Harvest
Time Tracking
Sign up free

Time Tracking for Small Business

For small businesses seeking to enhance productivity and compliance, Harvest offers robust time tracking and invoicing capabilities that reduce productivity leaks by up to 80% and improve revenue by 61%.

Try Harvest Free

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

Why Time Tracking is Essential for Small Businesses

Time tracking is crucial for small businesses, as it can significantly enhance productivity and profitability. Effective time tracking can reduce productivity leaks by up to 80%, potentially leading to a 61% increase in revenue. For small businesses, maintaining accurate records of employee hours is not just about compliance with labor laws but also about optimizing resource allocation and improving operational efficiency. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in the US mandates employers to keep precise time records for non-exempt employees, ensuring compliance with wage and overtime laws.

Moreover, time tracking fosters accountability among employees, with 70% of users of mobile apps reporting increased accountability and companies seeing a 35% productivity boost. Harvest provides a comprehensive solution for small businesses with its ability to track both billable and non-billable hours, detailed project profitability analysis, and integration with accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero. This ensures not only compliance but also a streamlined process for invoicing and payroll management, crucial for small business success.

Key Features to Look for in Time Tracking Solutions

When evaluating time tracking tools for small businesses, certain features are non-negotiable. A user-friendly interface with automated time entry options like one-click start/stop timers is essential. Harvest excels in this area by allowing both real-time tracking and manual entries for retroactive logging. This flexibility ensures that all hours are accurately recorded, minimizing the risk of errors.

Integration capabilities are also critical. Software like Harvest integrates seamlessly with platforms such as Trello, Slack, and QuickBooks, offering comprehensive project and billing management. Additionally, customizable reporting options provided by Harvest allow businesses to analyze team productivity and project costs effectively. For businesses with mobile or field teams, features like GPS tracking and mobile app access are invaluable, ensuring that time is tracked accurately across various locations.

Implementing Time Tracking: Best Practices for Small Businesses

Implementing an effective time tracking system involves strategic planning and employee involvement. It's essential to document and communicate clear policies for time logging, breaks, and overtime. Encouraging daily, real-time logging over retrospective entry maximizes accuracy, as waiting until the end of the week increases the risk of inaccurate estimates. Harvest supports best practices with its timesheet approval workflows, ensuring compliance and accuracy in time entries.

Regular review and approval by managers can catch errors early, and securely storing these records for the legally required duration helps maintain compliance. Harvest's customizable reporting and project profitability analysis aid in identifying inefficiencies and optimizing workflows. Involving employees in system design can foster buy-in and ensure practical usability, while sharing insights from time tracking data can encourage better time management habits.

Harvest Time Tracking for Small Business

Explore how Harvest's time tracking features help small businesses manage projects and billing. Start tracking today without a credit card.

Screenshot of Harvest time tracking interface for small businesses

Time Tracking for Small Business FAQs

  • Time tracking is vital for small businesses as it enhances productivity and ensures compliance with labor laws. Effective tracking can reduce productivity leaks by 80% and increase revenue by 61%. It provides insights into operational efficiency and helps in managing labor costs effectively.

  • Time tracking software for small businesses should have a user-friendly interface, automated time entry, and integration with accounting systems. Key features include project and task tracking, real-time tracking, and mobile access for remote teams. Harvest offers these capabilities along with customizable reporting options.

  • Harvest facilitates billing and invoicing by tracking billable and non-billable hours separately. It allows for the creation, sending, and management of professional invoices directly from tracked time. Integration with QuickBooks and Xero further streamlines financial management.

  • While many small businesses seek free options, these often come with limitations like user counts or feature restrictions. Harvest offers a free 30-day trial, allowing businesses to explore its comprehensive features before committing to a paid plan.

  • Time tracking identifies inefficiencies and optimizes resource allocation. Businesses using time tracking report up to a 32% improvement in work-time efficiency and a 35% increase in productivity with mobile apps, directly impacting profitability.

  • In the US, the Fair Labor Standards Act requires accurate tracking of hours for non-exempt employees. Employers must retain payroll records for at least three years, and compliance ensures adherence to minimum wage and overtime laws.

  • Harvest uses one-click start/stop timers and manual time entry to ensure accurate logging. Its timesheet approval workflows further maintain accuracy and compliance, allowing managers to review and approve time entries before payroll processing.