Accounting for window and door installers.
Job costing, energy-tax-credit tracking, installer payroll, and the deposit accounting that keeps cash from disappearing between order and install.
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Window and door replacement runs on a long sales cycle. Customer pays deposit, you order custom product, manufacturer takes 4–8 weeks, install happens, balance is collected. The accounting question: where does that deposit live, and what happens to your P&L if you book it as revenue when it arrives?
We work with residential window/door specialists and commercial glazing contractors. The framework handles the deposit timing, the manufacturer pass-through, and the tax credits your customers ask about.
What we handle
- Customer deposits as deferred revenue — recognized when the install is complete, not when collected.
- Job costing per job: product cost, labor, dump/disposal, permit if applicable.
- Energy-efficient property credits — guidance for clients on the Section 25C credit (qualifying windows up to $600/year).
- Installer payroll with proper classification and prevailing-wage handling for commercial.
- Workers comp class codes — glazing has its own NCCI codes, audits matter.
A window contractor was booking $400K in customer deposits as revenue at sale. Their year-end P&L looked exceptional. The actual revenue (recognized at install) was 22% lower. They were paying tax on revenue not yet earned and burning cash on the difference.
If you take deposits over 30 days before install, deferred revenue accounting is required.
If you do commercial glazing with prevailing wage, certified payroll setup is non-negotiable.
If your residential customers ask about energy credits, you should know what qualifies.
Deposits accounted right, jobs costed real, credits explained simply.
Built for the way window and door work actually flows.
Frequently asked questions
When do I recognize deposit revenue?
When the work is performed (typically install completion), not when the deposit is collected. Held deposits sit on the balance sheet as a liability until earned.
What windows qualify for the Section 25C credit?
Energy Star qualified windows installed in the customer's primary residence, up to $600 per year credit. We provide a customer-facing summary at install so they can claim it on their personal return.
Do I charge sales tax in Colorado?
Material portion is typically taxable at retail; install labor is generally not. Home-rule cities can differ. We set invoicing correctly per your locations.
Can you help with bond and insurance audits?
Yes — wage report by class code with subcontractor exclusions documented.