Time tracking, invoicing, and tax prep that gets out of your way. Zapier, webhooks, and a REST API when you want to go deeper.
Here's what a typical workflow looks like for developers.
Start a timer from anywhere or quick-log hours after the fact. Assign to clients and projects in one step.
Set rates per client, per project, or per rate type (standard, overtime, rush). Clearmargin applies the right rate automatically.
Select a date range, pick the client, and generate. Minimum billing rules ensure you never underbill short sessions.
Zapier (8 triggers, 4 actions, 2 searches), webhooks (30 events, HMAC-signed), REST API with scoped keys, Slack and Discord notifications.
Ask natural language questions: "How much has Acme been billed this quarter?" or "Create an invoice for last week's hours."
Proposals, contracts, time tracking, invoicing, expenses, and tax prep — all in one place.
One-click timer with client and project context. Quick-log strip for batch entry. Both feed the same billing pipeline.
Project rate overrides client rate overrides member default. Standard, overtime, and rush multipliers apply automatically.
Set minimum billable hours per rate type. Short calls and quick fixes still get invoiced at your minimum.
Bill by the hour, by the project, or mix both. Track time on fixed-price projects to see your effective rate.
RESTful API with granular permission scopes. Create read-only dashboards, sync with your tools, or build custom integrations.
8 triggers, 4 actions, 2 searches. Automate invoice creation, time logging, client onboarding, and notifications.
30 event types with HMAC-signed payloads. Build real-time integrations with any service that accepts webhooks.
Slack, Discord, and Telegram notifications for payments, invoice views, and overdue reminders. Stay informed without checking the app.
35+ tools for invoicing, time logging, financial queries, and data search. Natural language interface to your entire business.
Explore a demo account pre-loaded with realistic developersdata — proposals, invoices, expenses, and profitability reports.
Explore the demoFreelance developers need time tracking, invoicing, and tax-ready expense tracking — not a general ledger. Traditional accounting software requires bookkeeping knowledge and does not track billable hours. Clearmargin combines time tracking, invoicing, expense categorization, and Schedule C tax exports in one tool, without any accounting setup.
The choice between hourly and fixed-price depends on the project. Hourly works well for ongoing maintenance, support, and consulting. Fixed-price works for well-scoped projects with clear deliverables. The best practice is to track your time regardless of billing model so you know your effective hourly rate on every project. Clearmargin supports both models and calculates effective rates automatically.
Developers need a timer that starts with one click and does not require context-switching. A quick-log option for batch entry after focused work sessions is equally important. The tracker should assign hours to specific clients and projects, apply the correct rate automatically, and feed directly into invoicing. Clearmargin provides both a one-click timer and quick-log strip with automatic rate application.
Fixed-price gives clients budget certainty and rewards efficiency. Hourly protects you from scope creep and works well for undefined work. Many developers use fixed-price for new builds and hourly for maintenance. Either way, tracking actual hours is essential — it reveals your true effective rate per project and helps you price future work more accurately.