Billing/time management software?

looking for software for webmasters

[bruce]

I'm looking for billing/time management software to help me track my website accounts.

When working on various accounts, I'd like to quickly log in and out a category and the amount of time I've spent working on an account. Ideally, the program would total up the account hours for a specific billing period(eg: monthly) by category, then create the bill. Probably something similar to what lawyers use...

What are you folks using to track your time spent working on client websites?

[sparrow]

We use QuickBooks Pro 2002
Lets us do all this plus email the bill.

[Robert Charlton]

I use TraxTime from Spud City Software. It's definitely not fully featured like what you describe, but for some people it might suffice.

You set up accounts and punch in an out times. You can include descriptions with each interval, and you can edit your data. Definitely no categories within the reports it generates, and no billing features.... It's a nice simple inexpensive utility that beats taking notes on a sheet of paper.

[kevin_m]

I use Allnetic Working Time Tracker. Just tracks the time per client and by each project. It was free so that works great for me. No billing features though.

[fredflintstone]

I love clicktime. It's cheap and works great.

[Christian SEO]

There are quite a few programs specifically for ISPs and hosting companies. Freeside is an open source application that does billing and other stuff.

BillMax is one of the industry leaders and they have a free fully-functional 100-account demo version that you can download from their web site. If you are a small ISP that might be all you'll ever need. BillMax has been around since 1995 and the company that sells it wrote for themselves originally and have been improving it ever since.

The nice thing about these applications is that they take care of the re-occurring billing and also allow customers to update and monitor their own accounts.

I hope this helps,
Christian Nielsen

P.S. I forgot to mention that if you are doing project stuff where you need to track time, like lawyers, take a look at TimeSlips. It's the standard for that kind of software and it CAN interface with QuickBooks if you need more accounting than it provides. -Christian

(edited by: Travoli at 1:00 pm (utc) on May 28, 2002)

[mediaspinner]

I'm using quicken home and business for financials... but as I've been using Act for a few months, may upgrade to QuickBooks. (as it ties right in nicely) Act is a fantastic account management tool, particularly for keeping notes on client projects, and for my needs--managing proposals. Out of the box it's kinda lame... takes some time to tweak it.

I took a look at a product called TimeShark, which was specifically designed for web designers and creatives. I think it was like $29. I don't remember the URL. It had some sorta profitability ratio gauge function, so as you worked you could watch your earnings pile up... kinda cool, but as I already had Act I didn't opt for it.

If I upgrade from Act, it will be to Time Matters, which was primiarily designed for lawyers, but can be customized for almost any need. I played with the demo for a few days... it's pretty pricey at $350, but also ties into Quickbooks and has very thorough project management functions, document and asset managment, and time/billing functions. I did like it a lot more than Act, but having spent 5+ months tweaking and maximizing Act... I'm a bit hesitant... or maybe a bit like an Ostrich with my head in the sand and don't wanna look.