Add Your Locations
Add Work Sites for automatic time tracking. Add Suppliers if you charge travel time to and from material pickups.
Locations
Why Location-Based Time Tracking Matters for Tradesmen and Contractors
For tradesmen, contractors, and small teams who invoice clients based on work locations or day rates, accurate time tracking at each job site is essential. Timewire's location-based time tracking uses geofencing technology to automatically clock you in when you arrive at a work site and clock you out when you leave. This eliminates the need for manual time entry and ensures you never miss billing hours.
Whether you're a plumber visiting multiple client homes, an electrician working across different construction sites, or a contractor managing several projects simultaneously, setting up your work locations correctly is the foundation of automatic time tracking.
Understanding Work Sites vs. Supplier Locations
Timewire supports two types of locations, each serving a different purpose for tradesmen and contractors:
Work Sites
These are your primary job locations where you perform work for clients. Examples include client homes, construction sites, commercial buildings, or any location where you charge for your time. When you arrive at a work site, Timewire automatically starts tracking your time, making it perfect for tradesmen who charge day rates or hourly rates based on location.
Supplier Locations
These are material suppliers, hardware stores, or any location where you pick up materials. If you charge clients for travel time to and from supplier locations, setting these up allows Timewire to track that travel time automatically. This is especially useful for contractors who need to bill clients for material pickups.
Step-by-Step: Adding Your First Work Site
- Open the Locations Screen: In the Timewire app, navigate to the Locations section. You'll see a map view showing your current location and any existing locations you've added.
- Tap the Add Button: Look for the green plus (+) button in the top right corner of the screen. This opens the location creation form.
- Enter Location Details:
- Location Name: Use a clear, descriptive name like "123 Main St - Kitchen Renovation" or "Smith Residence - Bathroom Remodel"
- Location Type: Select "Work Site" for client job locations
- Address: Enter the full address or use the map to pinpoint the exact location
- Client Name: Add the client's name for easy reference when generating invoices
- Client Email: Include the client's email address so Timewire can automatically attach it to invoices
- Hourly Rate: Set your standard rate for this location. This rate will be used when generating invoices for work performed at this site (or as a fallback if day rate billing is enabled)
- Day Rate Billing (Optional): For Work Sites, you can enable day rate billing to charge a flat daily rate instead of hourly. See the section below for detailed setup instructions.
- Set Geofence Radius: Timewire uses a 150-meter radius for work sites. When you enter this area, time tracking begins automatically. The app will show you the geofence circle on the map so you can verify it covers the work area correctly.
- Save the Location: Review all details and tap Save. The location will appear on your map with a green pin marker.
Setting Up Day Rate Billing for Work Sites
Day rate billing allows you to charge a fixed daily rate instead of hourly rates for full-day jobs. This is ideal for tradesmen and contractors who work full days at client locations and want to simplify their billing. For example, if you typically work 8-hour days at a construction site, you might set a $500 day rate instead of tracking individual hours.
Important: Day rate billing is only available for Work Sites, not Supplier locations. You can enable day rate billing when adding a new work site or when editing an existing one.
How Day Rate Billing Works
When day rate billing is enabled for a location, Timewire uses the following logic:
- If you work the minimum hours (or more) on a given day, you'll be billed at the full day rate
- If you work fewer hours than the minimum threshold, Timewire automatically falls back to hourly billing using your hourly rate
- Each day is calculated separately, so you can have some days at day rate and others at hourly rate within the same week
For example, if you set a $500 day rate with a 4-hour minimum, working 6 hours would bill at $500 (day rate), while working 2 hours would bill at your hourly rate (e.g., $50/hour = $100).
Step-by-Step: Enabling Day Rate Billing
- Enable Day Rate Toggle: When adding or editing a Work Site, look for the "Enable Day Rate Billing" toggle switch. Turn it on to activate day rate billing for this location.
- Set Day Rate Amount: Enter your daily rate amount (e.g., 500 for $500/day). This is the flat rate you'll charge when the minimum hours threshold is met.
- Set Minimum Hours: Enter the minimum number of hours required to trigger the day rate (e.g., 4 hours). If you work fewer hours than this threshold on any given day, Timewire will automatically use your hourly rate instead.
- Set Hourly Rate (Fallback): Even with day rate billing enabled, you should still set an hourly rate. This rate will be used as a fallback when you work fewer hours than the minimum threshold, ensuring you're always billed accurately.
When to Use Day Rate Billing
Day rate billing works best for:
- Full-day jobs where you consistently work 6-8+ hours
- Construction sites or long-term projects with predictable daily schedules
- Clients who prefer flat daily rates over hourly billing
- Situations where you want to simplify invoicing for full-day work
For shorter jobs or variable-hour work, hourly billing may be more appropriate.
Adding Supplier Locations for Travel Time Tracking
If you charge clients for travel time to material suppliers, follow the same process but select "Supplier" as the location type. Supplier locations use a 250-meter geofence radius, giving you more flexibility when picking up materials.
When you visit a supplier location, Timewire tracks your travel time, which you can then include in your client invoices. This is particularly valuable for contractors who need to document material procurement time for billing purposes.
Best Practices for Location Setup
Use Descriptive Names
Include client name and project type in location names. This makes it easy to identify locations when reviewing timesheets and creating invoices.
Set Accurate Rates
Update hourly rates for each location if you charge different rates for different clients or project types. For full-day jobs, consider enabling day rate billing to charge a flat daily rate instead of hourly. This ensures accurate invoicing when you export timesheets and can simplify billing for consistent full-day work.
Include Client Emails
Adding client email addresses streamlines the invoicing process. Timewire can automatically attach client details to invoices, saving you time when billing clients.
Common Questions About Location Setup
How accurate is the geofencing for job site tracking?
Timewire uses GPS-based geofencing with a 150-meter radius for work sites. This provides reliable automatic tracking while accounting for GPS accuracy variations. The system is designed to work well for tradesmen working at fixed locations like client homes or construction sites.
Can I add multiple locations for the same client?
Yes, you can add as many locations as needed. For example, if you're working on multiple projects for the same client at different addresses, create separate work sites for each location. Each location will track time independently.
What if I work at a location that moves, like a mobile service?
For mobile services or locations that change frequently, you can still use Timewire's manual time tracking features. However, for fixed locations like client addresses or construction sites, automatic geofencing provides the most accurate and convenient tracking.
Next Steps: Configure Settings and Start Tracking
Once you've added your work sites and supplier locations, you're ready to configure your app settings for automatic tracking. The next step is to ensure location permissions are set to "Always" so Timewire can track your time even when the app is in the background.
For tradesmen and contractors who invoice by day rate or location, having your locations properly set up ensures accurate time tracking and seamless invoice generation. This foundation makes it easy to bill clients accurately for work performed at each job site.
Pro Tip
Include client name, email, and hourly rate for each location