allows you to log and mark time entries as billable for projects. This ensures accurate client invoicing for your time and expertise, such as tracking hours spent planning a new tour experience. It also provides insights into project costs for better pricing and budget management.
Accessing this feature
From your Tourism Accelerator Launchpad, look for the main navigation menu on the left-hand side of your screen.
Click on Projects.
Then, from the dropdown menu, select Time Entries.
Alternatively, you can go directly to: https://launchpad.tourismaccelerator.com.au/projects/time-entries
Here's what you'll see: a clear overview of any time entries you've already logged, and a button to add new ones.
How to use it
Now for the fun part – logging your time and marking it as billable!
Start a New Entry: Once you're on the Time Entries page, look for the big, + Add New Time Entry button, usually located in the top right-hand corner.
Select Your Project: You'll see a form pop up. The first thing to do is choose the project or client this time entry relates to. Click the dropdown menu next to Project and select the relevant one. If you're working on something new, you might need to set up a new project first – but that's another guide for another day!
Choose the Date: Pick the day you completed the work. You can do this by clicking on the Date field, and a calendar will appear for you to select from.
Enter Your Hours: This is where you log how much time you spent. You can enter this in hours and minutes (e.g., "2h 30m" or "2.5"). Pop your number into the Duration field.
Describe Your Work: This is important for clarity! In the Description box, type a brief but clear summary of what you did during this time. "Researched new tour route options for rainforest adventure project," or "Client meeting to discuss marketing strategy for new eco-lodge."
Mark it as Billable! You'll see a checkbox or a toggle switch clearly labelled Billable. Make sure you tick that box or toggle it to 'on' if you intend to charge your client for this time. If it's internal work or something you're not charging for, just leave it unticked.
Click Save and You're Done! Once you've filled everything in, double-check it quickly, then click the Save Time Entry button. And that's it! Your time entry is now logged and clearly marked as billable.
With this feature, you'll be able to:
Track Time for Multiple Projects: Easily log time against all your different clients and internal projects, keeping everything organised.
Distinguish Between Paid and Unpaid Work: Clearly see which hours are revenue-generating and which are not, helping you understand your business's financial health.
Generate Reports: Create simple reports that show all your billable hours for a specific project or client, making invoicing easy.
Monitor Team Productivity: If you have a team, you can see how much billable time each member is contributing, helping with workload management and performance reviews.
Review Your Efforts: At a glance, you can see where your most valuable time is being spent across your entire organisation.
Tips
To make this feature your tool, here are a few tips:
Log Time Regularly: The best way to be accurate is to log your time as you go, or at least daily. Trying to remember what you did last week can be tricky!
Be Specific with Descriptions: A clear description not only helps you remember but also justifies your charges to a client. Instead of "meeting," try "Client meeting to finalise itinerary for Outback Safari Tour."
Set Up Projects Clearly: Before you start logging time, make sure your projects are set up with clear names that you and your team will understand.
Review Your Entries Weekly: Take a few minutes at the end of each week to review your time entries. This helps catch any forgotten logs or errors before they become a bigger issue.
Use It for Pricing: Analyse your billable time reports to see how long certain tasks take. This insight is for setting more accurate and profitable prices for your tourism services in the future.
Encourage Your Team: If you have employees, encourage them to track their time diligently. It helps everyone understand the value of their work and contributes to better business insights.
Need help?
For further assistance, contact us at [email protected]