Job costing software built for the field

Job costing means comparing what a job was supposed to cost to what it's actually costing — while the job is still open. MarginGuard gives every job an expected cost, then tracks actual cost from expenses, materials, labor and subcontractors as you log them.

How it works

1. Create a job and set its expected cost (your bid or budget).
2. Log expenses against the job as they happen — materials, labor, subcontractors, equipment, fees.
3. See actual cost update automatically and compare it to the expected cost.
4. Add committed cost (signed subcontracts, placed orders) to get a projected final cost.
5. Review profit and margin per job at any point — not just at close-out.

Committed vs. actual vs. projected final cost

Actual cost is money already spent. Committed cost is money you've agreed to spend but haven't paid yet. Projected final cost adds the two together, and — while a job is still open — keeps your original expected cost as a floor if actual and committed costs haven't caught up to it yet, so you can see where a job is headed before it's too late to act. Once a job is completed or cancelled, that floor drops away and projected final cost reflects only what was actually spent and committed.