Just landed a new client who wants hourly billing with itemized invoices. Never done this before. Feeling a bit overwhelmed trying to figure out how to track and break down every task. Anyone else handle this type of billing? How do you manage the details without driving yourself crazy?
Been there. Itemized billing isn’t as bad as it seems. Get a simple time tracker app. Log your tasks as you go. End of the month, export the data, clean it up a bit, and there’s your invoice. Don’t overthink it or get too detailed. “Client meeting - 1 hour” is enough. No need to break down every minute. Clients just want a general idea of where the time went. Keep it simple and you’ll be fine.
Sounds like a headache. I just write stuff on paper and figure it out later.
Tried that once. Gave up after a week. Too much hassle keeping track of every little thing. Now I just ballpark it and round up. Clients don’t seem to mind.
I’ve been doing itemized billing for a while now. Here’s what works for me:
I use a basic notes app on my phone. Quick and easy to jot down tasks and time as I go.
At the end of the day, I transfer it to a spreadsheet. Nothing fancy, just date, task, and time.
For invoicing, I group similar tasks. “Website updates” might cover a bunch of small tweaks.
One thing that helps - I set a minimum time block. Anything under 15 minutes, I round up. Saves me from tracking every 2-minute email.
Took me a few months to get comfortable with it. Now it’s second nature.
Just remember, your client wants clarity, not a minute-by-minute breakdown of your day. Keep it simple and you’ll be fine.
I use a basic spreadsheet for this. Set up columns for date, task, and time spent. Log stuff as you work.
At month end, group similar tasks to keep the invoice clean. Round up to 15-minute blocks to avoid nitpicking.
Talk to your client about how detailed they want it. Some are fine with general categories.
You’ll get the hang of it after a couple invoices. Just start simple and adjust as needed.
Itemized billing isn’t as scary as it looks. Here’s what I do:
- Use a basic spreadsheet
- Set up columns for date, task, and time
- Log stuff quickly throughout the day
At the end of the month, I group similar tasks together. Makes the invoice cleaner.
Pro tip: discuss expectations with your client upfront. Some want every detail, others are cool with broader categories.
Don’t stress about perfection. You’ll find your groove after a couple of invoices. And remember, you can always tweak your system if it’s not working.