I am trying to find an efficient way of tracking time and invoicing. Right now, I am using Excel to put in my time on specific projects, and Word to create an invoice. My system is project-centric -- every time I get a new contract, I create a new project folder that contains all the information. This is great for organizing each project, but when it comes to creating invoices (especially for clients that have more than one project on the go) I have to manually slog through the project folders and bring up the time entries.

I've looked at dozens of different programs over the years, but nothing seems to fit... does anyone out there have a recommendation for a project/time tracker and invoicing tool?

Thanks!

~Graham

Hi Michel,

Thanks! I checked it out -- looks interesting, but I think I've ruled out online invoicing. I like the e-mail feature since I invoice all my clients now through e-mail, but I'd prefer to do it through my own computer.

~Graham

Hmmm. Did you see that it sends a physical copy to the client by snail mail, and email reminders to pay?

Well, no worries then.

Ooooh... honestly, I'd seriously rethink the no-online-billing thing...

It's very 10 years ago... as a potential client I would look at that and wonder if you were truly in-tune with what's going on today? If you aren't running your business with the basics of today's technology then how can I be assured you really understand my viewers/needs or today's buyers in general? (The people I hired you to write to)

I can pay my credit cards, electric bill, cable bill, phone bill, and of course do pay all my data center fees online ... If I can't pay them, I can at least see the invoices online and then call with a CC# or mail a check. But to be totally offline? -- that'd raise some red flags.

But that's just me, I might not be your target market, in which case my opinion is of little value to your situation.

Bailey

Perhaps I misrepresented myself. I fully use the Internet, and have done so for many years. I e-mail my invoices as an attachment (I can't remember the last time I sent one by mail) and have accepted cc payments through PayPal for those who prefer it since before it was bought by eBay.

My issue is not with the concept of "online billing", it's with storing my information on someone else's server. Besides hacking issues and server crashes, I just don't like the idea of having my bookkeeping stored in an online database. Yes, there is certainly a record of the PayPal transactions, but that is unavoidable I suppose. Call me old fashioned, but I just prefer my books to be, well, in my books.

~Graham

I certainly understand your concerns, Graham. Unless you run your own server, you really have no idea what's going on in terms of the OS or software patches or how the servers are being maintained... not really...

I don't know what OS you are running, but I'm on OS X, and have used both of the following applications for time tracking on creative-type client projects; both of them do invoicing & payment tracking too:

• iBiz (I used it back when it was "iWork," a few versions ago -- it's only gotten better)

• Studiometry

Both are integrated all-in-one type of products.

Bailey

Hello all,

I just read about a new online billing service called FreshBooks... FreshBooks - The Fastest Way to Invoice Your Clients

I have never used this service, so this is not an endorsement of it. I just so happened to be reading a blog that reviewed it (gave it a good review) and thought I'd post it on here since this thread was still going.

Thanks for all of the info!

Nick Wright

Quickbooks does time tracking.