---
title: "Subcontractor Tracking Using Cost Codes in Ontraccr"
url: "https://help.ontraccr.com/en/article/subcontractor-tracking-using-cost-codes-in-ontraccr"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2025-08-22T18:24:00.996Z"
---

# Subcontractor Tracking Using Cost Codes in Ontraccr

## 🧾 **Subcontractor Tracking Using Cost Codes in Ontraccr**

* * *

### **📘 Overview**

Ontraccr enables subcontractor tracking by allowing users to **log subcontractor activity and costs against specific cost codes**. This ensures that all external labor or service provider expenses are integrated into your job costing workflow — alongside internal labor, materials, and equipment.

Subcontractor entries are typically submitted via **custom forms** configured with **cost code fields**.

* * *

### **🧾 How Subcontractor Costs Are Captured**

1.  A foreperson or admin fills out a **subcontractor log form** on the project
2.  The form includes a **Cost Code (Labor)** or **Cost Code (Overhead)** field
3.  User selects the appropriate code (e.g. “Drywall Finishing – Subcontractor”)
4.  Enters:
    -   **Subcontractor name**
    -   **Date of work**
    -   **Hours or cost**
5.  Submits the form

The system logs this cost against the selected cost code and feeds it into:

-   **Progress Page**
-   **Budget actuals**
-   **Analytics reports**

* * *

### **🧩 Where the Cost Comes From**

There are three ways subcontractor cost may be recorded:

| Source | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Manual Entry in Form** | User enters hours or dollar value directly |
| **Cost Code Override** | System uses a fixed rate per hour/day from cost code settings |
| **Invoice Sync (Future)** | (Not covered in this session) Potential future ability to sync sub invoices |

* * *

### **🧠 Example**

You’ve added a cost code: **LAB-028: Tile Installation – Subcontractor**

A site lead submits a form:

-   Subcontractor: ABC Tiling Co.
-   Hours: 12
-   Cost Code: LAB-028

If LAB-028 has a $65/hour override:

-   The system calculates $780 in actual cost
-   This is logged under LAB-028 on the **Progress Page**

* * *

### **📌 Behavior Notes**

-   Subcontractor forms use **Labor** or **Overhead** cost code fields depending on category
-   Cost codes must be added to the project (Step 3) for them to appear in form dropdowns
-   Subcontractor tracking is completely integrated with existing job costing logic — no separate workflow required

* * *

### **🔒 Validation Logic**

-   The form cannot be submitted unless a valid cost code is selected
-   Only project-added cost codes appear in the form dropdown