Free consultant timesheet templates on Excel to help you streamline your time tracking

As a consultant, keeping track of your time is crucial to ensure that you get paid for the work you do, whether it’s billing hourly, project-based, or on a retainer. However, it can be tedious to track your time, especially when managing multiple clients and projects. This is where using a consultant timesheet template can come in handy, and with the help of time tracking software, the process becomes even more seamless.

In this blog, we will delve into the benefits of using Excel for consultant timesheets and provide some free consultant timesheet templates for you to use.

Benefits of using Excel for timesheets

For consultants, keeping track of how many hours you work is very important. It helps you manage your tasks, bill correctly, and make sure you get paid right. Excel timesheet templates can be a big help for several reasons:

• Make it your own: You can change the timesheet so it works just how you need it to. If you prefer a weekly view over a monthly one, you can set it up like that.

• Do the math for you: Excel adds up all your hours worked, including any extra time. This means less chance of mistakes and less work for you.

• Share easily: You can quickly send your timesheet to others, like clients or your team. You also get to decide who can just look at it and who can make changes.

• Keep track of tasks: You can list what you’re working on right in Excel and connect tasks to certain projects or clients. This helps you stay organized and use your time wisely.

• Understand your work: Excel has tools that let you look at your work hours in different ways. This can help you see how productive you are and if you’re making good money for your time.

Using excel for your timesheets can make your work life smoother, help you avoid mistakes, and give you useful insights into how you work.

Free timesheet templates for consultants

We know tracking work hours and managing timesheets can be tough for consultants. In this blog, we’ve put together a list of free Excel timesheet templates to help you manage projects better and track your hours more efficiently.

Here’s a quick overview of each template:

Time recording without hourly rate

This simple timesheet template is perfect if you’re looking for a basic timesheet. It allows you to record the date, task description, and the number of hours spent. You can use this template to track your time for any project or task, regardless of whether you’re billing your clients on an hourly basis.

Time recording with hourly rate

This template is suitable for consultants who bill their clients on an hourly basis. It allows you to enter the date, task description, start and end times, and hourly rate. The template automatically calculates the total amount due based on the hours worked and the hourly rate.

Time recording with breaks

If you take breaks during your workday, this template is ideal. It includes a section for recording the start and end times of your breaks, which can be deducted from your total work hours. This template also allows you to enter the date, task description, and the number of hours spent.

Time recording across departments

If you’re working on multiple projects for different departments or clients, this template can help you keep track of your hours for each one. It includes separate sections for each department or client, where you can record the date, task description, and the number of hours spent.

Tips for using timesheet templates effectively

Here are some tips for making the most of timesheet templates:

1. Set reminders: Set reminders to update your timesheet regularly, such as at the end of each workday or week. This will help you stay on top of your time entries and avoid having to remember everything at the end of the month.

2. Add notes and comments: Use the notes and comments section to provide additional context or information about your time entries. This can be helpful for your clients or team members to understand the work you did and why it took a certain amount of time.

3. Stay organized: Keep your timesheet organized by using color-coding or grouping tasks by project or client. This will make it easier to review and analyze your time entries later on.

4. Avoid common mistakes: Double-check your time entries to ensure that they are accurate and consistent. Avoid rounding your time entries, as this can lead to discrepancies in your billing.

Free timesheet templates for consultants