I have been looking at other VA sites and some of them mention that they for instance billed on an hourly basis in 15 minute increments. The standard hourly rate is $30 per hour.
Can someone please explain that to me?

For example: if you start work for a client at 9 a.m. and finish at 9:42 you'd round up to 9:45 and bill for the full 45 minutes.
I honestly don't know how other VAs handle it if for instance they stop a project at 9:35 (on the nil side of a 15 minute block) but in those cases I then round down to 9:30 (bill for 30 minutes.)
The 15 minute increment measure is unrelated to the hourly fee.
Many VAs bill to the exact minute instead.

Does anyone else have a different take on this one?

__________________

Thanks Tess, now it all makes sense. So which one do you recommend charging to the minute or the 15 minutes increment. Based on the given example there's a pro and a con to doing the 15 min. increment.

I billed my first client to the minute at his request and I hated it so my current policy is to bill in 15 minute increments as well.

I bill in 15 minute increments, it simplifies things - but I've never billed to the minute exactly so can't compare.

Which are you leaning toward?

__________________

I bill to the minute and it's super easy for me using my Quickbook's timer. I know lots of VAs bill in 15 minute increments though and it works just great for them. I personally like marketing the "you only pay for the actual time worked" (literally) angle. It works for me.

I highly recommend you use a time tracking service if you aren't doing so already. When I first started and was just going by the clock I actually underestimated my time. The time tracking system was a real eye opener for me.

__________________
Sally Kuhlman
Virtual Simplicity :daisy: blog

I tried a time tracker but I have too many distractions. I know that sounds terrible but if a call interrupts me (or a kid or a husband) and I forget (which I always do) to stop the timer, I'm in trouble.

The increments work for me. Glad the minute by minute works for others. I wish I was that organized!

I tried billing in 15-minute increments, but I didn't feel comfortable charging clients for time I did not work, so billing to the minute works great for me.

I also use a timer - but I use Time Stamp. I recently purchased QuickBooks and I didn't know it had a timer, but I will definitely test it out.

__________________
Dusty Warren

I bill in 15 minute increments simply because I often have clients who will keep me on the phone just to chit-chat. I do round up or down though. In addition, I often give my clients "free" time each week. This helps to compensate for the 15 minute increments.

I utilize a Time Tracking software that is wonderful, easy to use and is very inexpensive. It provides professional work records for me to send to my clients as well. My clients really appreciate having the work record - eases their mind on the time they are billed and they can always compare the time worked to our Instant Messages and phone calls.

Also, if I do forget to stop the Time Tracker because of an interruption, then I will adjust the time to the last time I looked at the clock while working on the project as I feel this is the most fair route to take.

I bill in 15 minute increments. I don't track the 2-3 minutes here and there spent responding to emails or voice mails, etc. when I'm not working on their project so I figure it works out in the long run if I round up.

__________________
Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"