Sponsored by Arc & Ledger Accounting — Enrolled Agents for self-employed professionals
Trusted by 12,000+ self-employed pros

You Build for a Living. Your Bookkeeping Should Be Just as Solid.

The free bookkeeping tool that helps general contractors organize ordinary and necessary business expenses for Schedule C.

Download Free TemplateSee Deductions You're MissingTry the Calculator
$5,000+
Avg. Missed Deductions
12,000+
Templates Sent
30 Min
To Get Organized
$0
Always Free

Deductions Most Contractors Miss

Every unclaimed deduction is money left on the table. These contractor expenses are pre-loaded in your template — you just fill in the amounts.

👷

Subcontractor Payments

Line 11

Plumbers, electricians, HVAC, drywall, framers, roofers.

🪵

Building Materials

Line 22

Lumber, concrete, nails, screws, drywall, roofing.

🏗️

Equipment Rental

Line 20a

Excavator, scaffolding, dumpster, portable toilet, crane.

🛡️

Insurance & Bonds

Line 15

General liability, workers comp, builders risk, bond.

🚛

Vehicle & Fuel

Line 9

Gas/diesel for truck and trailer.

📋

Permits & Licenses

Line 23

Contractor license, building permits, business license.

🔨

Tools & Depreciation

Line 13

Power tools, truck, trailer, heavy equipment.

🗑️

Dump & Disposal

Line 27

Dump fees, debris hauling, porta-potty.

The Contractor's Guide to Schedule C Deductions

If you earn self-employment income as a contractor, the IRS treats you as a sole proprietor (or single-member LLC) and you report that income on Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Business. Every ordinary and necessary business expense you track lowers your taxable net profit — which directly reduces both your income tax and your 15.3% self-employment tax. Most contractors leave money on the table simply because they never recorded the expense in the first place.

Which Schedule C lines matter most for contractors

Our free contractor template pre-loads the categories below and maps each one to the correct Schedule C line, so you never have to guess where an expense belongs:

  • Subcontractor Payments (Line 11): Plumbers, electricians, HVAC, drywall, framers, roofers.
  • Building Materials (Line 22): Lumber, concrete, nails, screws, drywall, roofing.
  • Equipment Rental (Line 20a): Excavator, scaffolding, dumpster, portable toilet, crane.
  • Insurance & Bonds (Line 15): General liability, workers comp, builders risk, bond.
  • Vehicle & Fuel (Line 9): Gas/diesel for truck and trailer.
  • Permits & Licenses (Line 23): Contractor license, building permits, business license.

How to fill out your Schedule C, step by step

Start by entering every deposit you received for contractor work as gross receipts (Line 1). Then categorize each business expense using the dropdown in the template's transaction tab — the Schedule C Summary tab totals each line automatically. The difference between your income and expenses is your net profit (Line 31), which flows to your Form 1040 and Schedule SE. Keeping these records current also makes it far easier to calculate quarterly estimated taxes and avoid underpayment penalties.

Record-keeping tips for contractors

The IRS expects you to be able to substantiate every deduction. Keep digital copies of receipts, log business mileage contemporaneously, and keep business and personal spending in separate accounts wherever possible. A few minutes of bookkeeping each week is far less stressful than reconstructing a year of expenses in April.

This guide is educational and does not constitute tax advice. For preparation and IRS representation, our sponsor Arc & Ledger Accounting is a firm of IRS Enrolled Agents.

How It Works

1

Download

Pick your business type. Get a free template. No signup.

2

Categorize

Enter your bank transactions. Pick from the dropdown. ~30 min.

3

Review

Schedule C summary auto-calculates your income, expenses, and tax.

4

File

Hand it to your Enrolled Agent. Or let Arc & Ledger prepare your return from $300.

📊

Don't Have Excel? No Problem.

Download the file → Open Google Sheets → File → Import → Upload. Done. All formulas, dropdowns, and formatting transfer perfectly.

See full Google Sheets instructions →
S

Download Your Free Contractor Template

Every deduction pre-loaded. Works in Excel or Google Sheets. No signup. No email required.

📥 Download for Excel

For Google Sheets: download the file, then open Google Sheets → File → Import → Upload. Full instructions →

Need help filing?

Arc & Ledger's Enrolled Agents prepare Schedule C returns from $300 — and are authorized to represent you directly before the IRS.

Book a Free 15-Min Call

Mention ScheduleC.App for $50 off

See what the template looks like →
SPONSORED BY ARC & LEDGER ACCOUNTING

Want It Done Right?
Hand It to an Expert.

Most CPAs charge $500-800 for a Schedule C return. Arc & Ledger's Enrolled Agents do it from $300 — and they're authorized to represent you directly before the IRS if anything comes up.

Guarantee: Not happy with the quality? Full refund — no questions asked. You keep any work product.
✓ Schedule C tax preparation from $300 (CPAs charge $500-800)
✓ Monthly bookkeeping from $200/mo
✓ S-Corp election & tax planning
✓ Authorized to represent you before the IRS
✓ Enrolled Agents — passed rigorous IRS exam
✓ 10+ years serving self-employed professionals
arcandledger.com | (310) 876-0249
bookkeeping@arcandledger.com | Culver City, CA

Get Your Price in 30 Seconds

Question 1 of 4

What income did you have in 2025?

Other Free Schedule C Templates

🎨Painting Contractor🌱Landscaping & Lawn Care🔧Plumber⚡Electrician❄️HVAC Technician🧪Pressure Washing🔩Handyman & Home Repair🔑Locksmith

Browse all 70+ business types →

🇺🇸

Need to File for Free? The IRS Can Help.

If you earned under $84,000, you may qualify for IRS Free File — free tax preparation software provided through an IRS partnership. No cost, no catch.

✓ IRS Free File — guided software for income under $84,000
✓ Free File Fillable Forms — for any income level
✓ VITA — free in-person help for income under $67,000
✓ TCE — free tax help for seniors aged 60+
Visit IRS Free File Options →

Our free template works alongside any filing method — use it to organize your expenses first, then file however works best for you.

Common Questions

What Schedule C deductions can contractors claim?+
Self-employed general contractors may deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses under IRC Section 162. Commonly claimed deductions include subcontractor payments (Line 11), building materials (Line 22), equipment rental (Line 20a), insurance and bonds (Line 15), vehicle and fuel costs (Line 9), and permits and licenses (Line 23). Your tax situation may vary, so consult a qualified tax professional.
What is Schedule C?+
Schedule C (Form 1040) is the IRS form where sole proprietors report business income and expenses. It calculates your net profit or loss, which flows to your Form 1040. Self-employed contractors use Schedule C to report project income and deduct business expenses. Our free template is an organizational tool that categorizes expenses by the correct Schedule C line numbers.
How much tax do self-employed contractors pay?+
Self-employed contractors generally pay both income tax and self-employment tax (15.3% for Social Security and Medicare) on net profit. Your income tax rate depends on your total taxable income and filing status. The self-employment tax applies to net earnings over $400. Many contractors may also owe state income tax. Consult a qualified tax professional for personalized guidance.
Do I need to file quarterly estimated taxes as a contractor?+
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more in federal tax for the year, the IRS generally requires quarterly estimated tax payments. Deadlines are typically April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. Construction income can be irregular, so tracking expenses with our template throughout the year helps you estimate quarterly payments more accurately.
Do contractors need to file 1099s for subcontractors?+
Generally, if you pay any individual or unincorporated business $600 or more during the tax year, you are required to file Form 1099-NEC. Failure to file may result in penalties and could jeopardize your deduction for those payments. Collect a W-9 from each subcontractor before making payment. Subcontractor payments are commonly reported on Schedule C Line 11.
Should I hire an Enrolled Agent or do my own taxes?+
An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a tax professional who has passed a rigorous IRS exam and is authorized to represent taxpayers directly before the IRS. Unlike other preparers, EAs must pass a rigorous exam and complete continuing education annually. For general contractors with large subcontractor payments, equipment depreciation, and complex job costing, an EA can help ensure compliance. Arc & Ledger's team of Enrolled Agents specializes in Schedule C businesses.
Is the Schedule C template really free?+
Yes. Every template on ScheduleC.App is completely free to download, with no signup required. The site is sponsored by Arc & Ledger Accounting, a firm of IRS Enrolled Agents, which is why we can offer the templates at no cost.
Do I need accounting software to use the template?+
No. The template is a spreadsheet that opens in Microsoft Excel or imports directly into Google Sheets (File → Import → Upload). All formulas, dropdown categories, and the Schedule C summary work in both.
When is the Schedule C filing deadline?+
Schedule C is filed with your Form 1040, which is generally due April 15. If you expect to owe $1,000 or more, the IRS also requires quarterly estimated tax payments throughout the year, typically due in April, June, September, and January.
What records do I need to keep for my deductions?+
Keep documentation that substantiates each expense — receipts, invoices, bank and card statements, and a contemporaneous mileage log for vehicle use. The IRS expects you to be able to prove that each deduction was an ordinary and necessary business expense under IRC Section 162.
Can someone prepare my Schedule C for me?+
Yes. Our sponsor, Arc & Ledger Accounting, is a firm of IRS Enrolled Agents authorized to prepare returns and represent taxpayers before the IRS. You can send them your completed template and they handle the filing.

Every Day You Wait, You Risk Missing Deductions

Your free Contractor template has every deduction pre-loaded. No signup. No email. Just download and go.

Download Free Template