# Generating a report in WiseCost

- URL: https://www.usewisecost.com/help/reports-and-audit-trail/available-reports
- Audience: Admins
- Last updated: 2026-09-19
- Part of the WiseCost Help Center: https://www.usewisecost.com/help

> Generate a report in WiseCost from Reports → New Report: pick a report, set its filters and run it. Every report is kept in History to download again.

To generate a report in WiseCost, go to **Reports → New Report**, choose the report type, fill in its filters and run it. Every report you generate is saved in **Reports → History**, where you can download it again exactly as it was generated, even if your settings changed afterward.

**Who can do this:** an Administrator.

## Generate a report

1. Go to **Reports → New Report**. The page shows one tile per report type.
2. Click the report you need.
3. Set its filters. Each report has its own.
4. Run it. The result appears on the same page, with its download options.

## The reports

| Report | What it answers | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| **Labor Distribution** | Hours, share of time, rate and labor cost by employee and by contract | [Labor Distribution report](https://www.usewisecost.com/help/reports-and-audit-trail/labor-distribution-report) |
| **Indirect Rate** | Your fringe, overhead and G&A rates, calculated from QuickBooks Online | [Indirect Rate report](https://www.usewisecost.com/help/reports-and-audit-trail/indirect-rate-report) |
| **P&L** | Profit and loss by class, customer or project, fully loaded with indirect rates | [P&L report](https://www.usewisecost.com/help/reports-and-audit-trail/p-and-l-report) |
| **Budget vs Actual by Contract** | Hours and dollars against the ceiling of each contract or award | [Budget vs Actual by Contract](https://www.usewisecost.com/help/reports-and-audit-trail/budget-vs-actual-by-contract) |

## Report History

Everything you generate is kept in **Reports → History**. A report downloaded from there has the same content it had the day you ran it. That makes it safe to hand to an auditor or your CPA months later. See [Report History](https://www.usewisecost.com/help/reports-and-audit-trail/report-history).

## PDF cover pages

PDF reports start with a cover page that carries your company logo. Upload it in **Company Setup → Company settings → General**, under **Company logo**. If your company is managed with a CPA firm, the cover is co-branded with the firm where that applies.

## Where the numbers come from

- Labor figures come from the journal entries Labor Distribution posted, so they match QuickBooks Online.
- Indirect rates come from QuickBooks Online transactions, grouped by the role you gave each account. See [Assigning account roles](https://www.usewisecost.com/help/reports-and-audit-trail/indirect-rates-assigning-pools-to-accounts).

For changes to settings and data, rather than numbers, use the [Audit Trail](https://www.usewisecost.com/help/reports-and-audit-trail/audit-trail).

## Common questions

### Can I download a report again later?

Yes. **Reports → History** keeps every generated report and downloads it exactly as it was generated.

### Will an old report change if I change my settings?

No. A report in History keeps the content it had when it was generated.

### Which formats can I download?

It depends on the report. Labor Distribution offers CSV, Excel and PDF. Budget vs Actual by Contract offers Excel. Each report's article lists its formats.