Recomendations? Freelance/contract time sheet/billing software.

[GeneralS]

I'd like something to help with billing, invoices, keeping track of my time, client meetings, mileage, etc.
Can anybody suggest anything?

 

[EagleKeeper]

I used to use a simple speadsheet until I developed an Access DB.

Just set up the fields for the vital information you wish to have.
I set mine up to that the time would be stored in seperate records assigned to each client.
A simple query generates a cost summation and allowed an invoice to be created.

There are commerical ones out there, but will they do any better than what I proposed.
My clients were happy with what I used, therefore, I did not feel that in my situation it was neeed.

A lot depends on your capabilites and disipline to enter the info correctly. A commercial package is only as good as the data being entered.

 

[GeneralS]

^ Bump cuz I don't know access...

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: GeneralS
^ Bump cuz I don't know access...

Use Excel then.

Create a worksheet for each Customer with fields for Customer Name, Date worked, Start Time, End Time, Total Time, Mileage, Comments, etc.

Access is not difficult to learn to use. Mainly common sense. You do not have to develop a program for it, just use it for record keeping.

QuickBooks also has something - not free though

Otherwise use Google - "Time billing" free to find something

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: GeneralS
^ Bump cuz I don't know access...

Excel + Word could be all you need. Time / mileage / meeting sheets in Excel (one xls file per project), Bills sent/paid list on another sheet, Word for simple invoices.

Is there something you want from a dedicated package that Word + Excel won't do? Maybe if you list specific features you'll get a more useful response than mine 🙂

And I assume you've done some Googling already for reviews?