Noticed a big shift when I started tracking my billable hours per client

I used to just guess how much time I spent on each project and it always felt like I was undercharging. Six months ago I started using Toggl to track every call and revision and realized I was spending 40% more time on one client from Austin than I thought. That $200 retainer turned into a $350 minimum after I showed them the data. Has anyone else had a similar wake-up call after actually timing their work?

4 comments

4 Comments

caleb_bell55d ago

Always figured I had a decent handle on my time til I actually measured it and realized I was way off.

blair_torres705d ago

Yeah I did the same thing, eye opening how much time just disappears.

danielowens5d ago

Did you actually log everything or just guess? I tried the whole time tracking thing once and it just made me paranoid about every little break. I get more done when I just go with the flow and trust my gut on what needs doing next.

luna2615d ago

“Trust my gut on what needs doing next” - see, that part always makes me wonder. I tried the whole time tracking thing back when I was running a small business and it made me anxious too, honestly. But the thing is, most people who brag about how much they learned from it probably only did it for a week or two and then went back to normal. It’s not some life changing magic trick. If you get more done by just following your instincts, you’re probably already doing fine. All that measurement stuff just creates extra work for people who don’t need it.