Best time tracking and billing tools for accountants
A practical evaluation of time tracking and billing platforms for accounting firms. Assessed for capture ease, invoice generation, and realization reporting.
Contents
- 1.What to watch for
- 2.Ignition (formerly Practice Ignition)
- 3.Harvest
- 4.FreshBooks
- 5.QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets)
- 6.Clio (Billing Module)
- 7.Billing tool comparison
- 8.Disclosure
- 9.Which billing tool is best for a firm that does both hourly and fixed-fee work?
- 10.Is Harvest good enough for accounting firms or is it too generic?
- 11.Should we use Ignition if we mostly bill hourly?
- 12.Is QuickBooks Time worth it if we already use QuickBooks Online?
What to watch for
Beautiful dashboards that rely on perfect time entry data your team will not maintain Per-invoice or per-payment fees that scale unpredictably during busy months Time capture that requires too many clicks — if it is not fast, staff will not use it Limited rate configuration for firms with multiple billing models Payment processing fees that exceed what you would pay with a direct merchant account
Ignition (formerly Practice Ignition)
Ignition focuses on the front end of the billing cycle: proposals, engagement letters, and automatic payment collection. When a client signs a proposal, recurring invoices and payment collection start automatically. This eliminates the gap between scope agreement and first invoice that many firms struggle with.
Key features
- ·Proposals and engagement letters convert directly to automated billing
- ·Automatic payment collection reduces accounts receivable churn
- ·Strong Xero and QuickBooks Online integration for revenue recognition
- ·Clean proposal templates that clients can sign and pay from any device
- ·Scope and pricing defined upfront, reducing billing disputes
Considerations
- ·Not a time tracking tool — you need a separate tool for hourly billing
- ·Per-transaction payment processing fees apply
- ·Best suited for fixed-fee and subscription billing models
- ·Proposal customization has limits for complex multi-service engagements
- ·Pricing starts higher than basic time tracking tools
Harvest
Harvest is a straightforward time tracking and invoicing tool that does both well without trying to be a practice management platform. Time entries convert to invoices, expenses are trackable, and reporting covers utilization and profitability. It is popular with firms that want clean time tracking without platform complexity.
Key features
- ·Simple and fast time capture with timer, manual entry, and keyboard shortcuts
- ·Clean invoice generation from tracked time
- ·Strong reporting on hours, utilization, and project profitability
- ·Affordable per-user pricing with a free tier for solo practitioners
- ·Integrates with many project management and accounting tools
Considerations
- ·Not accounting-specific — lacks practice management features
- ·Invoice customization is basic compared to dedicated billing platforms
- ·No engagement letter or proposal functionality
- ·Client portal is minimal — invoice viewing only
- ·No built-in payment processing — requires Stripe or PayPal integration
FreshBooks
FreshBooks is a cloud invoicing and accounting platform aimed at service businesses. For accounting firms, it covers time tracking, invoicing, expenses, and basic accounting in one package. It is not a practice management tool, but it handles the billing side of the workflow well for smaller firms.
Key features
- ·Polished invoicing with customizable templates and online payment
- ·Time tracking built into the same platform as invoicing
- ·Expense tracking and receipt capture included
- ·Client-facing invoice portal for viewing and paying
- ·Affordable pricing for very small firms
Considerations
- ·Client limits on lower plans — the basic plan caps at five billable clients
- ·Not designed for accounting firms specifically — lacks practice management features
- ·Time tracking is functional but not as fast as dedicated tools like Harvest
- ·Reporting is adequate but limited for firms needing deep realization analysis
- ·Scaling to larger teams requires significantly higher pricing tiers
QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets)
QuickBooks Time provides robust time tracking with deep QuickBooks integration. Time entries sync directly to QuickBooks for payroll and invoicing. The mobile app supports GPS tracking and scheduling, making it suitable for firms with staff working at client locations.
Key features
- ·Seamless QuickBooks integration — time entries sync directly for payroll and billing
- ·Strong mobile app with GPS tracking for on-site client work
- ·Scheduling features for managing team assignments
- ·Kiosk mode available for team time tracking
- ·Established platform with reliable performance and support
Considerations
- ·Pricing includes a base fee plus per-user charges that add up
- ·Invoicing requires QuickBooks — not a standalone billing solution
- ·Time tracking interface is functional but not accounting-workflow-specific
- ·GPS and scheduling features are overkill for desk-based accounting teams
- ·Less useful for firms not already using QuickBooks
Clio (Billing Module)
Clio is primarily a legal practice management platform, but its billing module is used by some accounting firms, particularly those that handle compliance, forensic accounting, or advisory work requiring detailed time tracking with trust accounting capabilities. Its billing features are mature and comprehensive.
Key features
- ·Mature time tracking with detailed billing narratives and multiple rate support
- ·Strong trust and retainer accounting — useful for firms handling client funds
- ·Comprehensive billing reports including realization, utilization, and aging
- ·Flexible invoice customization with LEDES and custom format support
- ·Extensive integration ecosystem through Clio's marketplace
Considerations
- ·Designed for legal — some features and terminology feel out of place for accounting
- ·Higher per-user cost than accounting-specific alternatives
- ·Practice management features are legal-oriented — less useful for tax workflow
- ·Overkill for firms with simple billing needs
- ·Learning curve reflects the platform's legal-industry roots
Billing tool comparison
| Feature | Ignition | Harvest | FreshBooks | QB Time | Clio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time tracking | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Invoice generation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ✓ |
| Proposals / e-letters | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| Auto payment collection | ✓ | — | ~ | — | ~ |
| Realization reporting | ~ | ✓ | ~ | — | ✓ |
| Multiple billing models | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Client payment portal | ✓ | — | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| QuickBooks integration | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile time capture | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free tier available | — | ✓ | — | — | — |
Disclosure
Some links on this page may be referral links. If you choose a tool through one of these links, it may support this site at no extra cost to you. We only include tools we would evaluate ourselves.
Which billing tool is best for a firm that does both hourly and fixed-fee work?
+Ignition handles the fixed-fee and proposal side well, while Harvest handles hourly time tracking effectively. Some firms use both. If you want one tool, TaxDome or Karbon (covered in the practice management tools guide) include billing that supports both models, though less deeply than dedicated tools.
Is Harvest good enough for accounting firms or is it too generic?
+Harvest is good enough for firms whose primary need is time tracking and basic invoicing. It lacks accounting-specific features like engagement management and realization reporting by service type. For many small firms, that simplicity is a feature — less to configure, less to learn, less to maintain.
Should we use Ignition if we mostly bill hourly?
+Ignition is designed for fixed-fee and subscription billing. If your firm primarily bills hourly, Ignition adds less value — its strength is automating the proposal-to-payment cycle for scoped work. Pair it with a time tracking tool like Harvest if you need both hourly tracking and automated fixed-fee billing.
Is QuickBooks Time worth it if we already use QuickBooks Online?
+If your firm is already in the QuickBooks ecosystem, the integration value is real — time entries sync directly to QBO for payroll and invoicing with minimal manual work. The main question is whether the base fee plus per-user charges justify the integration savings compared to a cheaper time tracker with Zapier-based QBO sync.