Recommended Free Tools
Yes. QuickBooks Online can track job costs through Projects: assign a job’s income and expenses to its project, then review recorded costs, income, and profitability. Intuit documents project income and cost tracking in QuickBooks Online Plus and Advanced. The more specific estimate-versus-actual workflow is documented for QuickBooks Online Advanced and Intuit Enterprise Suite, so the right fit depends on how much job-cost detail you need.
What QuickBooks job costing shows
QuickBooks Projects groups transactions and activity for a customer’s specific job. The project view can summarize recorded income, expenses, and profit margin, and project-specific reports provide additional ways to review performance. The result reflects only what has been entered and assigned: an expense or sale left outside the project will not contribute to a complete job picture. Intuit’s project setup guide and its project income and cost tracking guidance describe these capabilities.
Which QuickBooks plans support job costing?
| Plan or configuration | Documented project capability | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Online Plus | Projects can track income and costs for specific jobs and show project profitability, according to Intuit’s project tracking documentation. | Check that Projects is available in your account and region. |
| QuickBooks Online Advanced | Project income, costs, and profitability; Intuit also documents project cost estimates and actual-cost comparisons for this plan. | Construction cost groups require the Construction Add-on; confirm current add-on eligibility and packaging. |
| Intuit Enterprise Suite | Project tracking and estimate-versus-actual capability; Intuit also documents construction cost groups. | Confirm current product availability and eligibility for your organization and geography. |
These are the capabilities described in Intuit’s help materials, which can change as plan packaging and navigation evolve. For cost estimates and actual-cost comparisons, see Intuit’s estimate and actual cost guidance. Check the plan and add-on details in your own account before choosing a subscription.
How to set up a job-costing workflow
- Enable Projects and create a project. In QuickBooks Online, open Settings (the gear icon), choose Account and settings, then Advanced and turn on Projects if the option is available. Create a project for the job and associate it with the customer. Intuit describes a project as a place to group transactions, estimates, and expenses associated with one customer. See the project setup steps; labels can vary with interface updates.
- Assign revenue and costs. When entering invoices, bills, checks, expenses, or other supported transactions, select the relevant customer/project in the transaction’s Customer/Project field. You can also add transactions through the project workflow. Confirm the assignment before saving; unassigned transactions will be omitted from the project’s view.
- Attach time to the job. Record employee or contractor time against the project if labor is part of your costing. Configure employee cost rates or payroll expense accounts as appropriate to the labor-cost method you plan to use.
- Review the project and reports. Use the project overview and relevant profitability reports to inspect recorded income and costs. Check which labor-cost basis a report uses, because the project view and detailed reports may not treat labor data identically.
- Add estimate control if your plan supports it. In Advanced or Intuit Enterprise Suite, use the documented project estimate workflow to compare actual costs with the original plan. For construction, assess whether the supported cost groups and phases match the reporting detail you need.
How labor costs affect job profitability
QuickBooks can present labor costs using payroll expenses or estimated hourly costs, and those approaches answer different questions.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Payroll expenses
Payroll expenses are payroll-related costs that post after payroll is run. They provide payroll-based actual costs, but they do not appear as payroll expenses in the project until that payroll process has occurred.
Estimated hourly costs
Estimated hourly costs multiply project hours by a configured per-employee rate. Intuit says the rate may account for wages and overhead; the estimate can appear sooner than payroll expenses but may be less accurate. Time must be attached to the project, and rates entered apply to new timesheets going forward. See Intuit’s explanation of project labor costs and hourly cost-rate setup.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Choose the basis that fits the question you are asking, and check report definitions before relying on a labor total. Intuit notes that some detailed reports use payroll expenses; hourly-only tracking may therefore not produce an accurate result in every report.
Construction jobs: cost groups and phases
For construction-specific breakdowns, Intuit documents cost groups such as labor, materials, equipment, and subcontractors in QuickBooks Online Advanced with the Construction Add-on and in Intuit Enterprise Suite. These groups are internal categories: they do not appear on customer-facing estimates, invoices, or proposals. Check the current add-on and plan availability in your geography, and confirm that internal cost grouping provides the reporting granularity your workflow requires. See Intuit’s cost group guidance.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
When QuickBooks Projects may not be enough
- You need a complete job margin, but employees are not recording time to the correct project or transactions are being left unassigned.
- You need estimate-versus-actual cost control, but your subscription does not include the documented estimate workflow.
- You need construction cost categories or phase-level detail and have not confirmed the relevant add-on or product eligibility.
- You rely on a labor report without checking whether it uses payroll expenses or estimated hourly costs.
When comparing plans or alternative workflows, compare project income and expense assignment, profitability reporting, estimate-versus-actual budgeting, labor data source and posting timing, construction cost grouping or phases, and subscription or add-on eligibility. Intuit’s materials establish these feature distinctions, but do not establish a complete comparison with third-party products.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
