Project management tracking software is imperative to many businesses. It allows management to see where employees are spending their time, and if in fact that time is productive in terms of growing the bottom line. However with so many project billing software applications available, finding the right one for your business can seem a task.

So if you're worried about sifting through the multitude of project tracking software applications on the market, don't be. With just a little research, you can find the right software solution for your business. Think of your tutorial as project time tracking and billing software for beginners.

1. Read up on various project tracking software programs to familiarize yourself with the different applications and how they might be helpful for your business.

2. Download free trials of project management tracking software and educate yourself on the application to see if it can be useful for your business.

3. Get trained on your project time tracking and billing software.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Educate yourself on the different applications that project time tracking software can provide

Time billing software can vary greatly from company to company. It's important to familiarize yourself with a multitude of time and billing software applications to make sure they fit your business needs. Browsing various program websites will allow you to learn the functions that each piece of software provides. This cursory knowledge will narrow down your search as you try to find the right program.

I recommend: Check out the website for Tracker Suite.net. They offer a comprehensive look at their software including an in-depth look at each process application. The Replicon company also offers a look at its "Web Time Sheet" software which has a "project and billing edition." You'll simply need to fill out your name and email address to access the additional information.

Receive free trials for project time tracking and billing software

Now that you've narrowed your scope of the hundreds of time tracking software solutions to just a few, it's time to take a test drive. This will allow you to really use each application, make sure it is user-friendly and that it will be an asset to your business. Remember that time tracking and billing software should be easy to use and clear to understand, so that your employees can integrate into their work schedule easily.

I recommend: Visit the website for OnTrax Timesheets. Produced by Integration Technology, they allow you to download a free demonstration on their software for 21 days. You'll simply need to fill out contact information. Bill4Time, which is produced by Broadway Billing Solutions, also offers a free trial download of their software. Again, just fill out basic contact information and you'll have the program downloaded in no time.

Enroll in training courses for your project management tracking software

Now that you've been able to play with a few software solutions, it's time to receive training on these programs. Because of the competitive nature of the project time tracking software business, many software companies offer consultation and training sessions for businesses using their products. These training sessions or seminars are often held at the clients place of business. Other training can occur online utilizing 'live support' or 'live chat' applications.

I recommend: Visit the website for Bill Quick. Produced by BQE Software, Bill Quick offers consultation and training services for companies purchasing their software. Standard Time, which is produced by Scoutwest Inc. also offers video training classes as well as live client support.

If you manage a number of projects, then you know how important project management tracking is. You must use a software program that can help you keep track of all of the projects you take care of.

Project time tracking and billing software allows you to do this. With a project time tracking software program, you can easily track the amount of time it takes you to complete the numerous tasks for each project. You can then convert it into a number of billable hours.

When choosing a software program for project time tracking, project managers must:

1. Assess your needs for project tracking software. Do you need a simple time and billing software application or a more robust program?
2. Consider both installed and online applications. Online project tracking programs allow you to track your projects no matter where you are located.
3. Determine whether you need a custom built application to suit your needs.
   

Action Steps
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Use project time tracking and billing software for stability and privacy

An installed project tracking software program offers privacy to its users. It is unlikely to be hacked and nobody but the owner has access to the information contained in it. It is a great solution for people who will use only one computer for their work.

I recommend: Daptiv makes project time tracking easy for all users. It can sync with many common desktop applications. You can download a free demo. Vertabase offers another project tracking tool. They have screenshots of their many features on their website.

Use online project time tracking applications if you travel often

If you're a project manager who is always on the go, an online solution may be what you need. Online programs allow you to access your tracking data wherever you are.

I recommend: @Task offers web-based solutions that allow you to manage your project management tracking smoothly. They are the project time tracking software of choice for companies such as Chevron, Samsung and NASA. BillingTracker is online project time tracking software that includes invoicing abilities. BillQuick is one of the most downloaded project time tracking and billing software applications at Download.com

Use a custom-built project tracking system to handle your complicated business

Occasionally, currently available project time tracking software cannot meet the needs of project managers. In cases like this, it is best to have a software developer custom-build a system that can do everything you want it to.

I recommend: Use a well known consultant company such as MyProgrammer to create a product that's right for you. Additionally, you can find freelance programmers on Guru.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  How much technical support do you anticipate needing? The level of support that you need may affect the project time tracking and billing software that you choose.
• •  Many programs automatically calculate the hours worked on a project and allow you to print invoices. There is no need for a stand-alone system.
• •  If you're going to have a custom-built program, make sure that you consider all of your needs before meeting with your developer.

To track the time you and your employees spend on a job, project, or with clients, you need project time tracking and billing software to keep you organized and accurate. Using project management tracking with time and billing features will help you better manage your bottom line through tracking time spent on individual clients or projects.

Pricing of time and billing software varies depending on whether you purchase or lease licenses, on the number of payments, the number of users, and the features included. This guide focuses on project time tracking and billing software pricing and costs for three categories:

1. Project time tracking software for the construction industry.

2. Time billing software for the legal profession.

3. Time billing software for any company.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find time billing software for lawyers

Simplify end-of-month tasks with easy time billing software designed for lawyers.

I recommend: If you like Windows, you'll appreciate the standard Windows features of RTG Bills. The user-friendly software is easy to learn and only costs $95. Take a look at the features of Easy TimeBill from Easy Soft. This comprehensive yet simple time and billing software lets you manage an unlimited number of billable persons, includes an intuitive time clock system, and supports all types of billing. Purchase a one-year license with free tech support and upgrades for about $200 or a permanent license for about $400.

Order a project tracking tool with time and billing that works for construction

Construction-related companies definitely need software to help manage time and billing functions for effective management of any project.

I recommend: For a complete project/time tracking software solution, consider Corecon. With estimating, budget tracking, time tracking, mobile access, and other project management tools, you'll pay just over $50 a month. Consider Time Solv if you need hosted project tracking software integrated with time and billing. You'll get a project tracking system plus time and billing features like customer view and approval of specific billing activities, tracking time and expenses offline, and multiple billing rate options. Try the 30-day free trial first; then pay a monthly rate or save almost $100 per user by paying an annual fee.

Purchase project billing software that works for almost any company

You'll find plenty of options for time and billing software, at different price points, that work for numerous industries.

I recommend: If you're looking for a simple and reasonably priced time and billing software solution, consider a subscription service like TimeLedger from Equative. Features include the ability to track billable and non-billable time, log time entries in daily or weekly increments, track time on customers and projects or activities, and much more. The company determines pricing by number of users and whether you choose to pay monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually (with incremental discounts for fewer payments per year). For a single user paying monthly, expect to pay about $15. Listed pricing includes setup and training by phone and over the Internet, all upgrades, unlimited e-mail support, and unlimited business hours phone support. For a costly but effective solution, consider OnTrax Timesheets from Integration Technology. The software helps simplify your time collection process with features like time entry for specific projects, ability to track quantities produced for any time entry, and ability to quickly view posted time, users, and trends. Purchasing a minimum of 20 end-user licenses will set you back more than $2,000 without the inclusion of full support services. Choosing the hosted version of the software for a minimum of 20 employees will run you close to $150 a month.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Pay close attention to the technical support you'll get with any time billing software. Try a free software trial first to determine whether the cost of enhanced support will be worthwhile for your company. Also, note the working hours of the company's tech support to see if they mesh with your hours.

Project managers and other planners use project time tracking and billing software to take care of the nuts and bolts of a complicated business venture. Tools like project tracking software take over a lot of the day-to-day administration of a project, so that the human talent can address other aspects of what's going on in a business. Businesses with a need for project tracking or billing solutions can find out more by reading up some common key terms for using project time tracking and billing systems.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Web based project time tracking software

One popular way to get project time tracking software and similar tools is to use a web based approach. Web based project time tracking software is hosted by the provider and the user business does not need to assemble and install it out of the box, or do any of the other things associated with out of the box software.

I recommend: See a variety of web based project time tracking software solutions from pages like this one at Smashing Magazine.

Software licensing

Software licensing is the issue of getting formal access to a program, usually by paying a fee to the maker. Project time tracking software can include software license requirements.

I recommend: See more on software licensing at WiseGeek.

Online time clock

An online time clock is a web tool that keeps track of employees punching in and out. This kind of resource can be a useful part of project time tracking software.

I recommend: See examples of online time clock tools at Clockspot.

Predict, Track, Learn

Lots of companies recommend systems like EPM or Enterprise Project Management for corporate use in project time tracking software, but other providers offer simpler designs using straightforward planning methods like PTL (Predict, Track, Learn).

I recommend: See how to use PTL and related methods for simple project time tracking at Intervals.

Interface

In project time tracking software, the interface is a collection of the features that users see, and the tools they use to complete project time tracking admin tasks.

I recommend: See an example of an interface and much more for project time tracking planning and modeling at Galorath.

Billable hours tracking form

Billable hours tracking is another simple tool that allows project time tracking software to keep up with the demands of time sensitive and costly projects. Billable hours tracking forms are often a feature of project time tracking software programs.

I recommend: See more on billable hours tracking forms from this Microsoft Office Online resource.