Time Tracking for Independent Contractors
Published {$created} by Tina Blum
When you’re an independent contractor, your time is literally your income. Every billable hour needs to be tracked, logged, and often justified. But unlike full-time employees, you don’t have a manager looking over your shoulder or a corporate tool handling it all for you. You’re your own boss — and that means you're also the bookkeeper.
Here’s how you can make time tracking painless, professional, and even profitable.
Why Time Tracking Really Matters for Contractors
Let’s face it: if you don't track enough of your time, you lose income. If you track too much, you risk damaging trust with clients. Accurate time tracking isn’t just about billing — it’s about building a reputation for professionalism and transparency.
With many clients expecting detailed breakdowns or even compliance with local work laws, having a clear record of hours is no longer optional. It’s essential.
Mistake 1: Forgetting to Log Hours (or Logging Them Late)
When you're jumping between projects, calls, or tasks, it's easy to forget to track your time. That “quick fix” for a client? You might forget to bill for it — unless you track it immediately.
Solution: Use a stopwatch-style tracker that lets you start and stop logging with a single tap. Nureti's mobile-friendly stopwatch is perfect for on-the-go work.
Mistake 2: Using Vague Descriptions
“Worked on website” doesn’t cut it when you invoice a client. They want clarity. Specific descriptions help prevent disputes and make you look more reliable.
Solution: In Nureti, you can create reusable tasks and tag them to clients or projects. Clear records = fewer questions.
Mistake 3: Mixing Work and Personal Time
Many freelancers work from home — and that makes it easy to blur lines. Did you work for 4 hours straight, or were there breaks, interruptions, or admin tasks in between?
Solution: Block your time and use a tool that allows break logging or default pauses. Nureti helps you subtract breaks automatically.
Mistake 4: Not Keeping Historical Records
Clients might come back months later and ask for clarifications. Without proper records, you’re left guessing — or not getting paid.
Solution: Nureti stores your full time log history, so you can go back, search, and export as needed.
Pro Tips for Contractors
Track in real time — avoid “end of day” guessing
Use tags or labels for clients, projects, and task types
Export your logs monthly and keep them backed up
Consider sharing weekly time summaries with clients — it builds trust
You can also read about the 5 most common time tracking mistakes here
Why Nureti Works for Independent Contractors
Nureti is built for flexibility. Whether you’re a freelance developer, designer, copywriter or consultant, it helps you:
Track time from mobile or desktop
Log tasks quickly and clearly
Set your own defaults and work patterns
Keep full control over your data and privacy
Start tracking like a pro
If you want to save time, impress clients, and make sure no billable hour goes untracked — try Nureti for free. It’s everything you need, nothing you don’t.