Your First Project, Timer and Invoice

This is the whole loop in one place: add a Client, set up the work, track your time, and bill for it. Each step links to the full article if you want more detail.

1. Add a Client

1. Go to Clients.
2. Click Add Client.
3. Enter the Business Name.
4. Click Add Client.

More in Adding a Client.

2. Add a Contact

You can’t send an Invoice until the Client has a contact with an email address.

1. On the Clients page, click Add Contact.
2. Under Client, pick your new Client.
3. Enter their First Name, Last Name and Email.
4. Set Contact Type to Primary Billing Contact.
5. Click Add Contact.

More in Contacts and Invoice Roles.

3. Create a Project

1. Go to Projects.
2. Click New Project.
3. Enter a Project Name.
4. Under Client, pick your Client.
5. Click Create Project.

More in Creating a Project.

4. Add a Task

Time is tracked against a Task, and the Task decides how it’s billed.

1. Go to Tasks.
2. Click New Task.
3. Enter a Task Name.
4. Under Project, pick your Project.
5. Under Billing Information, click Hourly Rate.
6. Enter your Hourly Rate ($).
7. Click Create Task.

Billing a flat fee instead? Choose Fixed Cost. See Task Billing Types.

5. Track Your Time

1. Click Start timer in the top menu.
2. Pick your Project.
3. Pick your Task.
4. Click Start Timer.
5. When you’re done, click Stop in the banner at the top of the page.

Forgot to start one? You can add time by hand. See Starting and Stopping Timers and Adding Time Manually and Editing Entries.

6. Create and Send the Invoice

1. Go to Invoices.
2. Click Create Invoice.
3. Choose From Projects, Tasks, Expenses.
4. Under Client, pick your Client.
5. Tick your Project.
6. Click Generate Invoice.
7. Choose Yes, select items.
8. Click Continue with N items.
9. Review the Invoice and click Create Invoice.
10. Click Send.
11. Choose your contact and click Send Invoice.

The Invoice changes to Sent, and your Client gets an email with a link to view and pay it.

More in Creating an Invoice and Sending an Invoice.

Next Step

Want your Client to pay by card or PayPal? Set that up before you send. See Getting Paid.