Tech Resources: Part 2: Track your Time

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The method you choose to track your time is really going to depend on your work style and habits, so we’ve compiled a list of some of the best available software out there to help you choose what’s right for you!

Some of these programs will work fine by themselves, while others will be more useful if you have chosen to integrate them with other applications or software.

Here’s our run-down on some of the best options:

MinuteDock

A tidy web-based application that can integrate with CRM (Customer Relationship Management) Software to facilitate invoicing for billable time. It requires a monthly subscription. MinuteDock is compatible with almost any internet-accessing device, so you’re covered on the go!

It works most like a stopwatch, and allows you to tag client(s) and add a description of your work. They don’t provide timestamps, so if you forget to pause or end your timer, you might have a little trouble; incorrect entries are easy to modify - you can change the time, date, or description of any entry.

MinuteDock provides several features including: reports, invoicing, and goal tracking. They also offer basic project management tools if you’re working on multiple tasks for one client; if different work has different billing rates, this might be a great option to look into!

https://minutedock.com/features/

Toggl

Another web-based application that offers a chrome extension, letting you track time spent on different websites. It has a free option and several paid tiers with different features available. Toggle has applications for all the phone operating systems, so you can use it away from your computer.

Unlike other web-based applications, Toggle does have an option for offline tracking, in the case that you don’t have internet access but are still working. And unlike many of our options here, Toggle doesn’t interface with many programs, so you’ll want to be sure that it offers everything you want without creating extra work.

Some of the nice features they offers is “idle” detection and tracking reminders (top two paid teirs). Their free version doesn’t offer you any reporting options, but it will provide a weekly timesheet as well as a CSV export (spreadsheet format). All version provide easy editing capabilities as well as manual entry.

If you want a tracker that will account for billable rates, you’ll have to pay, but it’s supremely useful and more mistake-proof than calculating rates by hand. Feel free to look at the various options available in their 4 different packages here:

https://toggl.com/feature-list/

Paydirt

A clean paid application that allows you to both track time and invoice seamlessly. Of note, they support multiple currencies and languages and plan to add more languages. Paydirt allows you to customize your invoices too!

They support multiple payment methods, including paypal, and integrate with a hefty list of other applications. These integrations let you import your time and billing information into other software/applications that you may need for work or business analytics.

Since Paydirt works on any website, aided by their google chrome extension, it’s a useful tool for the multitasking masters among us. Handily, they also provide visual reports, ready-to-print formats, and exports.

Paydirt offers multiple user levels with varying levels of team management tools available, making it ideal for small businesses. You can get more details on their packages and features here:

https://paydirtapp.com/pricing  

Timely

A paid application that you can download to nearly any device, and will sync entries together across all the devices. Timely’s most unique offer is their “memory” feature, which helps you out if you forget to start your timer for any reason.

The application relies on you downloading it on all the devices you’re using, as it automatically records usage time. Because of this, it will automatically suggest edits to schedules that the program thinks are incorrect because of usage data; helping you capture tasks that you might miss or forget to bill to clients.

Timely provides different reports and budget tracking tools that are tailored to increase effective work time as an individual or as a team. If you’re familiar with agile project management, you should definitely give Timely a glance.

Timely’s pricing is a bit different than the other apps; they’ll have you choose your feature list and the number of employees they’ll be providing the service for. To see all the details and goodies, check here:

https://timelyapp.com/

Tsheets

This is actually an Intuit program, and directly integrates with Quickbooks. Their free version is only available to individuals, but their pricing model is based on employee number. The only feature you have to add money for is employee scheduling, which you probably won’t need (until your business has become huge, of course).

Overall, Tsheets is a very robust program that does more than just track your time, it will manage billing rates, Paid Time Off (PTO) accruals, calculate overtime, and many other time-saving features. They also offer full timesheet creation and customization, and a slew of helpful reporting options.

They have a GPS tracker fully integrated into the mobile application, which comes in handy with their mobile time tracking features. If you have to travel to your clients, Tsheets may have the features you want. To see more about these features and others, give them a visit here:

https://www.tsheets.com/time-overview

 Disclaimer This article presents general information and is not intended to be tax or legal advice.  Refer to IRS publications and discuss possible tax deductions with your tax preparer.