If you are a small business owner or a business owner of any capacity, it may alarm you to know that 20% of every dollar made by U.S. companies is lost to time theft. That equates to $500 billion in potential revenue losses annually. This staggering number underscores the importance of implementing a time clock system in your business.
A time clock system is an electronic device that records the arrival and departure times of employees for payroll purposes. It can be used to track employee hours, calculate overtime, and ensure accurate paychecks. When used effectively, a time clock system can help to reduce time theft and improve your bottom line.
There are many different types of time clocks on the market today — but how do you know which one is right for your business? This article will provide an overview of the top time clock app for small businesses, as well as some tips on how to choose the right system for your specific needs.
First, however, we’ll go over the benefits of using a time clock in the first place. Let’s get into it!
Why use a time clock for your small business?
If you are unsure about whether to invest in a time clock app for your business, rest assured that time clock apps come with a wealth of benefits. Not only do they help to ensure employees are clocking in and out of work on time, but they can also provide managers with detailed reports on employee productivity.
Some of the main benefits include:
Increased accountability
When employees are required to clock in and out of work, it helps to ensure that they are working the hours for which they are being paid. This increased accountability can help to boost productivity and discourage time theft, as employees know that their boss is keeping track of their hours.
Accurate time tracking
Time clock apps make it easy to track the hours employees are working, which can be helpful for businesses that need to keep track of employee productivity. Managers can use the data collected by time clocks to create detailed reports on employee productivity, which can help to identify areas where improvement is needed.
Easier payroll management
Time clock data can also be used to create more accurate payroll records. By tracking the hours employees have worked, businesses can avoid overpaying or underpaying their staff. This can save the business money and help to ensure that employees are compensated fairly for their time.
Increased employee morale
Happy employees are productive employees, and using a time clock app can help to improve employee morale. When employees feel like their time is being accurately tracked and that they are being compensated fairly for their work, they are likely to be more productive and feel more positive about their job.
If you are a small business owner, every cent that you earn counts — especially if you are still in the startup stages. A time clock app can prevent money from going down the drain on account of inaccurate timekeeping or fraudulent behavior.
Finding the right time clock for your business
Once you have decided that it may be worth your while to invest in a time clock app, the next step is finding the right one for your business. There are a few factors to consider when making your decision:
How many employees do you have?
The time clock app you choose should be able to handle the number of employees in your business. If you have a small business with only a handful of employees, any of the more popular time clock apps should work well for you. If you have a larger business with more employees, you may want to look for an app that can handle more users simultaneously.
What features do you need?
Each time clock app offers different features. Some are basic and include only the ability to track employee hours, while others offer more features like time tracking, payroll integration, and more. Decide which features are necessary for your business and make sure the app you choose has them.
In general, the best time clock apps will offer the following features:
- Employees can clock in and out from their phones
- Managers can see who is working and when
- Employees can view their hours worked and wages earned
- The app can generate detailed reports on employee time usage
- The app integrates with payroll systems
When evaluating time clock apps, it’s important to consider which features are most important to your business. For example, if you need an app that can integrate with your payroll system, then you’ll want to make sure the app you choose offers that feature.
How much does it cost?
Like anything else, time clock apps come in a variety of price ranges. It’s important to find one that fits comfortably into your budget. However, be careful not to sacrifice features or quality just to save a few bucks.
For a quality and capable time clock app, the price can range anywhere from free to hundreds of dollars per year. It is important to find the app that fits the needs of your business and its employees, but there is no need to pay for features you will never use — so go as simple as your business needs will allow.
So, with all of these points in mind, which time clock app can cover all bases without emptying your pockets?
Day.io: the time clock app for businesses big and small
While it’s important to shop around, you might consider starting your search with Day.io, our comprehensive time tracking tool. It’s a web-based app that’s perfect for small businesses, and it’s easy to use. You can track time by project, client, or task and create invoices quickly and easily. Plus, you can access your data from anywhere with an internet connection.
Day.io’s benefits and features
Why choose Day.io? Well, alongside the general time tracking features expected of clock apps across the board, Day.io offers a number of special features that can help your small business to become more efficient.
Employee scheduling
With Day.io, you can create and manage clear schedules for your employees so that no lines are crossed and everyone is aware of their shifts. The app allows you to add limits around late arrivals and early exits, and it will also notify you of any excess hours. With these limits in place, you are less likely to lose money through time theft.
Powerful anti-fraud system
A common problem for business owners and managers is fraudulent behavior, but this is easily prevented with Day.io’s secure identification system. Employees must verify their identity through four different methods — face ID, sim card, date and time, and GPS location. With these precautions in place, employees are unlikely to attempt anything fraudulent.
Time off requests
To avoid any confusion, employees can request paid time off through the Day.io app itself. This is helpful for rescheduling around employee absences and keeping track of any changes to shifts.
Free trial period
Day.io is completely free for the trial period — so you don’t need to worry about wasting money if for some reason the app doesn’t suit your small business. After the trial period, a subscription begins at $89 per month and increases depending on the size of your company — so this is the ideal pricing arrangement for small businesses!
As well as these attractive features, Day.io is:
- A simple interface with an aesthetic design
- Easy to use with multiple ways of tracking time
- Affordable without cutting corners
- Adding new features progressively
When looking for the top time clock app to suit your business needs, Day.io is an excellent place to start your search.
Implementing your time clock app
After investing in a time clock app, the next step is to implement it properly within your business. Fortunately, small businesses have fewer employees to worry about, and therefore, less of a time commitment is needed to properly roll out the clock app.
You can implement your time clock in just a few steps:
- First and foremost, designate one employee as the administrator for the time clock app. This will be the main contact person for all users and should be responsible for creating user profiles, assigning roles, and managing clock-ins and outs.
- Next, send out a memo or email to all employees announcing the arrival of the new time clock app. Be sure to include clear instructions on how to use it, including log-in procedures and which features are available. If you have a company website, post a link to the clock app so employees can access it from home.
- Finally, hold a brief training session for all employees to answer any questions they may have about the new time clock. Make sure everyone is comfortable using it before sending them off on their own.
With these simple steps, you can successfully implement your time clock app and start tracking employee hours in no time!
Bottom line
There are many time clocks on the market for small businesses, but as we have discussed here, it’s not as simple as just picking the first one you find. If you’re looking for a time clock that is both affordable and easy to use, consider looking into Day.io and the many features it has to offer your business.
Regardless of the app you choose, make sure to take the time to research all of your options and find the one that will work best for you and your team!