Time tracking blog

TSheets’ First Customer

Matt Rissell was frustrated. With 3 locations and about 20 employees, time and attendance tracking was becoming a bigger head-ache every day. His employees were using traditional paper timesheets. “It came to the point where my bookkeeper and I were dreading payroll prep”, says Rissell. “The whole process was distracting me from working on the business”. In addition to issues like consolidation, poor handwriting, and missing paperwork, Rissell knew there was a bigger problem. “I knew people were fudging on their timesheets” says Rissell. “And I knew it was costing me. Not just the dollars, but the productivity”. To Rissell, it just came to common sense and control. “I learned a long time ago, if you don’t control the little things, they can kill you. It can be compared to person being mortally wounded from a 1000 paper cuts ”, he says.

As the owner of a printer supply company and a background in business mobile devices, Rissell knew about business technology. He knew that almost every business issue had a technology solution: inventory control, bookkeeping, e-mail, order processing, etc. So Matt set out to find some technology to solve this particular business problem. In his search for a time and attendance solution, Rissell was disappointed to find a lot of expensive options with a lot of features he didn’t need. “I found a lot of software solutions, but they were just way too expensive”, Rissell says. “I also didn’t want to use the traditional punch-card system” he says. “It was too expensive and didn’t solve all of my issues”.

Matt then turned to an old friend, Brandon Zehm. Zehm was a rock star in the programming world, with a client list that included the Department of Energy and Merrill Lynch. Matt explained his problem and asked Brandon if this was something he could create a custom application for. With a “no problem” response, Zehm built a simple application that allowed Rissell and his employees to clock-in and out from any PC. “I realized that there were two major problems with existing time-tracking software”, said Zehm. “Most required you to download software”, which he saw leading to problems for support and consistency. “An ASP model means that everyone is always on the same version”, says Zehm. The second issue was the actual clock-in/out function. “This was the key”, he said. “It had to be super simple to use”. After several months of programming and testing, Brandon had a time and attendance package ready for Matt to use in his business.

“The results were almost immediate” said Rissell. The biggest impact was on accurately paying for time worked. By accurately capturing clock-ins and clock-outs it saved the company about ½ hour per day per employee. For a $10/hour employee, this added up to $5/day. “The math was obvious”, said Rissell. There were other benefits to accurately logging time. “My employees knew that their time was being tracked” so they began to be more punctual. This also increased productivity – a number that was hard to calculate but that was immediately felt. “-simply put, the team got more accomplished” said Rissell.

Not long afterward, Rissell sold his business. When looking at other business opportunities, he went back to the application that Zehm had created. “My bookkeeper suggested it first” said Rissell. Knowing the impact it had on his business, Rissell was intrigued. “It had everything I wanted in a business opportunity. It was web-based, simple, and truly helped small business owners”. For Rissell, starting a new company was a matter of principle. “I just felt like making small business owners more profitable was something I had to do.”

In April of 2007, Rissell and Zehm launched TSheets. “The original clock-in/out feature is pretty much the same as the custom app I created”, said Zehm. From that point, many additional features were added such as reporting, job codes, Quickbooks interface, and mobile access. “It was critical that we kept the original simplicity” says Rissell. “I didn’t want TSheets to turn into something that I wouldn’t have used”. As customers were added, so were features. “the new features we have added in the past year have been the direct result of customer requests”, say Zehm. This was in keeping with Zehm’s development philosophy of being customer-driven, not feature-driven. “A lot of products have features just because the developer can make them” says Zehm. “We felt that it was critical to keep TSheets very clean and usable”. Pricing was another critical area. “We used a simple formula – what would I have paid for it”, says Rissell. This lead to a scalable pricing model based on the number of employees a company has using TSheets. “This puts our starting price at $9.95/month with no set up fee or contracts”, say Rissell. “That makes TSheets accessible to pretty much anyone!”

Rissell and Zehm were pleased to discover that TSheets’ customers were having the same return-on-investment results as Rissell originally had. “We had one customer tell us that TSheets saved them about $2500 in a single week” said Rissell. This reflected the trend over the past fifteen years of small business becoming more efficient and profitable through technology. “That was a big reason for selecting the ASP model”, said Rissell. By using a subscriber revenue model, the costs of development were split over 1000s of customers,

The Future

In January of 2008, TSheets began an effort to go global. Armed with a strong management and investor team, TSheets began investing in marketing, staffing, and infrastructure. A big part of this effort was to partner with like-minded companies. “They had to empower small business owners, be web-based, and be affordable”, said Rissell. This lead to partnerships with companies like Yugma, a web conferencing application. In addition, dozens of features were fast-tracked for release. “It was just time to take this to the next level” said Rissell. “I was confident that we had a provable business model – and we knew our initial customers loved the product”.

In April of 2008, TSheets announced “Timeclock 2.0”, an initiative to create a standard for developing time keeping software for small business owners. At the same time, TSheets also released a free single user version, an upgrade to their time sheet editor called “Time Slider”, and improvements with Paid Time Off (PTO) tracking and reporting.

Slated for release later in ’08 is a mobile device widget, multiple languages version, an API for the developer community to add TSheets functionality to other applications. Rissell’s enthusiasm is obvious. “I have been telling everyone that this is big. Now the proof is in the pudding!”

For more information, visit TSheets’ media page here.

About TSheets

TSheets (www.tsheets.com) is an online time and attendance program that turns any PC or mobile device into a time clock. Currently, TSheets’ customers have over 3000 employees using TSheets. Founded in 2006, TSheets is based in Boise, ID and currently has a staff of nine. For more information, please contact Justin Foster at Tricycle Consulting –justin@thetricycle.com or 208-841-3497.

Boise, Idaho – April 1, 2008 – Today, TSheets.com (www.tsheets.com) announced the launch of a new standard for web-based timekeeping called “Timeclock 2.0″. This standard was developed to create a benchmark for emulating the simple clock-in/out functionality of traditional time clocks, while still providing a web-based application. “We created this standard because most of the time keeping software is just too expensive and not practical for small business owners”, says Matt Rissell, CEO of TSheets. The standard focuses on the most critical point of time tracking, clocking in and clocking out. “If you can’t make it easy to clock in and out, business owners will just revert to paper timesheets”, says Rissell. Other elements of the standard include mobile clocking in/out, managing multiple locations, and payroll reporting.

Founded in 2006, TSheets is part of a growing web segment called “Software-as-a-Service” (SaaS) that uses a subscription-based business model to spread the costs of software over thousands of users, making it affordable for small business owners to use modern technology. Examples include Google’s Gmail, Salesforce.com, Yugma.com and dozens of other web-based business tools. Part of the popularity of SaaS applications is that they typically have a low monthly fee based on the number of users, with support and upgrades often included in the subscription fee. “Timeclock 2.0 is really made possible by the SaaS business model” says Rissell.

A typical small business owner still uses paper time sheets or analog punch clocks for managing employee time. Most PC based time keeping applications are bundled with expensive HR or payroll packages. Other web-based software is available, but cater primarily to single-users such as freelancers or contractors. TSheets’ customers are small business owners with 5 to 20 employees. “Our focus is the small business owner and his or her employees” says Rissell. Thus, the focus on emulating an environment that a small business owner is most used to. The key to making it easier to use for small business owners was simplicity. “We are constantly reminding ourselves who our core audience is” says Rissell.

Rissell has plenty of first-hand experience with the issues of time-keeping. As the owner of a chain of printing supply stores, Rissell experienced first-hand the frustrations of dealing with time sheets, payroll preparation, and consolidating multiple locations. “I just thought this was part of running a business”, says Rissell. What bothered him the most was the actual process of tracking time. “I knew that the numbers weren’t accurate, and it was driving me crazy” says Rissell. Most of this was not dishonest employees, but just the inherent nature of using paper time tracking methods. After not being able to find an application that would work for his business, Rissell contracted with a top developer named Brandon Zehm to build a web-based application. After using the application for a month, the results were obvious. “We figured we saved about $2000 in the first month” says Rissell. Not long after, Rissell sold his business and partnered with Zehm to start TSheets. “After my last company having the headache of over 30 employees and four locations, I was passionate about my next business being web based” said Rissell.

Since then, they have focused on keeping that original simplicity while still adding robustness and functionality. In addition to the announcement of the Timeclock 2.0 initiative, TSheets also announced the release of several new features of their web-based time tracking software, including the release of a free single-user version. One of the most unique new features is a time sheet editor that uses Rich Internet technology to allow managers to edit time sheets through a graphical interface called a “Time Slider”. Additional enhancements in this version include Paid Time Off (PTO) tracking, Quickbooks integration, and additional reporting functionality.

To learn more, visit TSheet’s media page at http://media.tsheets.com

About TSheets

TSheets (www.tsheets.com) is a web-based time and attendance program that allows you and your employees to clock in and out from a computer or cell phone. Currently, TSheets’ customers have several thousand employees using TSheets throughout the world and is multiplying daily. Founded in 2006, TSheets is based in Meridian, ID and currently has a staff of nine. For more information, please contact Justin Foster at Tricycle Consulting –justin@thetricycle.com or 208-841-3497.

To all of the freelancers and one man shops out there looking for away to quickly and effectively track their time, TSheets is proud to present our FREE Single User Account!

Accurate Time Tracking
This account has all of the tools that you need to track and edit your time for individual Customers or tasks throughout the day with this online timesheet. Learn More

Mobile Access
Whether you have a laptop, cell phone or mobile device that is web enabled, you can manage your time from anywhere in world with our global access and mobile time entry. Learn More

Quick Reports
No longer sweat about trying to remember the time you spent on a project or trying to compile the number of hours that you’ve worked over the last month. With TSheets Reports you can see the total hours you spent on clients or projects based upon any date range that you choose. Learn More

All of the ease that TSheets is known for combined with the low price of FREE!

Sign Up for a FREE Single User Account HERE

Talking to Customers every day, I hear a lot of requests for things that we simply are not.

It’s amazing to hear some of the things that people are looking for when they sign up for a Trial Account with TSheets’ online timesheet. When they realize what TSheets is, they usually feel quite sheepish and even kind of frustrated that they’ve wasted their time.

So to avoid all of that and to help us all be more time efficient, I thought I’d make up a list of some of the questions people ask me about what TSheets is.

What is TSheets FAQs:

Q. Is TSheets a Paper Timesheet Supplier?

A. TSheets is not a paper timesheet supplier. Paper timesheets leave a huge opportunity for miss entries and employee fudging. To run a report, timesheets must be collected, compiled and calculated (a process that usually takes at least a couple of hours to complete.) With TSheets employees clock in/out in real time with a secure password. Reports can be run in seconds at the click of a mouse for any employee, group or job code based upon any date range. Here is someone who is . . . Microsoft Office Online

Q. Is TSheets a Project Management Software?

A. TSheets is not a project management software. TSheets’ focus is based upon keeping you in control of your time and labor expenses. We do this by allowing you to easily and affordably track your employees’ time. You can track their time based upon determined projects, job codes or groups across any date range. Notes can also be added to each project or job code that you work on to bring another level of accuracy in your reporting. However, TSheets is not a project management software. Here is someone who is . . . Basecamp

Q. Is TSheets a Payroll Software?

A. TSheets is not a payroll software. With TSheets you can track employees or groups of employees and the amount of time that they spend on individual projects. You can track the amount of Paid Time Off that they work and monitor how much Overtime each employee collects over a given pay period. Once your data is collected all of this information is completely integrable with Quickbooks and can also be downloaded into a CSV Spreadsheet which most payroll softwares will integrate with. Here is someone who is . . . Quickbooks

Q. Is TSheets a Manual Time Clock?

A. TSheets is not a manual time clock. TSheets’ automation cures many of the problems that are inherent in a manual time clock system. Problem areas such as buddy punching, time consuming timesheet calculations and high machine and card stock costs. TSheets cures these items by allowing secure and password protected user accounts, automated reports and extremely low costs. Here is someone who is . . . Machine Runner

Q. Is TSheets a Swipe Card System?

A. TSheets is not a swipe card system. Turning any PC or mobile device into a time clock and allowing organizations to grant their employees access to TSheets from multiple locations are major differences in the two systems. Most swipe cards lend themselves easily to buddy punching and the sharing of badges. Most are very expensive as well since you have to pay for the physical system, the software, badges, replacement badges and multiple systems for multiple locations.

Q. Is TSheets a Biometric System?

A. TSheets is not a biometric system. Much like swipe card systems, biometrics require that very expensive pieces of hardware and software are purchased. They offer a higher range of security however, they have been known to malfunction and wear out easily as thumb print screens get dirty, smudge or scratch. Where TSheets really differs from the biometric system is in it’s ability to integrate across multiple locations quickly, easily and at no extra charge. As always TSheets extremely low cost is always a factor when it comes to these very high priced alternatives.

Q. So what is TSheets?

A. TSheets is a Timeclock2.0 application, meaning we are an online time and attendance system that turns any PC or mobile device into a time clock. With TSheets you have the ability to set permission levels, groups, job codes and paid time off codes for your employees. You have the ability to run reports against multiple criteria on the fly and download or integrate it into your payroll software. And of Course TSheets IS Affordable.

In this age of technology, the paper time card is still the primary employee tracking method used by most small business owners. Why is this?

Small business owners (and their bookkeepers) know the issues with paper time cards – inaccurate entries, poor penmanship, the hours spent prepping payroll. Why do they tolerate it? They really don’t have a choice. Of course, they can get the old-fashioned punch clock. But they are expensive, only solve part of the problem and are well, old-fashioned! The next logical step is software. Time keeping software is typically bundled into a larger payroll or HR system, or available as a PC/network based application. Because of the price and complexity, they are typically used by larger enterprises. Online software is available, but misses the original simplicity of the clock-in/out function of analog punch clocks. In short, most software packages are too complicated or too expensive for most small business owners.

Enter “Timeclock 2.0″ – an initiative to create a standard for modern time keeping – to go beyond the Timeclock 1.0 world of analog punch clocks and truly make time keeping technology available to anyone by being simple and affordable.

Timeclock 2.0 made possible by a new technology called “Software as a Service” or “SaaS”. In essence, this is a web-based application that allows you to use software through your internet browser rather than download software to your PC. Examples of SaaS companies include Google’s Gmail, Salesforce.com, and Yugma.

The primary benefits to SaaS are:

• Cost savings – most SaaS models have a monthly subscription, rather than an upfront price.
• No upgrades – because the software is web-based, all users are on the same version.
• No network setup – because there is no download of software, any PC (or mobile device) with access can use the software.
• Pricing is typically scalable based on number of users.
• There are usually no contracts or hidden fees.
• Support is typically included in the monthly fees.
• Data is secured and backed-up off site.

“Timeclock 2.0″ follows these same rules, plus some specific time-keeping elements:

• Clock in/out from any authorized PC with web access.
• Clock in/out from a mobile device.
• Manage employees and timesheets for multiple locations.
• Integration to Quickbooks and other payroll packages.

In short, Timeclock 2.0 is the first real reason for small business owners to affordably and efficiently move away from paper timesheets or punch clocks. As such, Timeclock 2.0 should create the same mass adoption as seen with other SaaS applications.

TSheets is focussed on two main things, simplicity and affodability. We know that as a small to medium sized business owner you don’t have much spare change laying around to spend on an expensive time clock. That’s why TSheets starts at just $9.95/mo. for up to 5 employees. If you have more than 5 employees then you move up to the next level which covers up to 30 employees and is only $19.95/mo.

Then if you’re really into saving money and getting the best price, you can pay in advance. I usually recommend this to our Customers because you seem to always end up getting at least 1 month free.

You can check out even more details on our Pricing Page.

As part of TSheets‘ mantra, we’re all about helping you get control of your time and attendance in a simple and affordable manner. This means bringing down to the minute accuracy to your time tracking, eliminating the amount of time it takes to gather information and run reports and allowing you to get a real time view of what is going on within your company.

How do we do this? We help you eliminate paper timesheets and all of the time and money that you loose using them. No more employees fudging hours based upon estimated times. No more hours spent on collecting, correcting, compiling or calculating times to run a single report. Overall, with an online timesheet we’re helping you streamline your time and attendance system, while bringing you more accuracy at SIGNIFICANTLY lower costs.