…and how to fix them before they cost you time, money, and clients.
For busy professionals like surveyors, accountants, and architects, time isn’t just money — it’s your most limited and valuable asset. Yet, in many firms, time tracking is either done inconsistently, inaccurately, or not at all. Sound familiar?
Here are five common time tracking mistakes — and how switching to a purpose-built system like TallyPro can help you avoid them.
1. Relying on Memory or Spreadsheets
Let’s face it — when you’re trying to log time at the end of a long week, you’re probably guessing. “I think I spent about three hours on that report…” This kind of estimation leads to under-billing, lost revenue, and skewed profitability data.
The Fix: Use a digital time tracking system with real-time logging, mobile access, and built-in reminders. With TallyPro, your team can log time as they go — in the office, onsite, or on the train.
2. Tracking Time in the Wrong Categories
Vague or inconsistent categories like “admin”, “client work”, or “meetings” don’t help you understand where your time is really going. And when HMRC or a client queries a bill, you’ll want to show detail.
The Fix: Set up clear, structured time codes based on project phases, job roles, or client contracts. TallyPro allows full customisation — so your time data becomes a strategic tool, not just a billing mechanism.
3. Ignoring Non-Billable Time
Think you don’t need to track internal meetings, CPD, or travel? Think again. UK studies (such as those by IPSE and ACCA) suggest many professionals under-track 20–30% of their working hours. That’s a full day each week unaccounted for.
The Fix: Track all your time — billable and non-billable — so you can price more accurately, manage capacity, and spot inefficiencies.
4. Not Using Time Data to Make Decisions
Even if your team is logging hours, are you using that data to adjust? Time tracking shouldn’t just support invoicing; it should inform quotes, hiring decisions, and even which clients you choose to work with.
The Fix: With built-in reporting in TallyPro, you can generate project profitability, utilisation rates, and client-by-client breakdowns — all of which help you grow sustainably.
5. Making Time Tracking a Chore
If your time tracking system is clunky, manual, or overly admin-heavy, your team won’t use it properly. You’ll end up chasing timesheets and getting questionable data.
The Fix: Choose a system that’s quick, intuitive, and mobile-friendly. TallyPro is designed with professionals in mind — simple enough for field teams, powerful enough for partners.
Ready to take control of your time?
Whether you’re managing a surveying team across rural estates, an architectural practice juggling RIBA stages, or a busy accountancy firm prepping for the January rush — accurate time tracking is your secret weapon.
Switching to a dedicated solution like TallyPro means fewer mistakes, better insights, and a healthier bottom line.
Commercial Software Limited