You’re the Boss: How to Track Time as a Freelancer – from Timecard Apps to EVV

In 2018, there were over 30 million small businesses in the US. If you’re a busy entrepreneur and spend most of your hours at home, you need the best time-tracking method for your lifestyle.

Keeping track of your working hours can be difficult when you don’t go into a normal office. Hours get lost and you end the week unsure whether your numbers are accurate or not.

This is an issue for bloggers, coaches, freelancers, or any type of at-home professional. It will be a legal issue for home health businesses by the end of 2020.

What’s the best way to track your working hours? Are free timecard apps your best option, or do you need to follow EVV standards? Read on to learn more about timecard tracking apps and options for your busy days.

Which Time Tracking Method Do You Need?

As you consider the best time tracker for your lifestyle, you need to think about what’s required by your industry. Do you own your own business and simply need a little help keeping a rough estimate of your hours? Or do you run a home healthcare company? Depending on your business, you’ll have different standards to follow.

Timecard Apps vs. EVV

The choice between timecard apps and an EVV method will vary depending on your industry. Freelancers like bloggers or marketing experts have more freedom in choosing an app that works best for them.

Individuals who work for healthcare businesses, however, will have to follow the EVV method chosen by their providers. What does this mean if you’re a home care provider?

What Is EVV?

EVV stands for Electronic Visit Verification. It’s a technology that checks when a caregiver begins their services and when they stop for the day. It also keeps track of where the provider is located during check-in.

The purpose of EVV is so that caregivers can give a correct billing statement to agencies. Without accurately tracked work hours, billions of dollars are fraudulently collected.

EVV technology saves the healthcare industry millions of dollars every year. The rules for EVV are different in each state, but by 2020 it will be a national mandate under the Century Cures Act.

Embrace EVV

If EVV isn’t already a part of your state’s regulation, then it will be soon. This article by CareTime explains how The Cures Act legislation is affecting caregivers and EVV standards in 2019.

What does this mean for you? Don’t worry about your time tracker adding more stress to your schedule. Its purpose is to simplify things and make your healthcare business more profitable.

EVV technology will erase paper time sheets and visit records. It will also give you the ability to create billing and payroll data by tapping a button. EVV will save hours of admin time and help you find ways to boost revenue.

For those of you who need help tracking time but don’t work in the healthcare industry, there are other options. We’ll explore some of the top-performing timecard apps to help you find the best solution.

Try These Top Timecard Apps

Last year an average of 6,000 Android apps released each day. Many app developers understand the struggle of needing to track their work hours. This is why many of their apps offer solutions for tracking time.

1. Hours Tracker

If you’re looking for a free work time tracker, Hours Tracker might be the app for you. It’s a simple app that lets you track your hours and calculate earnings and business expenses. It uses a simple interface that makes it easy for busy freelancers to clock in and out.

2. Timely

Companies who work remotely need their team of great freelancers to stay on top of tasks. That’s why free time card apps like Timely can help businesses with calendar integration and hour tracking. Its unique features make it easy for small business teams to plan their projects and time their hours accordingly.

3. Toggl

Some of the biggest challenges of starting a business can arise when you struggle to track expenses. This is why free timecard apps like Toggl are great for teams who are learning how to run a business. It’s created with usability in mind, so the format is simple and logging hours is quick to do.

You can download the iOS version onto your phone or use the system on your computer. If you need more features, the Pro package costs $5 per month and the Business package costs $49 per month. This makes it a great option for growing businesses.

4. TimeWerks Pro Billing

This time tracking app is a great option for businesses with employees who work from home. It allows you to create profiles for your employees and adjust their projects. You can use the software through your iOS app and on your computer.

5. Hours

This is another user-friendly app that lets you track hours with a simple tap of a button. Users can schedule smart reminders and create detailed reporting. If you need a simple hour tracker without invoicing and payments, this might be the solution for you.

6. FreshBooks

FreshBooks offers its Cloud Accounting app for the self-employed. They also have a Classic app for businesses that already have an account through their software.

With the Classic app, you can create invoices and receive payments while on the go. You can also track working hours and record business expenses through the app. This is a great app to download for business professionals who spend time in the office and at home.

The Cloud Accounting app is a great option for small business owners who don’t already have an existing account with FreshBooks. This timecard app gives you the option of sending invoices, tracking hours, and logging expenses through a secure method.

Easy Methods for Busy Entrepreneurs

When you don’t work a standard 9-5 office job, simple tasks like tracking time can be complicated. It’s important to know which resources you need to track your time, revenue, and efficiency.

Home healthcare providers need time trackers that meet EVV standards. But small business entrepreneurs can choose from a wide variety of timecard apps.

Want more tips on succeeding as an entrepreneur? Check out these three startup hacks to prevent setbacks.