Cost Code Settings

In Sage Construction Management, Cost Codes should represent the type of work (eg. Concrete, Framing, Electrical, Painting etc.) and do not need to incorporate any resource identifier such as Materials (M), Labor (L), Equipment (E), Sub (S) or Other (O) since the system inherently tracks expenses by this method. For example, Labor Timecards will always be categorized as L and Subcontracts as S.

Cost Code Formatting

  • Recommended
    • Code: 03 11 00
    • Description: Concrete Forming
  • Not Recommended
    • Code: 03 11 00 - M
    • Description: Concrete Forming - Materials
    • Code: 03 11 00 - S
    • Description: Concrete Forming - Subcontractor

Cost Code Terminology Based on Department

In the construction industry, code terminology can vary depending on the department as described below.

Estimating Staff

Estimates are organized and comprehended easier by breaking them down into smaller sections. These sections are called Cost Codes but are sometimes referred to as the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). In Sage Construction Management, Cost Codes can have optional internal grouping codes similar to the Job Cost Code table in the Contract Admin module. This provides a lot of flexibility and options on how items can be grouped or summarized.

Project Management Staff

Sage Construction Management uses Job Cost Codes to track financial details (ex. PO Items, CO Items, Timecards, Progress Invoice Items). These codes are project specific and can be established in the Contract Administration module. Like in Estimates, Job Cost Codes can have optional internal grouping codes which can come into play on summarizing financial details in Project Analytics.

Accounting Staff

For most construction firms, Service Items are setup in their accounting system to mimic job cost codes. Each of these items would then be linked to a GL Expense and Income Chart of Account so that they can be referenced on both AP and AR transactions.

As mentioned above, Job Cost Codes in Sage Construction Management are used to categorize the type of work and are project specific. When Sage Construction Management is integrated with an accounting system such as Intuit QuickBooks, these codes are either linked one-to-one with the accounting systems Service Items list or multiple cost codes are linked to a single Service Item.

Master Cost Code Structure in Settings

Importing Cost Codes and Budgets For An Awarded Project

If the estimating module is not being used in Sage Construction Management, the following technique can be used for importing cost codes and budgets for a particular awarded job using a spreadsheet.

Related Information