Short answer: an agency needs hours by project, proof for clients, payroll from the same data, built-in team tools, and a setup the team does not resent.
Agencies sell time. A missed hour is lost revenue, and an inflated hour is a lost client. That makes tracking more important than in most businesses, and more sensitive, because your product is your people.
1. Hours by project and person
You need to know what each client cost you, not only who worked. Look for per-project timesheets and a live view of who is on what.
2. Proof you can show a client
Screenshots and activity levels back up an invoice when a client asks. Check that you can set the interval and blur sensitive content, so you never expose client data you should not hold.
3. Payroll from tracked hours
Hourly staff and contractors need paying from the same data you invoice from. One source avoids the monthly spreadsheet and the argument that follows.
4. Team tools in one place
Chat, announcements, tasks and leave requests in the same tool mean fewer subscriptions and fewer places for a message to get lost.
5. A privacy-first setup
Agencies live on talent. Pick a tool where people see their own data, breaks are private and monitoring is explained up front. See how to roll it out.
Quick scorecard
- Can I see hours per client this month in under a minute?
- Can I prove a day's work if challenged?
- Can I run payroll without a spreadsheet?
- Would my team be comfortable with it on?
TrustHours covers all five and is free for up to 3 users.
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