Harvest
Time Tracking
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Time Tracking App for Xero

Harvest integrates seamlessly with Xero, offering automated time entry and real-time tracking to enhance billing efficiency and reduce errors.

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What should you charge per hour?

Most freelancers and consultants dramatically undercharge. This calculator accounts for what most people miss: non-billable time, taxes, and overhead.

$
Accounting for vacation, holidays, sick days
60%
Most freelancers can bill 50-70% of their time. The rest goes to admin, marketing, proposals, and learning.
$
Software, insurance, equipment, accounting, taxes beyond income tax, etc.
Your break-even rate $0
Recommended rate (+20% buffer) $0
Billable hours per week 0h
Equivalent daily rate $0

Start tracking your billable hours

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

Navigating Time Tracking in Xero: Native vs. Integrated Solutions

When it comes to time tracking within Xero, users often face the choice between utilizing Xero's native capabilities and integrating with third-party solutions. Xero's built-in time tracking functionality is available through the Xero Projects add-on, which allows for manual time entry and basic reporting. However, this feature requires a paid subscription, and many businesses find it limited in terms of automation and advanced analytics.

To address these limitations, integrating a specialized third-party time tracking application, like Harvest, can significantly enhance functionality. Harvest, for example, offers one-click start/stop timers and automated time entry directly to projects, which helps streamline operations and reduce manual data entry. Furthermore, Harvest's integration with Xero enables seamless synchronization of timesheets, contributing to more accurate billing and payroll management. This synergy not only improves accuracy but also accelerates the invoicing process, reducing the cycle time and minimizing errors.

Essential Features for a Xero-Integrated Time Tracking App

Choosing the right time tracking app that integrates with Xero involves evaluating essential features that cater to specific business needs. Automated time capture, such as the one-click timers offered by Harvest, is crucial for reducing manual input and increasing time tracking accuracy. Additionally, mobile accessibility ensures that remote teams can log hours on the go, enhancing productivity and flexibility.

Advanced reporting capabilities are another critical feature, as they provide deep insights into project profitability and employee productivity. Harvest excels in this area with customizable reports that facilitate detailed analysis of time and expenses. Moreover, integration with project management tools like Asana and Trello further streamlines workflows, making Harvest a comprehensive choice for businesses seeking to optimize their time tracking and billing processes.

Streamlining Billing and Payroll Through Xero Integration

Integrating time tracking with Xero can revolutionize billing and payroll processes by automating key functions. Harvest's integration with Xero allows tracked hours to be converted into accurate, client-ready invoices with minimal effort. This automation not only speeds up the invoicing cycle but also reduces the likelihood of human errors, which can lead to a 15-20% loss in billable income.

Furthermore, for businesses operating in regions where Xero Payroll is available, such as the UK and Australia, Harvest can export approved timesheets directly to Xero's payroll module. This seamless synchronization enhances payroll management by reducing manual data entry and ensuring compliance with regional payroll regulations. The integrated data from Harvest also supports precise project cost tracking and informed labor forecasting, providing significant strategic advantages.

Best Practices for Implementing and Optimizing Your Integrated Time Tracking Workflow

Implementing a time tracking system integrated with Xero requires careful planning to ensure optimal results. Begin by configuring the integration settings in Harvest, authorizing access to Xero, and selecting the specific data points to synchronize. It's essential to communicate the benefits of this integration to your team, emphasizing how it facilitates fair billing and accurate project planning rather than just oversight.

To maximize the benefits, customize settings to align with your business's specific requirements, including defining pay rates and work schedules. Consider exploring free or freemium versions of integrated time tracking solutions if budget constraints are a concern. With Harvest, businesses can take advantage of a free 30-day trial, allowing them to experience the features and benefits before committing to a paid plan. This strategic approach ensures that your time tracking system not only meets operational needs but also enhances overall business efficiency.

Time Tracking App for Xero with Harvest

Discover how Harvest integrates with Xero for automated time tracking and seamless billing, enhancing your financial management processes.

Screenshot of Harvest integrated with Xero for time tracking.

Time Tracking App for Xero FAQs

  • Some of the best time tracking apps that integrate with Xero include Harvest, TSheets, and Clockify. These apps offer features like automated time entry, detailed reporting, and seamless invoice creation. Harvest, in particular, provides one-click timers and customizable reports, making it a strong choice for businesses looking to enhance their billing processes.

  • Integrating a time tracking app with Xero improves payroll management by automating the synchronization of timesheets with Xero Payroll. This reduces manual data entry, minimizes errors, and ensures compliance with regional payroll regulations. Harvest's integration allows for seamless export of approved timesheets, enhancing accuracy and efficiency in payroll processing.

  • While Xero itself does not offer a free time tracking option, some third-party apps like Clockify provide freemium versions that integrate with Xero. Harvest offers a free 30-day trial, allowing businesses to experience its features and integration capabilities with Xero before committing to a paid plan.

  • When selecting a time tracking app for Xero, look for features like automated time capture, mobile accessibility, detailed reporting, and seamless integration with Xero. Harvest offers one-click timers, customizable reports, and integration with project management tools, making it a comprehensive choice for businesses seeking to streamline their time tracking and billing processes.

  • Automated time tracking applications streamline billing by reducing the need for manual time entry and minimizing errors. Apps like Harvest convert tracked hours into accurate, client-ready invoices with minimal effort. This automation accelerates the invoicing cycle and improves accuracy, leading to better cash flow management.

  • Harvest integrates with Xero by syncing timesheets, invoices, and payments between the two platforms. This integration allows for seamless transfer of time-tracked data, enhancing accuracy in billing and payroll management. Harvest's one-click timers and detailed reporting further support efficient financial operations.

  • Yes, Harvest allows you to track expenses along with time, and these can be integrated with Xero for comprehensive financial management. This feature enables businesses to capture all project-related costs, ensuring accurate client billing and detailed expense reporting.