Blog
Time tracking tips, invoicing guides, and product updates to help freelancers get paid faster.
Hours that roll over: comp time, retainers, and invoices that keep count for you
Gigtime can now keep a running balance of hours per project: bill up to a monthly cap and bank the rest, sell a block of prepaid hours that roll over, or list hours on an invoice without charging for them. Plus recurring invoices, automatic overdue reminders, and a more forgiving custom email domain setup.
Fall update: notes when you stop the timer, forgotten timers handled, and a quieter inbox
A review step after you press Stop, timers that tidy themselves up after 24 hours, weekly emails only when there is something to summarize, and a clearer path to the annual plan.
How many billable hours a week can a freelancer really do?
The honest number is lower than 40, and planning around it is the difference between a sustainable rate and a surprise cash crunch. What the data says, and how to find your own figure.
Retainers and deposits: how freelancers get paid before the work starts
A deposit protects the first week; a retainer protects the whole year. How to ask for each, what to charge, and how to track the hours against the money you already hold.
Time tracking and taxes: what freelancers should keep records of
Good records turn tax season from a scramble into an afternoon. What to keep all year (income, hours, and expenses) so nothing gets lost when it counts.
When to raise your freelance rates — and how to do it without losing clients
Most freelancers raise their rates too late and apologize too much. The signals that say it's time, what your time data proves, and the exact words to use.
How to track time across multiple clients without losing track
Juggling five clients in a single week is normal for freelancers. Keeping their hours straight and billable is what separates an easy invoice from a stressful one.
New for Pro: send invoices from your own email domain
Gigtime Pro can now send your invoice and report emails from your own domain, so clients see billing@yourstudio.com instead of a generic address. Better deliverability, and set up in minutes.
7 invoicing mistakes that delay your payment (and easy fixes)
Most late payments start with invoicing mistakes on the freelancer's side. Seven common ones, and what to do instead.
Why invoicing is free in Gigtime (and how we actually make money)
Most time trackers charge extra for invoicing. Gigtime includes free invoicing on every plan, even Free. The reasoning, and how we keep the lights on.
Gigtime's new look: a calmer design and a real home screen
We redesigned Gigtime from the ground up. A new home screen that answers "where do I stand this week?", a warmer look, proper dark mode, and a timer you can finally pause.
Timer vs. manual time tracking: which should you use?
A running timer and after-the-fact logging both work, but not for the same person, or even the same day. How to pick, and why you don't have to choose just one.
What your time data reveals about your freelance business
Once you've tracked a few months of hours, the numbers start talking. How to read your own time data to find your best clients, your real rate, and where money is leaking.
How to set your freelance hourly rate (without undercharging)
Most freelancers pick a rate that feels okay and underprice themselves for years. The math behind a freelance hourly rate that actually covers your costs, your taxes, and your time off.
5 time tracking mistakes that quietly cost freelancers money
Five small habits that shave a little off every invoice until you're working for noticeably less than you think.
How to invoice as a freelancer: a step-by-step guide
A plain-English walkthrough of how to create and send a freelance invoice that gets paid on time: what to include, how to number it, and the small details that prevent late payments.
Billable vs. non-billable hours: what freelancers need to track
Not every hour you work is an hour you can bill. Knowing the difference, and tracking both, is how you find out which clients actually make you money.
Time tracking for freelancers: how to log hours that actually get paid
Most freelancers lose money to hours they forgot to write down. A simple way to track your time, what to record, and how to turn those hours into invoices that get paid.
How to get freelance clients to pay on time
Most late payments trace back to how the invoice was written and sent. A few changes to how you invoice will fix most of them before they start.
Gigtime v1.2 — Full Multi-Language Support
Gigtime v1.2 is live on web and desktop with full multi-language support: English, Spanish, French, and German across the app, invoices, emails, and PDFs. iOS and Android roll out this week.
Gigtime v1.1 — UI Refresh, Smarter Notifications & Quality-of-Life Updates
Gigtime 1.1 ships a refreshed interface, a reworked notification system, and a long list of fixes from user reports. App language support is next.