see the over/under amount for each job.

Real-Time Cost Accounting

Increased demand and supply shortages (not to mention manufacturing issues and inflation) have created significant cost increases. RB’s project management software allows you to input expenses as they occur and to estimate remaining costs as the job progresses. The software can also forecast completion and any cost variances.

Ease of Communication Between Departments

RB’s pool business software provides one place to record all customer interactions. Retail, service, and maintenance records are all available in one system. Knowing the past preferences of repeat customers will help you anticipate their future needs and wants, allowing your staff to make more effective recommendations.

Integrations

RB’s pool cost estimator is programmed into its business software, providing the info your staff needs to better serve your customers. RB’s project management software integrates with QuickBooks, allowing you to easily generate and send invoices to accounts payable.

Accurate job costing will improve efficiency and improve customer experience, while benefiting your bottom line. The right business software will make the process easy. If you’re interested in learning more about how to save money and boost sales for your pool and spa retail business, check out our free eBook here.

Schedule a demo today if you’re interested in seeing the software for yourself with no obligation or commitment.