QuickBooks for GovCon

QuickBooks works for early-stage government contractors, but growth creates gaps it was never designed to fill. Eight warning signs signal the need for purpose-built GovCon software.

Each government contract type demands a different book structure in QuickBooks. FFP contracts track revenue against milestones. Cost-plus contracts require full cost segregation and DCAA-adequate systems. T&M contracts need labor category rate tables and dual billing logic.

QuickBooks ships with a commercial chart of accounts that fails every DCAA requirement. Government contractors need direct cost accounts by contract, indirect cost pools, and unallowable cost segregation. This guide provides a ready-to-use template with 30+ accounts and step-by-step QuickBooks configuration instructions.

QuickBooks is a capable platform for government contract accounting, when configured correctly. Here are the specific configuration steps that make the difference between passing and failing a DCAA audit.