What's the best time tracking system for a newbie? - Virtual Assistant Forums

Go2Gal · #1 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009

I'm new to the VA business and haven't opened my "doors" yet. One thing that is new to me is tracking my time. I'm looking for something that would be user friendly, provide professional reports, and is economical. I would love to hear everyone's opinions of which system has worked best for them.

Thanks in advance,
Teri

anisemama · #2 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009

I use Freshbooks for billing, and they have downloadable time trackers that work very well for me. You can set up projects and tasks, and track your time on different tasks so that clients can see exactly how long various things took.

timeontaskva · #3 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009

I use time stamp from Syntap. Saves more info and I create pdf file to save in case client ever asks.

SupportMyOffice · #4 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009

I like TimeLoc. Can't remember which wonderful VA told me about it but its free and easy to use.

SupportMyOffice · #5 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009

Originally Posted by timeontaskva

I use time stamp from Syntap. Saves more info and I create pdf file to save in case client ever asks.

Are you by chance using Timestamp with Vista? I was not sure if it was compatible and couldn't find documentation either way.

DediKated Resource · #6 (**permalink**) 03-07-2009

I use MyHours, it's free and web based.

timeontaskva · #7 (**permalink**) 03-07-2009

No I have XP, sorry. I don't know if it works with XP or not. Big thing I like is it is installed on your PC and never goes down.

leedrozak · #8 (**permalink**) 03-07-2009

I used to use MyHours but with the downtime issues I switched to OfficeTime and love it. The best part if the created takes feedback and personally returns questions and answers and tries to incorporate suggestions into updated versions.

KathyCrofoot.com · #9 (**permalink**) 03-07-2009

I use (or have used) several different time tracking services.

1) I started with QuickBooks timer included with QuickBooks Pro and above.
2) Then I moved to MyHours.com (it's free) as somone else stated, but the downtime started to bug me, especially when I was trying to do invoicing and it was down.
3) Paymo.biz is good, and it's web based with a desktop widget, and I used that for several months.
4) Now I'm back to QuickBooks timer for QuickBooks 2009.

I also use my Vonage phone logs, and a spreadsheet to help me track call time.

The Best system for a Newbie is one that would work for you and that you will use. Think about the way you want to track time, and figure out a system that works for you.

VirtualAngel79 · #10 (**permalink**) 03-08-2009

what are the websites for those programs listed, I want to check them out and make an informed decision

Go2Gal · #11 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009

Wow, there are a lot of systems out there & you all seem happy with each (except MyHours). Looks like I get to play a little & see what works for me...

Thanks for all your great suggestions.
Teri

let me type it · #12 (**permalink**) 03-12-2009

Hi VirtualAngel79, all I did was Google the name of each application and got the website from there.

Thanks for the information on this everybody.

Supportmyoffice, does Timeloc have a way to print out the time spent per job? I saw that the free version does not allow exports, so I assume that means the .csv file.

JadeLT · #13 (**permalink**) 03-13-2009

I used myhours for a while (till it stopped to work, lol!) and now I use Paymo.biz and clientspot (this one for big projects- client sets task for me in there and I write down hours spent on that task).

Paymo.biz works great, I like this one better that myhours.

Jade

Office Goddess · #14 (**permalink**) 03-13-2009

I use my own spreadsheet (it's now in the doc library on this forum). I tried automated ones but prefer my own.

Kerans VA · #15 (**permalink**) 03-13-2009

Originally Posted by leedrozak

I used to use MyHours but with the downtime issues I switched to OfficeTime and love it. The best part if the created takes feedback and personally returns questions and answers and tries to incorporate suggestions into updated versions.

Hi Lee,

I just wanted to give a big huge thanks to you for suggesting OfficeTime!! I became absolutely fed up with myHours last week with all it's 'technical difficulties' and downtime and looked at a number of suggested options and OfficeTime is exactly what I want.

Thanks again!