---
title: "Managing Cost Codes for a Project in Ontraccr"
url: "https://help.ontraccr.com/en/article/managing-cost-codes-for-a-project-in-ontraccr"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2025-06-06T23:06:25.655Z"
---

# Managing Cost Codes for a Project in Ontraccr

## 💵 **Managing Cost Codes for a Project in Ontraccr Overview**  
 

**Cost Codes** are how you organize costs, labor, and billing inside projects.

In Ontraccr, you can **quickly apply Cost Code Templates** or **add custom project-specific codes** to track everything cleanly.

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## 🎯 **Why Cost Codes Matter**

-   **Break down labor, material, overhead, and equipment costs**.
-   **Create project budgets** based on real work breakdowns.
-   **Enable detailed time tracking** against specific activities.
-   **Build financial reports** more easily.

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## 🛠️ **How to Set Up Cost Codes for a Project**

You have two options: **Apply a Template** or **Add Codes Manually**.

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### 📋 **Option 1: Apply a Cost Code Template**

**Fastest method** if your company already uses standard cost codes.

1.  In the **Cost Codes** step while creating/editing a project, click **Apply Costing Template**.
2.  Select the template you want.
3.  Click **Apply** — all cost codes from the template will load into your project.

✅ **Important**: Templates must be applied **before** manually adding any codes!

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### 📝 **Option 2: Add Cost Codes Manually**

Create codes from scratch if needed:

1.  Click **Add Global Code** (to pick from your master company list).
2.  Or click **Add New Code** to create a brand new project-specific code.

Fill in these fields:

-   **Cost Code Number** (unique identifier)
-   **Name** (e.g., "Electrical Rough-In")
-   **Description**
-   *(Optional)* Wage Overrides:
    -   **Hourly Wage Override**
    -   **Daily Wage Override**
    -   **Wage Adjustment**
    -   **Wage Multiplier**
-   *(Optional)* Billing Rates:
    -   **Hourly Billing Rate**
    -   **Daily Billing Rate**

✅ **Manual cost codes are specific to this project only** and won’t appear globally elsewhere.

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## 🧩 **Understanding Cost Code Categories**

Every cost code you add falls into one of four categories:

-   **Material**
-   **Overhead**
-   **Labor**
-   **Equipment**

🧠 **Tip**: This helps organize your budget, time tracking, and job costing reports later!

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## 🛠️ **Special Features for Cost Codes**

### 🔄 Phased Cost Codes

-   You can mark certain cost codes as **Phased**.
-   Phased codes are tied to specific **project phases** (e.g., "Floor 1 Framing," "Floor 2 Electrical Rough-In").

✅ **Great for multi-stage projects** where work needs to be tracked by phase!

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## 🧠 **Important Rules & Tips**

**Templates Before Manual**:

Always apply your Cost Code Template **before** manually adding any codes. Otherwise, you’ll lose the option to apply a template.

**Project-Specific Codes Stay Local**:

Manual codes you add for a project **don't become global codes**. (You’d need to re-create them globally if needed elsewhere.)

**Cost Codes Drive Budgets and Job Costing**:

Any budget tracking, labor tracking, or billing relies heavily on proper cost code setup!

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## ✅ **Example Scenario**

You’re setting up a 10-story building project.

You apply your "Commercial Construction Template" to load standard cost codes like:

-   Site Setup
-   Concrete Pouring
-   Steel Framing
-   Electrical Rough-In
-   Plumbing Installation

Then you manually add a project-specific code for "Lobby Special Artwork Installation."

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## 🚀 **Summary**

Setting up good Cost Codes at the start makes budgeting, tracking, and billing smoother throughout the project lifecycle.

Templates save time, and manual codes give you flexibility when you need it!