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Time Tracking
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Time Tracker for Bookkeepers

Bookkeepers can lose up to 25% of billable hours due to inefficient tracking. Harvest provides seamless integration with accounting software and customizable billing rates to streamline your workflow.

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How much revenue is your team leaving on the table?

Most agencies run at 55-60% utilization. Even a small improvement means significant revenue. See what closing the gap looks like for your team.

Number of people who track billable time
$
Blended rate across roles (junior, senior, lead)
55%
Percentage of total hours that are billable. Industry average is 55-60%.
75%
A realistic target for service businesses is 70-80%.
Monthly revenue gap $0
Revenue at current utilization $0/mo
Revenue at target utilization $0/mo
Extra billable hours needed per person/day 0h
Annual revenue opportunity $0

Start tracking team utilization

Walk through the entire flow below. Start a timer, check your reports, and create a real invoice — all in three clicks.

Go ahead — start tracking!

One click and you're timing. Try it right here: start a timer, add an entry, edit the details. This is exactly how it feels in Harvest.

  • One-click timer from browser, desktop & mobile
  • Works inside Jira, Asana, Trello, GitHub & 50+ tools
  • Duration or start/end — your call
  • Day, week & calendar views to stay on top of it all
  • Friendly reminders so no hour gets left behind
Acme Corp
Website Redesign
Homepage layout revisions
1:24:09
Content Strategy
Blog calendar planning
1:30:00
SEO Audit
Technical audit report
0:45:00
Brand Guidelines
Color system documentation
2:15:00
Logo Concepts
Initial sketches round 1
1:00:00
Today's total 6:54:09

The Strategic Imperative of Time Tracking for Bookkeepers

Managing time efficiently is crucial for bookkeepers to maximize profitability and ensure accurate client billing. Professional services firms can experience revenue leakage, losing between 15% and 25% of billable hours annually due to inefficient time tracking, which can equate to a loss of over $60,000 per employee each year for a firm billing $200/hour. This makes adopting a robust time tracking system indispensable.

Accurate time tracking also supports compliance with regulatory requirements such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which mandates detailed records of hours worked. By implementing a solution like Harvest, bookkeepers can achieve precision in billing and compliance by capturing time in real-time and categorizing it correctly. This helps in preventing undercharging or overcharging clients, thereby safeguarding the firm's financial health.

Essential Features of a Time Tracker for Bookkeeping Professionals

A time tracker for bookkeepers must offer specific features to enhance productivity and accuracy in billing. Key features include real-time tracking, manual entry, and automatic time capture options. Harvest excels in these areas, enabling bookkeepers to track both billable and non-billable hours, which is critical for precise invoicing.

Customizable billing rates are essential for bookkeepers to cater to varying client agreements, and Harvest provides the flexibility to set different rates per user, project, or client. Moreover, seamless integration with accounting software like QuickBooks allows for automated data transfer, reducing manual errors and saving valuable time. This integration is pivotal for streamlining invoicing and payroll operations.

Implementing Time Tracking: Best Practices for Bookkeeping Firms

Successful implementation of time tracking in bookkeeping firms hinges on communicating its value. It's important to highlight that it enhances workflow efficiency, provides accurate billing, and optimizes resource allocation. Harvest facilitates this by offering one-click timers and manual entry, enabling bookkeepers to capture every billable minute accurately.

To foster adoption, establish clear guidelines for time entry and categorization. Encourage real-time tracking to prevent data loss due to memory decay, which can be as high as 50% if time is recorded weekly. Harvest's detailed reporting helps firms identify inefficiencies and make informed decisions on pricing and workload management. Regularly reviewing these reports ensures that bookkeepers can adjust strategies to improve profitability and operational efficiency.

Choosing the Right Time Tracking Tool: Pricing, Trials, and Scalability

When selecting a time tracking tool, bookkeepers should consider pricing models and the availability of trials. Harvest offers a 30-day free trial without requiring a credit card, allowing firms to explore its features risk-free. Pricing for time tracking tools typically ranges from $3.99 to $12 per user per month, with Harvest offering competitive pricing for its extensive capabilities.

Scalability is another critical factor; Harvest can accommodate growing teams and ensure seamless integration across various platforms, including macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. Evaluating user-friendliness and ease of adoption is also essential to ensure the tool can be smoothly integrated into existing workflows, minimizing disruption and maximizing efficiency.

Time Tracker for Bookkeepers with Harvest

See Harvest's integration with QuickBooks and customizable billing rates in action, designed for bookkeepers.

Harvest time tracker interface tailored for bookkeepers

Time Tracker for Bookkeepers FAQs

  • A time tracker for bookkeepers should include accurate time capture, the ability to differentiate between billable and non-billable hours, customizable billing rates, invoicing capabilities, and integration with accounting software. Harvest offers all these features, making it ideal for bookkeeping needs.

  • Harvest integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks, allowing automatic transfer of billable hours, expenses, and project data. This integration reduces manual data entry, minimizes errors, and streamlines billing and payroll processes for bookkeepers.

  • Yes, Harvest allows you to set customizable billing rates for different clients, projects, or even tasks. This flexibility ensures that your billing aligns accurately with client agreements and staff expertise, enhancing your firm's profitability.

  • Common pricing models for time tracking tools include per-user fees, per-project charges, and flat-rate subscriptions. Harvest offers competitive pricing and a free 30-day trial, making it accessible for bookkeepers seeking a comprehensive solution.

  • Yes, Harvest offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required. This allows you to explore its features, such as detailed reporting and integration capabilities, to determine if it fits your bookkeeping needs.

  • Real-time tracking ensures that bookkeepers capture every billable minute, reducing the risk of memory decay that can lead to significant revenue loss. Harvest's one-click timers make real-time tracking easy and efficient, maximizing accuracy in billing.

  • Accurate time tracking is vital for compliance with regulations such as the FLSA, which requires detailed records of hours worked. Harvest helps maintain these records, ensuring that bookkeeping firms remain compliant while accurately billing clients.