Guide · 4 min read
Billable vs non-billable hours: examples and why both matter
Billable hours pay the bills; non-billable hours keep the business running. Tracking both is how you find out whether your prices and your team's workload make sense.
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Examples
- Billable: design work for a client, a client workshop, agreed revisions
- Non-billable: proposals, internal meetings, invoicing, hiring, learning
- Depends on contract: travel, project management, support
Why track non-billable time
If 40% of a team's time is non-billable, prices must cover it. You can only see that if it's tracked. Non-billable time also reveals admin that could be automated.
Put it into practice in Hourtick
Timers, rates, approvals and reports in one place. Free for your whole team.
- Free for your whole team, forever
- No credit card
- Every feature included
How Hourtick handles it
Billability is set per task type, and a non-billable project overrides everything on it. Reports split billable and non-billable time for every group.
Frequently asked questions
Is project management billable?
Often, if your contract includes it. Decide once and set the task type accordingly.
Should non-billable time be tracked at all?
Yes. It's the only way to know your real cost of delivery.
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