> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.paintscout.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.paintscout.com/support/operations/deals/job-costing.md).
# Job Costing
{% hint style="danger" %}
**Important:** this feature requires the paid **Operations add-on.**
{% endhint %}
## What is Job Costing?
Job costing is the process of tracking all expenses—labor, materials, and overhead—for an individual painting project to determine its true profitability.
In PaintScout, you can track the expenses associated with each job directly within your Production deals. As work progresses, log and update costs in real time to keep a clear picture of where your money is going on every job.
***
## Where to Find Job Costing
Job Costing lives on the **Production deal page**. Open any deal in your Production pipeline and you'll find the Job Costing card on the right-hand side.
***
## Logging Costs
Costs are split into three categories:
* **Labor:** wages, subcontractor costs, or any people-related expenses
* **Materials:** paint, supplies, and any other materials used on the job
* **Other:** anything that doesn't fit neatly into the above two categories
To log a cost:
1. Open the **Production deal**
2. Find the **Job Costing** card
3. Enter an amount under **Labor, Materials,** or **Other**
4. The totals update automatically
5. Click **Save**
Costs can be updated at any time throughout the lifecycle of the job — there's no need to enter everything at once.
***
## Understanding the Numbers
|
Field
|
What it means
|
| -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Job Value** | The value of the deal, pulled from the estimate or invoice |
| **Labor** | Total labor costs logged |
| **Materials** | Total materials costs logged |
| **Other** | Any other costs logged |
| **Total Costs** | The sum of Labor + Materials + Other |
| **Profit %** | Job Value minus Total Costs — shows as incomplete until costs have been entered |
{% hint style="info" %}
If you want to attach receipts or supporting documents to a job, add them to the **Files** section on the deal rather than the Job Costing card directly.
{% endhint %}
***
## Who Can See Job Costing
* **Sales users** can view and edit job costing on any Production deal they have access to.
* **Team users** can view and edit job costing on Production deals.
* **Painter users** cannot see the Job Costing card — it is hidden from their view regardless of permissions.
***
## A Few Things to Know
* Job Costing is only available on **Production deals** — it does not appear on Sales deals.
* Costs are entered **manually** — there is no automatic syncing from invoices or payments.
* Job Value is pulled from the deal and reflects the estimate or invoice value — it cannot be edited from the Job Costing card directly.
* Profit will show as **incomplete** until at least one cost has been entered.
***
## Job Costing Report
Once you've been logging costs across your jobs, you can get a full picture of costs and profitability across your account through the **Job Costing Report**. The report pulls together job value, total costs, and profit across all your Production deals so you can compare cost patterns, monitor margin trends, and make more informed decisions about pricing and resourcing.
For a full breakdown of what's in the report and how to use it, see [Job Costing Report](/support/dashboard-and-reports/reports/job-profitability-report.md).
---
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