The study is devoted to substantiating the need to develop a cost controlling system in order to improve the efficiency of investors, developers, customers, general contractors, as well as representatives of the banking system who are directly involved in the implementation of investment and construction projects. The paper summarizes the innovations of the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation in the field of determining the cost of construction at the stages of the life cycle of an investment and construction project, and suggests their adaptation to the activities of commercial customers. The factors of the rise in the cost of construction in the modern conditions of the investment and construction sphere are systematized, including topical issues of the rise in cost due to the increase in prices of building materials. The main risks arising from the implementation of the project associated with an increase in cost are highlighted. As the results of the study, stages of construction cost control with a description of their content and a system of cost controlling of an investment and construction project are proposed.