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As a contractor, not only are you juggling bids and projects, but you're also responsible for tracking time spent on each task and ensuring all the paperwork is accurate.
Keeping up with these details can be overwhelming, especially when you're managing multiple projects simultaneously. That's where time tracking software for contractors comes in.
But with so many different apps on the market, it can be challenging to pick the right one for your business. To help you out, we've rounded up some of the best time tracking software options for contractors available today.
Each app below has unique features that can help you stay on track and productive. So, wthout further delay, here are the best time tracking tools you can use as a contractor:
1. Hourly
Best All-in-One Solution
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Hourly is a robust solution that combines a clock and time tracking feature with payroll and workers' comp insurance management from an easy-to-use mobile app. It's compatible with iOS and Android.
Here are some of the main features of Hourly:
- Workers can clock in on their phones with a single click, and you can instantly see who's working, when and where
- To-the-penny accurate labor costs provided in real-time
- Geofencing to monitor your subcontractors' location with location alerts
- Customizable rules, like enforced lunch hours, breaks and 8-hour workdays, or setting a mandatory start time
- Automatically calculate overtime based on local labor laws
- Payroll management to pay your team based on real-time data
- Connects payroll directly to your workers' compensation policy, so premiums are always accurate
If automatic time tracking isn't your thing, Hourly also lets you use manual time entries too.
Pricing
The time tracking component of Hourly is free.
So you can get started without paying any monthly fees. This is perfect if you're trying to bootstrap your construction business or are just trying to cut down on your monthly budget.
2. Toggl Track
Best for Basic Time Tracking
If you're looking for a time tracker that's easy to use and not too obtrusive, Toggle Track could be a good choice. It's a basic tracker, especially if you go with the free version. There aren't many bells and whistles, but it includes:
- Unlimited project tracking
- Unlimited clients
- Exportable time reports so you can access open reports in Excel
- Pomodoro timer
- CSV imports
If you need a few more features, such as being able to create project time estimates or run time audits, you'll need to upgrade to a paid version. Some of the things you can do in a paid plan are:
- Set unique billable hours for different subcontractors or tasks
- Round your time
- Create project forecasts for task management
Pricing
Toggl has four pricing tiers:
- Free: Plan is free for up to five users.
- Starter: Runs $10 a month per user.
- Premium: $20 a month for each user.
- Enterprise: Designed for large organizations. It comes with a custom price tag and unlimited users.
To help you decide which plan is right, there's a 30-day free trial that includes the premium features. This allows you to determine if the freebie plan has what you need or if you'll need to pay for an upgrade.
3. QuickBooks Time
Best for QuickBooks Integration
In early 2021, the popular timesheet app, TSheets, was rebranded as QuickBooks Time. This software integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks, a popular accounting software for small business owners.
This software offers features such as:
- The ability to manage multiple timesheets
- Compatibility with mobile devices for updating on the go
- Customizable reports to help you look for bottlenecks and boost profits
- Ability to upload photos to share progress on projects
- Create schedules for your subcontractors and share them
- GPS tracking to help ensure everyone is at the right job site
Pricing
QuickBooks Time has two pricing tiers:
- Time Premium: Costs $10 per month, plus $8 for each team member. However, the project features, including collaboration and geofencing, are only included with the more expensive Elite plan.
- Time Elite: Runs $20 monthly, plus $10 for each additional user.
You can sign up for a 30-day trial without a credit card to test the different features.
4. Harvest
Best for Generating Invoices
If you want a way to turn your tracked time directly into an invoice, Harvest could be the time tracker you're looking for. This platform allows you to create and send invoices that include any time and expenses you've tracked.
It also features:
- PayPal and Stripe integrations for clients to pay you quickly
- Integration into QuickBooks and Xero
- Updates your budget as your team members clock their time
- Filters to help you customize the reports to see the data you need
- A way to visually track your team's availability
Pricing
Harvest has two pricing tiers:
- Free: Plan is limited to only one user and two projects.
- Pro: Costs $12 monthly for each user.
There's a free 30-day trial to see if this program is a good fit.
5. Homebase
Best for Subcontractor Scheduling
If you're looking for a way to schedule your team and track their time, Homebase might be just what you're looking for. It offers:
- Robust employee scheduling features
- Ability to send out schedule updates to the entire team
- A team chat feature
- The ability to track breaks and overtime
- Editable timesheets
- Employee onboarding
- A way to track employee documents
Pricing
Homebase has four different pricing tiers:
- Basic: Plan is free and includes unlimited employees at one location.
- Essentials: Costs $24.95 per location per month. It adds the team communication feature mentioned above.
- Plus: Runs $59.95 per location per month. It lets you set time off limits and track PTO for your team.
- All in One: Runs $99.95 per month per location and has tools to help you control your labor costs and set your budget.
The company offers a 14-day free trial of the All-in-One plan so you can see which features you need.
6. Time Doctor
Best for Identifying Time Wasters
While construction contractors might not need some features that Time Doctor offers, it'd be a good fit for independent contractors or freelancers doing more work on their computers.
If you're a freelancer who easily gets distracted by Facebook or another time-wasting activity, Time Doctor can notify you with a pop-up that checks to see if you're still working. This can help you improve your productivity.
Here are some of the other key features of this app:
- Time management reports
- Website, app, and chat monitoring
- Weekly reports on online activity
- Integrates with QuickBooks, Asana, Trello, Slack, and other programs
- Ability to turn features on and off
- Random screenshots
- Screen-recording options
You can turn the screenshots off if you're not comfortable with that feature. It's also possible to blur the screen a bit to help protect your privacy.
Pricing
Time Doctor lets you choose between three subscription options:
- Basic: Costs $7 per month per user. It gives you time tracking and screenshots.
- Standard: Runs $10 per month for each user. This plan adds the ability to integrate payroll and track apps and URLs.
- Premium: Is $20 a month for each user. It provides client login access and VIP support.
Time Doctor offers a 14-day free trial.
7. TimeCamp
Best for Large Businesses
As a contractor, you want to ensure you're staying on budget to meet your revenue goals. TimeCamp allows you to do just that. It offers:
- The ability to set different billing rates for each subcontractor or project
- A way to define project costs so you can stay on budget
- Notifications when you're about to miss a deadline or go over budget
- A way to invite clients to access project reports so they can track the work
- A fully automated tracker where you can adjust time entries manually
- Graphical timesheets so you can visually see how you spent your time
Pricing
If you think TimeCamp can solve your time tracking problems, you can try it for free for 14 days.
Then, you have four choices to choose from:
- Free: Comes with unlimited users, projects, and tasks.
- Basic: Costs $7 per user a month. It allows you to access the billable time and budgeting features mentioned above.
- Pro plan: Runs $10 per user each month. It adds invoicing and timesheet approval in addition to some other features.
- Enterprise: Custom program at a custom price.
1. Introducing Yourself
Your introductory email needs to pack a lot of information into a small package. Try something like this:
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Hello Jane,
My name is John Doe and I work for ABC Agency, where we provide business insurance policies to many of Dallas' rockstar small businesses.
Congratulations on your new business, Jane's Bakery. Are you wondering if you have all the insurance you need? Or if your policies will really cover you in a pinch?
At ABC Agency, we pride ourselves on providing robust, comprehensive coverage options to companies like yours with flexible, pay-as-you-go plans.
Are you available this week to talk more about how we can help? I can help you find the most affordable rates and the best policies out there.
I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Cheers,
John Doe
2. Presenting a Quote
Once you've met with your potential client, a quick reply with their quote will get the ball rolling.
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Hi Jane,
Thanks so much for meeting with me this morning. I loved touring Jane's Bakery–I can still smell those delicious chocolate chip cookies baking! You have a great location, and I'm sure you're going to do great on Front St.
After reviewing my notes, I've pulled together an insurance quote for you (attached). I recommend a business owner's policy. A BOP includes several insurance products in one: liability, property insurance, and business interruption insurance. It offers robust coverage at a competitive price.
I'll call you in a few days to see what you think about this insurance plan. In the meantime, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me or call me at [phone number].
Again, thank you for your time today. I look forward to working with you in the future.
Cheers,
John Doe
3. Thanks for Purchasing a Policy
Gratitude is important! It's never a bad idea to thank your clients for their business.
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Hi Jane,
Thank you for choosing a business owner's policy with ABC Agency. We know it's so important to get the right coverage for your business, and we are honoured you've placed your trust in us.
We're excited to work closely with you, and our no. 1 goal is to make sure you're business is always protected.
Do you have any questions? We are here to help. Reach out whenever something comes to mind.
Thank you again for choosing ABC Agency to insure Jane's Bakery.
Cheers,
John Doe
4. Welcome Email
A welcome email helps clients feel like you're there to help–and can softly pitch other insurance products you offer.
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Dear Jane,
Welcome to the ABC family! We are thrilled to have you as a new customer and can't wait to meet all of your insurance needs.
As an independent insurance agency, we work with multiple insurance providers to find the best coverage options for all our customers. If you need any other type of insurance–like [include additional offerings unique to your agency, like life insurance, health insurance, home insurance or anything else]–we can help you too.
Do you want to discuss any of these policies?
Cheers,
John Doe
5. Introducing a New Product
A happy client may want to expand their business with you.
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Hello Jane,
I hope all is well with you and Jane's Bakery. I stopped in yesterday for a blueberry muffin and coffee, and they were delicious. I loved the hint of cinnamon in the muffin! Was that your idea?
I wanted you to be the first to know we are now offering commercial vehicle insurance to our policyholders. Auto insurance for your catering vans is super important since your personal car insurance won't cover them.
We're offering this insurance coverage solely to our current business clients at the moment and have some very competitive rates.
Would you like me to work up a quote for you?
As always, thanks so much for being a part of the ABC family.
Cheers,
John Doe
6. Asking For Referrals
Once your relationship is established and comfortable, let your clients help you grow.
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Hi Jane,
You've been a valuable member of the ABC family for two years now, and we so appreciate your business–not to mention the muffins you supply for our monthly meetings!
Because you are a valued policyholder, I wanted to ask a quick favour. I know you are active in the local Chamber of Commerce, and I'm hoping you might know some colleagues who would benefit from working with our insurance company.
Referrals are one of the most effective ways to connect with our community since people really trust their friends, family and colleagues. Is there anyone you'd recommend I speak with?
Remember that in addition to business insurance products, we offer everything from life insurance policies to pet insurance.
As a thank you for your help, we will send you an Amazon gift card of $100 when your referrals buy insurance from us.
Thanks so much for your help!
Cheers,
John Doe
7. Policy Renewal
If your client needs to renew their policy with you, send an email like this:
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Hi Jane,
I hope you're doing well! What a year it's been—from being listed as one of the top 5 bakeries in Dallas to being an official vendor for the city—you have so much to be proud of.
Just a heads up that your business owner's policy is up for renewal soon and will expire on June 15, 2023.
If you're still happy with the coverage, we can easily renew it for you.
Do you have some time to chat this week?
Looking forward to serving you again!
Cheers,
John Doe
