Getting paid
Timesheet
A timesheet is a record of the hours a person works on tasks or projects over a period, used to bill clients accurately and to pay employees.
What a timesheet is
A timesheet logs how much time was spent, on what, and for whom. For service businesses and freelancers who bill by the hour, the timesheet is the source of truth behind every invoice — it captures billable hours by client, project, or task.
Timesheets can be filled in by the day or week and may track start/stop times or simply total hours per task. Accurate timesheets prevent both undercharging (forgotten hours) and disputes (unexplained charges).
From timesheet to invoice
When it’s time to bill, the hours on the timesheet become the line items on the invoice: each task or project with its hours and rate. A clear timesheet makes for an itemized, defensible invoice the client can easily understand.
Time-tracking tools speed this up by turning logged hours directly into invoice line items, so nothing billable slips through the cracks.
Example: A designer logs 6 hours on "landing page" and 2 hours on "revisions" during the week. Those entries become two invoice lines: 6 hrs × $90 and 2 hrs × $90, totaling $720.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
What should a timesheet include?
A timesheet should include the worker, the client or project, the date, a description of the task, and the hours worked — enough detail to bill accurately and answer questions later.
How does a timesheet become an invoice?
Billable hours on the timesheet are grouped by client and project, then added to the invoice as line items (hours × rate). Time-tracking tools can do this conversion automatically.
Related terms
Itemized invoice
An itemized invoice lists each product or service as a separate line — with quantity, rate, and amount — rather than charging a single lump sum.
Invoice
An invoice is a document a seller sends to a buyer that itemizes goods or services provided and requests payment by a stated due date.
Payment terms
Payment terms are the conditions on an invoice that state when payment is due and how it should be made — for example "Net 30" or "Due on receipt."
Put it into practice
WaffleInvoice lets you create branded invoices, set payment terms, collect payments online, and automate reminders — free for unlimited invoices.
Turn tracked time into invoices Browse the glossaryNo credit card required.