Accounting and bookkeeping practices face unique time tracking challenges; constant context switching between client files, mixed billing arrangements for the same client, and the pressure to capture every billable minute without disrupting client work. This guide shows how MinuteDock fits naturally into your existing workflow to solve these specific problems.
Tracking time across multiple client files
When you're working across multiple client files daily and switching between bank reconciliations, tax queries, BAS preparation, and advisory calls, you need to quickly assign time to different Contacts as you move between client work throughout your day.
Short Codes act as quick reference tags for your Contacts, like @bakers for Baker's Café or @henderson for Henderson & Co. This makes it fast to log time to the right client even when jumping between multiple files. When interruptions happen, you can resume previous work using the redock feature without losing any context.
Managing different billing arrangements per client
Most practices have clients on mixed billing structures, monthly retainers for bookkeeping, hourly rates for advisory work, and fixed fees for tax returns. Projects let you separate these billing types under a single Contact, so Thompson Transport can have separate Projects for "Monthly Bookkeeping & BAS" and "Tax Advisory" that bill differently.
The rate hierarchy means you can set standard rates at your Account level, then customize them for specific Contacts, Projects, or service types. Task rates override Project rates, which override Contact rates, which override User rates, which override your Account default. This flexibility handles the complex rate structures common in accounting practices.
Tasks provide global service type tracking across all clients; #bookkeeping, #bas, #taxreturn, #advisory work the same way regardless of which Contact you're working for.
Capturing small time increments
Quick phone calls, brief email responses, and rapid file reviews add up to significant billable time but often go untracked. Natural language time entry lets you add time like "5 min" or "0.25 hr" without starting and stopping timers constantly.
Tasks like #clientcall, #email, and #review help categorize these small activities, making them easier to track in the moment and analyze for profitability later.
Eliminating month-end time reconstruction
Your timesheet maintains a searchable record of all logged time entries that you can filter by Contact, Project, Task, or date range. Descriptions added during tracking become invoice line items, eliminating the need to reconstruct what you did weeks later.
For team practices, Reports show unbilled time by Contact and User in real-time, giving you visibility into work in progress for better cash flow decisions.
💡 Tip: Encourage your team to add brief descriptions when logging time. "Reconciled May transactions" or "Prepared Q3 BAS" provides enough context for invoice generation without slowing down the tracking process.
Syncing time directly to your accounting platform
Xero, QuickBooks, MYOB, and Wave integrations are available. Invoices you create sync directly into your accounting platform with all-time entry details as line items, eliminating double-entry between time tracking and invoicing.
Accounting Integrations
The Bottom Line
Capture nearly all billable time: Stop losing the work that typically goes untracked and start recording nearly everything you do
Turn month-end invoicing from hours into minutes: Descriptions are already recorded as you work, so billing becomes a breeze
Improve cash flow forecasting: Work in progress visibility shows exactly what's billable and ready to invoice
See what's actually profitable: Analyze which services and contacts bring in the most revenue for your practice
Spot capacity issues before they hit: Identify constraints early so you can plan ahead instead of scrambling
Adjust rates with confidence: Make pricing decisions based on actual time data instead of guesswork