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Accounting Blueprints

Chart of Accounts Directory

Setting up a client in an unfamiliar industry requires knowing standard account numbering, subledger conventions, and gotcha tax accounts. Select an industry to explore the account hierarchy and download a 1-click QBO import CSV.

Industry Templates

Contractor job-costing and retainage conventions41 accounts

Construction & General Contractors

Contractor accounting fails when direct job expenses get commingled with operating overhead. This chart of accounts is structured around standard contractor job-costing conventions to ensure gross profit is tracked accurately per project.

Uniform System of Accounts for Restaurants (USAR) layout47 accounts

Restaurants, Cafes & Bars

Hospitality accounting relies on tracking prime cost: the sum of Cost of Goods Sold (food and beverage) and direct labor. This template follows the USAR layout published by the National Restaurant Association, with clearing accounts added for daily POS and delivery app tie-outs.

ABA Model Rule 1.15 trust accounting rules34 accounts

Law Firms & Legal Practices

Legal accounting requires rigorous three-way reconciliation between the trust bank balance, trust ledger liability, and individual client matter balances. This template enforces strict separation between earned fee revenue and fiduciary trust liability.

IRS Schedule E and repair regulations35 accounts

Real Estate & Property Management

Real estate investors and property managers require clear separation of tenant trust funds, rental income streams, and property-specific capital improvements to support 1031 exchanges, depreciation deductions, and Schedule E tax reporting.

IRS and IFTA reporting requirements26 accounts

Trucking & Freight Logistics

Fleet operations and owner-operators operate on tight operating margins dictated by fluctuating diesel fuel and factoring fees. This template separates line-haul freight revenue, driver per diem, and IFTA fuel tax reconciliation.

FASB ASC 958 net asset classes and the Form 990 Part IX expense lines38 accounts

Nonprofit Organizations

Nonprofit books fail when restricted grants land in general income and expenses are booked by vendor instead of by Form 990 line. This template keeps the two net asset classes apart, records releases from restriction, and leaves program, management and general, and fundraising to class tracking.

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