Bookkeeping:
From Messy to Manageable
Bookkeeping cleanup, systems, and consulting for trades and contractor businesses across Canada.
You built a skilled, busy operation.
Your bookkeeping should keep up with it, not hold you back.
SOUND FAMILIAR?
You're running a growing trades or contractor business. Work is coming in, your crew is busy, and the operations side is humming, but behind the scenes, the financial picture isn't as clean as you'd like.
Here's what we hear from businesses like yours all the time:
She's doing her best, but the system was never properly set up, and there's no documentation if she's ever away.
A busy stretch means bookkeeping gets pushed aside. Now there's a backlog and nobody's sure where to start.
Data gets entered twice, errors slip through, and reconciling the two takes hours every month.
"The project costs never match what actually happened on site."
Job costing is either not set up or not being used correctly, so you can't tell which jobs are actually profitable.
"Everything lives in one person's head."
No written processes, no checklists, no consistency, and every time something changes, it creates chaos.
If any of these hit close to home, you're in the right place.
WHO WE WORK WITH
Built for the businesses that build things.
We work primarily with trades and contractor businesses, the companies doing the real, on-the-ground work that keeps communities running. Our clients tend to be established, busy, and good at what they do. What they need isn't a bookkeeping tutor, they need someone who understands their industry, knows their software, and can get their financial systems running the way their operations deserve.
Electricians, plumbers, HVAC companies, general contractors, millwrights, and other skilled trades, if you're managing crews, quoting jobs, and tracking project costs, your bookkeeping needs to reflect the complexity of what you actually do.
We understand how trades businesses operate. We know the software you're likely using in the field, and we know how to get it working properly with QuickBooks Online. Whether your books need a cleanup, your systems need to be integrated, or your office team needs proper training and documented processes, we can help.
Trades & Contractor Businesses
Common challenges we solve:
Field software not syncing with QBO (BuildOps, Jobber, Buildertrend, and others)
Job costing that doesn't reflect real project performance
GST/HST errors from mismanaged invoicing
No month-end process, just a scramble before tax time
Office staff trained on the fly with no documentation to fall back on
Project-based resource companies have some of the most complex bookkeeping needs of any small business, multiple active projects, cost tracking by property or program, regulatory reporting, and the constant pressure of keeping financials clean for investors, partners, or joint venture reporting.
We work with exploration and resource companies that need their books to actually reflect what's happening on the ground, not just at year-end, but in real time.
Mining, Exploration & Resource-Based Companies
Common challenges we solve:
No project-level cost tracking in QBO
Books inherited from a previous bookkeeper with no clear structure
Chart of accounts that doesn't align with exploration-stage reporting needs
Catching up after a field season with a backlog of unrecorded transactions
Preparing clean records for accountants, auditors, or joint venture partners
Also a Great Fit If You...
Not a trades company or exploration operation, but still nodding along?
You might still be a great fit for Boreal Business Solutions if:
→ You work in professional services tied to construction or project-based work — architects, engineers, project managers, estimators, and consultants who bill by project and need their books to reflect it
→ You're in a growth phase and need your financial systems to scale with you — the way you've been doing things got you here, but it won't get you to the next level
→ You run any kind of project-based service business with job costing needs
→ You have an in-house bookkeeper who needs support, training, or a proper system to work within
→ You're running multiple software tools that don't communicate cleanly with each other
→ You've recently switched bookkeepers or software and things are a mess
→ You know your books need attention but you're not sure where to start
QuickBooks Desktop Is Being Phased Out.
Are You Ready?
Intuit has made it clear, QuickBooks Desktop isn't sticking around. And while they'll tell you the migration is simple, what their marketing doesn't mention is everything that happens around the data transfer: cleaning up your books beforehand, rebuilding your workflows, reconnecting third-party software, and making sure nothing falls through the cracks.
We handle all of it, so your move to QBO is done right, not just done.
The best time to migrate is before you're forced to. Let's get it on your timeline.
Why Boreal Business Solutions
Hi, I'm Sarah, and I believe that small business is the lifeblood of a community.
That's why I built Boreal Business Solutions around one core commitment: making sure your bookkeeping is complete, efficient, and actually giving you useful information, no matter what stage of business you're at. Whether you're navigating a growth phase, untangling years of messy books, or trying to get your systems to finally work together, the goal is always the same. Clear financials, strong processes, and a business that has the infrastructure to support where you're headed.
There's no shortage of bookkeepers. What's harder to find is someone who combines genuine technical knowledge with a real understanding of systems, software, and the operational realities of a busy business, and who can communicate all of it clearly to the people who need to act on it.
That's what I've spent 20 years building, and it's what I bring to every client engagement.
Every project starts with a Boreal Bookkeeping Diagnostic, a professional assessment of your current books, systems, and processes that gives us both a clear picture of where things stand before we recommend a single thing. From there, we build a plan that's specific to your business, your team, and where you want to go.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, and we love it! Service-based businesses like mining and exploration companies, electricians, and other trades have unique bookkeeping needs that a generalist doesn't always understand. Think project-based cost tracking, equipment and fleet expenses, crew payroll, and field software that needs to work alongside your accounting system.
We understand the complexity that comes with your industry, and we know how to set up your books in a way that gives you the real-time project and operational insights you actually need, not just a year-end number for tax purposes. If you're not sure whether your industry is a good fit, just reach out. We're happy to have a conversation.
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Yes, and this is honestly one of our favourite things to do.
Having the right software is only half the battle; your team needs to know how to use it consistently and correctly for it to actually work. We offer hands-on QuickBooks Online training tailored to your specific business and your actual processes, not a generic tutorial that leaves your team more confused than when they started.
If you're using other software alongside QBO, we'll assess how the two interact and help you find the best path forward, whether that's configuring an existing integration, identifying a better-fit tool, or building a reliable bridge process in the meantime. Every situation is different, and we'd rather give you the right answer for your setup than a fast one that doesn't hold.
We can also help you build documented workflows and SOPs so your bookkeeping processes don't live in one person's head, less chaos when someone's away, easier onboarding, and a consistent process your whole team can follow.
This work is close to our heart for a good reason. Sarah has been on the inside, working as an in-house bookkeeper through system upgrades and software transitions, and she knows firsthand what it feels like to be handed a new system with minimal support. That experience shapes how we approach every training and transition engagement we take on.
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Absolutely! Having an in-house bookkeeper is a great asset to your business. But sometimes an extra set of experienced eyes is exactly what's needed, whether that's reviewing their work, helping them get up to speed on a new system, or stepping in to sort out a backlog during a busy season.Think of us as the support behind your support. We're not here to replace your bookkeeper, we're here to make sure they (and your whole system) are set up for success. Whether it's a one-time diagnostic, some targeted training, or ongoing consulting, we can work alongside your existing team in whatever capacity makes the most sense for your business.