# Cost-to-Complete Reviews for Open Cabinet Jobs

Canonical: https://millbase.ca/blog/cost-to-complete-reviews-for-open-cabinet-jobs
Author: [Coby Birenbaum](https://www.linkedin.com/in/cobybirenbaum/)
Published: 2026-10-19
Updated: 2026-10-19
Archive edition: 2026-06-17

A cost-to-complete review estimates what remains to finish a job, not simply what has already been spent.

A cost-to-complete review estimates what remains to finish a job, not simply what has already been spent. Combine actual records with open commitments and remaining work. Otherwise a partially invoiced job can appear healthier than its final outcome.

## Update the forecast

- Review accepted progress by operation rather than a vague percentage complete.
- Include outstanding material, subcontract, delivery, and installation requirements.
- Reestimate remaining labor where conditions have changed.
- Separate approved changes and unresolved commercial decisions.

## Worked example

A hypothetical job has $18,000 recorded cost and an estimated $7,000 remaining cost. Forecast total cost is $25,000. If the selling price is $30,000, the illustrative difference is $5,000 before considering any costs excluded from that model.

## Challenge the assumptions

Ask whether remaining work includes rework, site visits, and open supplier obligations. Document the date and owner of the forecast so later changes can be explained.

## Related reading

- [Job Codes That Connect Estimates, Labor, and Materials](https://millbase.ca/blog/job-codes-that-connect-estimates-labor-and-materials)
- [Separating Rework From Customer Changes in Job Reports](https://millbase.ca/blog/separating-rework-from-customer-changes-in-job-reports)

## Definitions and further reference

- [Intuit: job costing and cost records](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/job-costing/track-job-costs-quickbooks-desktop/L2X01vi47_US_en_US)

## How Millbase can help your shop

### Bring job-cost reviews back to the recorded work

Use [Millbase project tracking](https://millbase.ca/#projects) to keep a cabinet job and its sub-projects together, then compare estimates with recorded labour and material costs. [Insights and reports](https://millbase.ca/#insights) help the team inspect the people and workstations behind a total and export supported results for the next review.

Ask the [Millbase AI agent](https://millbase.ca/#how-it-works) a question grounded in your workspace records. For example: *“Compare this project’s estimated and actual labour, then break the logged hours down by workstation.”* You can select a project or worker, ask follow-up questions, and request [supported reports and CSV exports](https://millbase.ca/#insights).

Check the date range, job scope, and recorded inputs before changing a quote. Keep the accounting treatment of overhead, tax, and revenue in the appropriate financial process; a shop-floor cost breakdown is only as complete as the inputs recorded.

## Explore the wider topic

For the broader workflow and decisions behind this guide, read [Cabinet Shop Job Costing: Separate Margin From Markup](https://millbase.ca/blog/cabinet-shop-job-costing-separate-margin-from-markup).

## Frequently asked questions

### Is percent complete enough to forecast remaining cost?

Not always. Expensive or difficult work may remain near the end. Estimate the actual outstanding scope.

### Should the forecast replace actual job cost?

No. Keep actual cost and forecast remaining cost separate, then combine them transparently for the expected total.