Solutions [Link].
com
Download our list of spreadsheet
and time-management applications
We asked the TechRepublic IT Consultant audience to share their solutions for tracking billable hours.
While many sent us copies of spreadsheets that they use every day, others sent links to time-
management applications.
If you didn’t find what you needed in our spreadsheet download, we hope one of these applications will
help you:
Time & Expense Sheet Manager
MicroSheet ([Link])
Time only $29.95/Full business suite $79.95
This tool uses Microsoft Excel to create customer invoices and track time and expenses spent on a
project or service. It is tailored to the needs of self-employed contractors, consultants, and small
companies with up to 25 employees.
BillQuick 2000
BQE Software, Inc. ([Link])
Lite version FREE/Standard (5-Users) $565/Palm $125
BillQuick is time billing software with more than 130 standard reports and invoices. The report designer
allows you to customize reports and invoices. The software allows you to differentiate between actual
hours (A-hours) and billable hours (B-hours), a concept designed with consultants in mind.
The company also offers tools for off-site timekeeping and Web-based time cards for keeping time and
expenses on either Palm Pilot or Windows CE handheld devices.
Responsive Time Logger
Responsive Software ([Link])
$89
Responsive Time Logger is a time and billing application for Windows 95/98/NT/2000. The program
features expense tracking, accounts receivable, flexible import/export, and a macro facility. All information
is stored in standard Microsoft Access files so that it can be imported into other applications. Time
Logger's Palm interface allows on-the-go time tracking.
Simply Time Professional
Simply Software ([Link]
$65
Simply Time Professional records time spent on projects and billing and budget information on- and off-
site. It allows for quick reports of time and budget against anticipated figures. The program was designed
for small to midsize organizations, and it allows multiple users to record information across a network.
This version is scaleable to 100 employees. (If your company needs to track more than 100 employees,
Simply Software does provide other options.)
©2001 TechRepublic, Inc. [Link]. All rights reserved.
Solutions [Link]
Standard Time
Scoutwest, Inc. ([Link])
$99.99
An entire project team can track their time throughout the day with Standard Time. The time information is
stored in a shared ODBC database for workgroup and enterprise-wide use. The program runs on
Windows and all Palm and Pocket PC devices, and it integrates with Microsoft Project Central and
QuickBooks.
Time & Chaos
iSBiSTER ([Link])
$45
TechRepublic member Nick Quinn, a managing director at Total Software Solutions Limited, said his
company has used Time & Chaos software for many years. Originally shareware, Time & Chaos is
contact and time management software for Windows users.
Quinn uses the software's ability to work with Office to his advantage. "We simply put a short client code
in a 'linked' time capture field in the calendar, export the month's time to Excel at the end of month, sort
and format it with a macro, and produce our billings with a copy of the Excel spreadsheet for that client
attached," Quinn said. "Rarely have we had a client dispute the recorded time."
Time Cards 2000
Soft Tech Solutions ([Link]
$19.00
This program automatically records times and totals as employees clock in and out on the computer as
they would a time clock. The company offers an additional tool, Time Lock 1.0, which prevents employees
from changing the computer system time or date. You can try a full version of Time Cards 2000 for 30
days. Time Lock 1.0 costs an additional $12.
Time Keeper
Stingcity ([Link]/servlets/[Link])
$14.95
Time Keeper sits in your computer's taskbar and records the time you spend on a chosen activity. At the
end of the day, week, or month, it calculates the times for each activity and provides a report in
spreadsheet format.
Time Shadow
Software Maniacs ([Link])
Basic $19.95/Solo $49.95
Time Shadow comes in two flavors: the Basic Edition, a single-user version for users who need to track
time and produce time sheets or reports but don't need to create invoices, and the Solo Edition, a single-
user version for the solo business professional who needs to keep track of time and expenses.
It includes a billing module that produces invoices and allows you to track payments. The company can
create customized editions for specific needs and promises to release a multiuser edition soon. Trial
editions of Time Shadow are available on the site.
©2001 TechRepublic, Inc. [Link]. All rights reserved.
Solutions [Link]
Time Stamp
Syntap Software ([Link])
Free "donation ware"
Time Stamp is a free utility to track time spent on various projects. TechRepublic member Dennis Brown,
a facilities engineer in the healthcare industry, recommended this application. Like a stopwatch on your
computer, the program tracks the time spent on a particular project.
Using an hourly rate you provide, the application will generate reports detailing labor cost and hours
worked. Brown called the application "very handy" and said, "You can export the data to an ASCII
delimited file as well as an XML file for further customization in your favorite application such as Excel,
Access, or perhaps a Web application that renders XML."
Timeless Time & Expense
Mag Softwrx ([Link])
$42.99
Timeless Time & Expense integrates with Microsoft Project 98 to track time and expenses. It features a
variety of special report functions, including "To Do" detail and invoice reports. A trial version is available.
TimeMe
QC Systems ([Link])
$20.00
TimeMe is a Windows 95/98/NT application for timing tasks and subtasks. TechRepublic member John
Jandreau, who works at QC Systems, wrote us about this application. Future updates to the program will
include an upgrade for multiple users, a project level so that the hierarchy will be project/task/subtask,
and a Palm version of TimeMe that will be included with the Windows version. A Linux version, which will
include the Palm application, will be released in 2001.
Timeslips eCenter
[Link] ([Link])
Pricing varies
This Web-based time and expense entry software allows time and expense slips to be entered from any
computer with Internet access by anyone with an eCenter login. The information entered online is
received and stored at your office and can be used for client billing. "I've never used their products, but I
believe that you will be able to tell that their stuff is pretty neat," said TechRepublic member Max
Schwartz. "I'm sure that it would be adaptable for anyone who charges by the hour. Being able to do this
via the Net is cool. Prices are reasonable. If I charged by the hour, I wouldn't be without it."
Ventive Enterprise Buyer
Ventive ([Link])
Pricing varies
TechRepublic member Sameer Walavalkar, executive director at Integral Strategies, Inc., wrote us about
the Web-based software Ventive Enterprise Buyer. Created for midsize to large corporations, the
software provides project tracking and resource scheduling tools, among others. "We have been using
this system for the past six months," Walavalkar said. "This software not only helps in tracking consultant
time on projects but also provides us with a lot of innovative management reports. We have been saving
a substantial amount of time, money, and effort since we started using this software."
©2001 TechRepublic, Inc. [Link]. All rights reserved.
Solutions [Link]
WorkTime
NesterSoft ([Link])
$30
WorkTime is a utility that launches on Windows startup and works in background mode, collecting data on
any activity on your PC. WorkTime tracks working time on a per-project basis by keeping record of all
user actions (launching programs, opening documents, Web surfing, etc). The program offers monitoring
in "Spy Mode"—surveying usage of your computer in a hidden state.
©2001 TechRepublic, Inc. [Link]. All rights reserved.
