Efficiency at Your Fingertips: The Advantages of Billable Time Apps

A billable time app can be an invaluable asset for businesses that require their employees to track and report their time. Time tracking apps come in many shapes and sizes, but they all share the same basic concept: helping you track where your team’s work hours are going and what projects were worked on during those hours. 

As a manager or business owner, accurately tracking your team’s billable hours can be pivotal to your success. Billable time tracking apps allow you to easily monitor and record these hours, streamlining billing and invoicing processes while improving project management. 

Today, we’ll explore the advantages of using such applications, examine the essential features to look for when making your choice, and present our top picks for the best billable time apps on offer. Get ready to maximize productivity and efficiency with the help of these powerful tools!

Throughout this article, we’ll go over the following topics: 

• What Are Billable Time Apps?
• Most Essential Features of Billable Time Tracker App
• 9 Benefits of Using Billable Time Tracking App
• How to Choose the Right Billable Time Apps?
• Best Billable Time Apps in the Market
• Final Thoughts on Billable Time Apps

What Are Billable Time Apps?

Billable time apps are software solutions that enable companies to track and record their employees’ time on specific tasks. These apps help them accurately measure how much time is spent on each task and any additional costs associated with it, such as materials or transportation.

This data can then be used for billing purposes, allowing businesses to bill clients according to the hours spent working on a particular project. This helps ensure accurate invoicing and cash flow management, avoiding discrepancies between projected and actual costs. 

Billable and nonbillable tasks have several differences, including the purpose of tracking and reporting time. Non-billable tasks are often associated with administrative activities such as training and orientation, while billable tasks are those charged to clients for actual work performed.

Examples of non billable tasks include:

• Recruiting and onboarding
• Research and development
• Marketing activities
• Brainstorming

On the other hand, billable tasks can be billed to a client for the time spent on them. Examples of billable tasks include:

• Design and development
• Testing and debugging
• Customer support
• Network maintenance 

Billable time apps let you separate these two types of tasks. This is important for businesses that must provide accurate invoices and track how much time was spent on each project.

8 Most Essential Features of Billable Time Tracker App

A good billable time tracking app should have many features that make it easy to use, efficient, and secure. Here are some of the essential features you should look for: 

1. Time Tracking

One of the most basic and essential features of a billable time tracking app is the ability to accurately track and record your team’s work hours. Most apps are equipped with intuitive clocks that allow employees to clock in and out and log any breaks they take throughout their shifts. 

The app should also be able to generate detailed reports based on these logged times, allowing you to evaluate employee performance and productivity easily. 

2. Separation of Billable and Non-billable Hours

One of the critical differences between billable time apps with other regular time tracking apps is the ability to separate billable and non-billable hours. This allows you to quickly generate accurate invoices for clients, as well as provide clarity in terms of what projects were worked on during those hours. A business may have different strategies for billable and non-billable hours, so this feature is essential. 

3. Timesheet Creation

Another important feature is the ability to generate timesheets quickly and accurately. This will allow you to manage employee schedules easily, as well as keep track of which employees are working on what projects. 

The app should also be able to generate reports based on these timesheets that can be used for payroll calculations or project management purposes. 

A timesheet typically includes:

• Name of the employee 
• Date and time worked 
• Total number of hours worked 
• Break duration 
• Description of tasks completed during the shift.

A billable time app can collect all of this data and generate it in an organized, easy-to-read format. 

4. Time Clock with Mobile Accessibility and Security Features

For maximum convenience, your billable time tracking app should come with a mobile-friendly clock that allows employees to clock in and out from anywhere. 

The app should also be equipped with security features such as two-factor authentication or fingerprint scanning that make it easy to verify the identity of each employee before they can use the system. This will help prevent fraud and ensure accurate recording of work hours.

5. Integration with Accounting and Invoicing Software 

Integrating your billable time tracking app with accounting and invoicing software can be a major advantage. This allows you to easily create invoices based on logged timesheets, streamlining the billing process significantly. 

The app should also be able to generate reports that are compatible with your accounting or invoicing software, allowing you to spend less time manually entering data. 

6. Project Management Capabilities

Project management capabilities are also essential for a billable time app. The app should be able to provide reports and insights into how each project is progressing or if any delays have occurred. It should also offer customizable options so you can adjust settings as needed.  

Project management tasks include: 

• Creating and assigning tasks 
• Monitoring the progress of projects 
• Setting deadlines and milestones 
• Reporting on project completion status.

7. Reporting and Analytics 

One of the biggest advantages of using a billable time tracker app is the ability to generate detailed reports and analytics. The app should be able to generate comprehensive, real-time reports on employee performance, productivity, and other metrics. 

This will allow you to easily identify areas where improvements can be made or where employees are exceeding expectations. This information can also be used for project management purposes or for payroll calculations.

8. Customization Options

Finally, you should look for an app that is highly customizable and can be tailored to fit your business’s specific needs. A good billable time-tracking app will offer a wide range of customization options, from the ability to create custom reports and data fields to the option of setting up personalized reminders or notifications for employees.

9 Benefits of Using Billable Time Tracking App

Billable time tracking apps bring numerous advantages to any business, including:

1. Improved Clarity with Billing

Billable time tracking apps provide businesses with an easy way to clarify billing methods and fees. With detailed insights into how much time is spent on each project and the corresponding cost, companies can create more accurate invoices that accurately reflect the amount of work performed. This ensures clients are billed fairly for the services provided while protecting your business from any potential undercharging or overcharging issues.

2. Better Organization

Time tracking apps can be invaluable when it comes to organizing your work processes. With tools such as task assignment, time tracking and reporting, project progress monitoring, and more, managers can easily stay on top of every project while ensuring each one is completed on time. This allows businesses to minimize wasted resources and maximize efficiency across the board. 

3. Profitability Analysis

You’ll get a clear view of your company’s profitability with billable time tracker apps. With detailed reports and insights into how much time is spent on each project, you can use this data to analyze the costs and profits associated with each job. This information can be invaluable for making informed decisions about pricing strategies or changes in operations that affect profitability. 

4. Detailed Performance Data and Analysis 

Billable time tracking apps give you detailed performance data that can be used to analyze your team’s productivity. With insights into how much time is spent on each task, you can quickly identify areas where efficiency could be improved, enabling you to make the necessary changes and ensure optimal productivity. 

5. Project Priority Management

You may have to deal with multiple projects at once, and it can be difficult to determine which one should take priority. Billable time apps provide the data you need to make informed decisions about project priorities. With detailed insights into how much time is spent on each task, you can quickly identify which areas are taking up the most resources and adjust your scheduling accordingly. 

6. Timely Invoicing 

Billable time apps can automate the invoicing process, ensuring clients are billed accurately and on time. This ensures that payments are received in a timely manner, making it easier to manage cash flow. 

7. Reduced Project Costs and Overhead 

As you can track project progress and time spent on tasks, you can easily identify areas where costs can be reduced. By cutting out unnecessary expenses, businesses can save money while still delivering quality results.

8. Accurate Payroll Tracking and Reporting 

Accurately tracking employee hours is essential for any business, and billable time apps make this process much easier. With the ability to monitor employees’ hours in real-time, managers can stay on top of payroll records and ensure that everyone is getting paid correctly. This helps businesses save money by avoiding costly payroll mistakes while ensuring employees are fairly compensated for their work. 

9. Enhanced Client Relationships

Using a billable time tracking app can help businesses create stronger relationships with their clients. By providing detailed and accurate invoices, companies can demonstrate their professionalism and commitment to excellence. This builds trust between the business and its customers, leading to increased customer loyalty and more repeat business in the future. 

How to Choose the Right Billable Time Apps?

When it comes to selecting a billable time app, there are a few essential features that should be on your radar. Here are the factors that you should consider when making your selection:

• Ease of use
• Required features for your business
• Scalability
• Integrations with other tools 
• Data security and privacy features 
• Reporting capabilities 
• Budget-friendly pricing plans. 

3 Best Billable Time Apps in the Market

Several apps exist on the market, each offering different approaches to time tracking and related tasks. We’ve picked out a few of the best-performing billable time trackers worth your consideration.

1. Day.io – Best Billable Time App for Small and Medium Businesses

Day.io is a popular and powerful billable time tracking app that can be used by small to medium businesses. It offers a range of features, such as automated invoicing, timesheet management, project tracking, budgeting, and payroll integration. The user-friendly interface makes it easy to use, and the real-time data updates ensure accurate reporting of hours worked. 

Features

• Billable time tracking app with excellent customizability settings
• Cost and billing analysis for budgeting and profitability calculation 
• Configurable time clock with late-entry and early-exit tolerance
• Overtime and payroll management with control over extra hours worked
• Cloud-storage with digital signature management ensuring smooth automation
• GPS, WiFi and biometric authentication to prevent time thefts
• Automated timesheets with real-time data sync

Pricing

• Attendance and time tracking: $4 per user/month
• Project time tracking: $6 per user/month

2. Timelive – Excellent Timesheets and Expense Tracking Features

Timelive provides an all-inclusive solution for businesses looking to manage their billable time. It features a robust timesheet management system and excellent expense-tracking capabilities. The user-friendly drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to use, while the automated invoicing feature ensures accurate billing of hours worked. 

Features

• Billable time tracking with detailed timesheet management
• Accurate expense tracking features for better budgeting 
• Flexible payroll system with overtime control and cost allocation options 
• Real-time updates of hours worked and expenses incurred 
• Automated invoicing to ensure accurate billing of hours worked 
• Drag-and-drop user interface for easy navigation 

Pricing

• Timesheet: $3 per user/month
• Expense Tracking: $2 per user/month
• Attendance Tracking: $2 per user/month
• Premium: $200/month for 50 users (all features)

3. BeeBole – Solid Billable Time Tracking App with Payroll Management and Budgeting

BeeBole combines a range of features within one interface, making it an ideal choice for businesses that need to manage their billable time. From timesheet and expense tracking to payroll management and budgeting, BeeBole has it all. With detailed reports and real-time data updates, you can stay on top of the hours worked and ensure accurate billing processes. 

Features

• Billable time app with advanced customizations
• Budgeting and profitability analysis tools for cost control
• Project management and task delegation tools 
• Payroll management with overtime calculation features

Pricing

€6.99 per user/month

Final Thoughts on Billable Time Apps

Billable time apps can be a powerful tool for businesses, helping to streamline operations, improve accuracy and save money. Choosing the right one is key – from freelancers to small business owners and larger teams, unlocking enhanced productivity and efficiency is just an app away! 

If you’re looking for the best billable time app for small and medium businesses, Day.io should be at the top of your list. With its user-friendly interface, comprehensive feature set, and budget-friendly pricing structure, it’s a surefire way to take your operations up a notch. Don’t delay: sign up now and start enjoying the benefits of billable time tracking.