When My Quote Was Accurate but Delivery Kept Running Late
Last November, I sat in a Hangzhou café, looking at the mini-program I had just finished. I quoted 8,000 yuan, but it took nearly 40 hours. That week, I also took on another client, and delivery slipped straight into the weekend. Only later did I realize I had been estimating time by gut and undercounting conversations, revisions, and waiting for replies.
What Harvest Does: It Keeps Track of Where the Time Goes
Harvest is a time-tracking and project-tracking tool. I can set up separate timers for different clients and projects, then turn the records into reports. My friend Lin Lan, a brand designer in Chengdu, uses the free plan to track time separately for every client. Each month, she shows clients the “actual time invested,” so quoting no longer comes down to guesswork. She has made mistakes too: she initially forgot to start the timer, then backfilled three days later from memory, and the totals didn’t match her bank statements. Now she checks everything at a fixed time before leaving work each day, with the reminder locked into her calendar.
What It Costs to Replicate This Today
Money: The free version is enough to try. Paid plans usually charge per user or seat, with exact prices depending on what the website shows at the time. Time: Basic use takes about 10 minutes—add one client, then set up a five-minute timer for the task. Spend two minutes a day checking your entries. Technical barrier: No coding or server knowledge required. On your first visit, click “New Project” on the left, enter the client’s name, then choose “Start Timer.” Before getting the hang of it, I’d spend a week tracking work you already have rather than trying to account for a full year from day one; otherwise, it’s easy to give up.
If I’m Busy, I’d Pick a Tracking Method That Fits
If I’m just getting started, I’d skip the tool for now and use one spreadsheet to record three things each day: client, task, and time spent. Once the project count passes three, I’d try Harvest. If I already have one or two clients, I’d track each client separately and review everything weekly to see which one keeps quietly consuming communication time. If I’m scaling up, I’d have design and development log time by project, then use that data to estimate new quotes. But this tool isn’t for everyone. Not trying it yet is fine; getting delivery and payment under control matters more first.