Using Computer Time Clocks

Increase Billing Accuracy and ROI by Tracking Time Effectively

Jun 25, 2009

Stop working for free by tracking short work periods. Explore reasons to use a computer time clock, how to find one, and two programs to try.

For bill-by-the-hour consultants, entrepreneurs and work at home employees, a big challenge is keeping track of time. While there are some regular work hours that are easy to track, there are also usually times when clients call unexpectedly, or there are rapid fire exchanges of email amidst working on other projects.

If not tracked effectively, this sort of activity can unintentionally result in unbilled time that can add up to quite a lot of hours over weeks and months. Especially for consultants with multiple clients, or work-at-home-parents who are interspersing work with attention to children and household, a computer time clock can be an essential tool.

Why Use a Time Clock?

Ironically, many entrepreneurs choose that path precisely to get away from things like punch clocks and structured hours. But when billing by the hour (or minute!), a time clock can represent freedom to work whenever desired, rather than enslavement to a need for dedicated hours. With a time clock, an entrepreneur can pop-in and pop-out of the "office," then be off to clean sticky fingers, make a massage appointment, grab lunch out, and more.

Even for those who don't bill by the hour, a computer time clock can be important to keep track of time spend on different projects. Why? Tracking project time can help to calculate ROI (return on investment) and help focus limited available work hours on the highest-return projects.

What's learned can guide decisions on changing focus, dropping clients or outsourcing or delegating certain tasks. Or for those who work as a traditional employees, but from home, a specified number of hours a week – a time clock may reveal hours of unpaid work checking email or communicating in small amounts in addition to scheduled hours.

How to Find a Computer Time Clock

Start on cnet downloads, or any reputable download site. Useful search terms might be time tracker, billing tracker or computer time clock. There also are some industry-specific programs for lawyers or certain types of consultants that can be found by adding those industry terms. Some programs are free, some are free to try (either with limited time horizons or limited capabilities during the trial). Some have free versions and paid versions depending on the need for complexity. Some are simply programs to purchase.

Here are two programs that offer free/trial versions and fulfill basic time tracking needs:

TraxTime has a really "pretty" interface that is user-intuitive. The trial is a full-version, but after a period of time adds a delay every time it's opened that add up to a significant amount of time. After a few months, it might be necessary to pay the upgrade.

Time Tracker has a free version with limited functionality. It is free forever if the advanced features aren't needed. The pay version includes additional billing and rate calculation features. There is a 20-day free trial to try out the paid version.

Time Tracker isn't as "cute" as TraxTime, but does the job just as well. It is really easy to see a tally of work for each client, within a specified date range, including running time. This is important for consultants who have set min/max time commitments for particular client each week or month or for those who commit to a min/max times spent on particular tasks, projects or goals.

Whether using one of these programs, or some other, a punch in/punch out time clock can add a great deal of freedom, and minimize unpaid work for consultants or other work-at-home employees.

The copyright of the article Using Computer Time Clocks in Small/Home Business is owned by Nicki Heskin. Permission to republish Using Computer Time Clocks in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.