5 of the best time-tracking apps to use with QuickBooks

What is time tracking? Why is it important? And which time tracking apps work best with QuickBooks®?

In this post, I’ll be answering those questions and more.

Ultimately, you’ll come away knowing which time-tracking apps are best for tracking time spent on various tasks (of course), but in addition, you’ll learn which apps also:

• Improve workflows
• Help control finances
• Measure productivity

Using a time-tracking application day to day is important for many reasons

No. 1: Time-tracking apps show when (and where) employees work

PTO, sick days, client meetings—all these time tracking entries take an employee out of the office, yet they’d obviously be billed differently.

But as we all know, being absent from the office doesn’t mean you’re not working.

Easy-to-use time-tracking apps (like the list we’ve supplied below) allow employees to track their time on the go and let managers keep track of the status of their teams.

No. 2: Time-tracking apps measure employee productivity

At first glance, “measuring employee productivity” makes time trackers seem like a micromanagement dream.

But that’s not what we’re advocating here. In fact, measuring a project’s progress using a time-tracking application lets employers check in without “checking in.”

It also makes it simpler for managers to identify project complexities, since it visualizes where employees may be struggling. This (we hope) gives employers the justification for a larger training budget or even a workflow reset.

Time trackers help start the “How could this process be improved?” conversation.

No. 3: Time-tracking apps help estimate project costs and provide accurate and transparent pricing for clients.

Clients want to see exactly how much time their service provider spends on their project.

And service providers, like accountants, government contractors, electricians, etc., also benefit by getting accurate job costing estimates for how long a similar project will take the next time.

Clients are happier because time allocation is transparent throughout the project’s term. (Zero unexpected costs.) Job costing estimates improve in accuracy over time.

Zero question of compensation; the evidence for where time was spent is visible throughout the project’s term.

The best time-tracking apps for businesses using QuickBooks

It’s easy to control finances with a time-tracking app. It’s not as easy to select from the many feature-rich applications on the market today.

To help you find the right app for your business, we’ve put together a brief list of consumers’ favorite time-tracking apps below. Full disclosure: These are all apps that Rightworks hosts—although that isn’t the reason we created this post. We’re just lucky enough to host some of the best applications in the business market!

No. 1: Buddy Punch

Buddy Punch is a cloud-based time tracking and scheduling software designed to help businesses manage employee attendance and payroll more efficiently. It allows employees to clock in and out using web browsers, mobile apps, or QR codes, with features like GPS tracking and webcam images on punches to ensure accuracy. The platform offers tools for scheduling shifts, tracking time off, and generating customizable reports, and it integrates seamlessly with popular payroll systems to streamline the payroll process.

Learn more about Buddy Punch.

No. 2: BigTime

BigTime is an online billing and time-tracking tool created specifically for professional services firms (including accounting, IT, legal, engineering, etc.).

It also boasts a comprehensive project management solution. So, users (and, more likely, management) can view and assign tasks at a granular level while still gaining the all-important time-tracking, billing and reporting features they expect.

Learn more about BigTime.

No. 3: Hour Timesheet

Hour Timesheet wants to be known for one thing: DCAA (Defense Contract Audit Agency) compliance. And in a probably too-simplistic nutshell, the DCAA works to ensure contracted entities use government funds appropriately.

If/when the agency audits a contractor, that contractor’s employer must be able to furnish evidence that they spent X amount of time on Y project.

Hour Timesheet provides that important DCAA-compliant evidence with its simple, customizable time-keeping solution.

Learn more about Hour Timesheet.

No. 4: Time Tracker by eBillity

Time Tracker by eBillity is an online time-tracking solution that saves business owners time on invoicing and payroll. It syncs seamlessly with QuickBooks, making in-product payroll and class tracking easier.

It also makes job costing analysis intuitive. With Time Tracker by eBillity, users can automate a weekly report that shows time spent per project, plus a view of which employees and customers are most efficient (aka = bringing in the most money).

Learn more about Time Tracker by eBillity.

No. 5: Knowify

Knowify supplies job costing, progress invoicing, change orders and built-in eSignature capture. So, basically, everything a construction firm would need to track time spent on a project, plus the tools necessary for billing that client.

Users can also create detailed cost estimates per job phase, using Knowify’s advanced budgeting tools—and then effortlessly translate those budgets into a bid.

All jobs, clients, vendors, items, invoices, time, payments and expenses automatically sync—saving time, improving accuracy and, most importantly, cutting out double entries.

Learn more about Knowify.

Compare the Best Time-tracking Apps