tallyho.app

# TallyHo - Beautifully Simple Time Tracking for Freelancers

> TallyHo is a modern, beautifully simple time tracking and project management application built specifically for freelancers, solo contractors, and agencies who need precise time tracking with seamless client and project organisation.

## The Story Behind TallyHo

TallyHo was created by Steve Leggat, a freelancer with 25 years of experience in the field. After decades of struggling with complex, team-focused time tracking solutions that didn't fit the freelance workflow, Steve built TallyHo as a personal solution. What started as a tool for his own freelance work has evolved into a polished application designed to solve the real problems that solo freelancers face daily.

TallyHo is very much a one-person operation, built by someone who understands the freelance experience intimately. Steve continues to use TallyHo daily for his own work, ensuring the tool evolves to meet real-world freelance needs rather than hypothetical business requirements.

## Core Philosophy

**"You've got invoicing sorted. Now sort out everything that happens before that."**

TallyHo fills the crucial gap between finishing your work and sending invoices. Most freelancers have their invoicing sorted - whether it's Hnry, Xero, or whatever works for them. But they struggle with the step that comes before: tracking what work they've actually done. TallyHo makes time tracking so effortless that you'll never again scramble to remember hours when it's time to invoice.

## Key Design Goals

- **Effortless**: No complex setup or learning curve - start tracking immediately
- **Insightful**: Understand which clients and projects are actually profitable  
- **Compatible**: Works with whatever invoicing system you already use
- **Focused**: Built specifically for solo freelancers, not teams or enterprise
- **Intuitive**: Natural language entry and smart organisation
- **Reliable**: Built by someone who depends on it daily

## Core Features

### Hierarchical Project Organisation
- **Three-tier structure**: Client > Project > Phase
- Organize work exactly how you think about it
- Flexible project phases for detailed task breakdown
- Smart filtering and searching across all levels

### Intelligent Time Tracking
- **Natural language entry**: "2h apple website wireframes" or "30m hnry integration"
- **Automatic rate calculation** at user, client, or project level
- **Multi-currency support** for international clients

### Advanced Project Management
- **Task organisation** within project phases
- **Rate inheritance**: Set rates at user level (default), client level (overrides user), or project level (most specific)
- **Project status tracking** and phase completion
- **Search and filtering** across all clients, projects, and tasks
- **Date range filtering** for focused time analysis

### Invoicing Preparation
- **Time-based invoicing** with automatic calculations
- **Detailed time breakdowns** showing exactly what work was done
- **Multiple timesheet formats**
- **Integration-ready**: Works seamlessly with existing invoicing workflows
- **Export capabilities** for external accounting systems

### Analytics & Insights
- **Profitability analysis** by client and project
- **Time tracking patterns** and productivity insights  
- **Client value assessment** to identify most profitable relationships
- **Project performance metrics** for better estimation
- **Revenue forecasting** based on tracked time patterns

### Modern Technical Foundation
- **Built with SvelteKit and Svelte 5** using modern runes syntax
- **Responsive design** works perfectly on desktop, tablet, and mobile
- **PWA capabilities**: Add to iPhone homescreen for native app experience
- **Real-time updates** and optimistic UI for smooth interactions
- **Secure authentication** with proper session management
- **Database-backed** with reliable data persistence

## Who TallyHo Is For

### Primary Users
- **Solo freelancers** in design, development, consulting, and creative fields
- **Contractors** who bill by the hour and need accurate time records
- **Service providers** who struggle with existing complex time tracking tools

### Perfect For Those Who
- Have invoicing sorted but struggle with time tracking
- Lose money because they forget to track time or underestimate hours
- Need to understand which clients and projects are actually profitable
- Want something simple that "just works" without complex setup
- Prefer tools built by practitioners who understand the real challenges

## Key Use Cases

### Daily Workflow
1. **Start your day**: See what's active, what's coming up
2. **Track naturally**: "2h client presentation prep"
3. **Organize automatically**: Tasks flow into proper client/project structure
4. **Review insights**: Understand where your time actually goes
5. **Generate timesheets**: Export or reference tracked time for billing

### Client Management
- Organize all work by client for clear boundaries
- Set client-specific rates that automatically apply to all projects
- Track profitability per client to make better business decisions
- Maintain professional time records for client reporting

### Project Breakdown
- Divide complex projects into manageable phases
- Track time against specific deliverables and milestones
- Understand which phases take longer than estimated
- Provide detailed breakdowns to clients when needed

## Integration & Workflow

TallyHo is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing freelance workflows:

- **Works with any invoicing system**: Hnry, Xero, FreshBooks, or simple manual invoicing
- **Zapier Webhook Integration**: Send timesheets to Hnry, Xero, FreshBooks, Gmail etc
- **No lock-in**: Your data belongs to you, always accessible
- **Standalone or integrated**: Use alone or as part of a larger toolkit

## Technical Advantages

- **Modern stack**: SvelteKit + Svelte 5 for optimal performance
- **Responsive**: Perfect experience on any device
- **Fast**: Optimistic updates make interactions feel instant
- **Reliable**: Built for daily use by its creator
- **Secure**: Proper authentication and data protection
- **Accessible**: Works great on mobile, tablet, and desktop

## Getting Started

TallyHo is designed for immediate productivity:

1. **Sign up** at https://tallyho.app
2. **Create your first client** (or use the demo data to explore)
3. **Add a project** under that client
4. **Start tracking time** either with natural language or the timer
5. **Explore the insights** to see your time patterns

The interface is intuitive enough that most users are productive within minutes, not hours or days.

## Support & Development

TallyHo is actively developed and supported by Steve Leggat, who responds personally to user feedback and support requests. The application evolves based on real user needs rather than feature checklists, ensuring it stays focused on solving actual freelance challenges.

**Contact**: info@tallyho.app 
**Website**: https://tallyho.app  
**Application**: https://go.tallyho.app

## Pricing & Accessibility

TallyHo offers transparent, freelancer-friendly pricing designed to be affordable for solo practitioners while providing all the features needed for professional time tracking and project management.

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*TallyHo: Beautifully simple time tracking for freelancers. Built by a freelancer, for freelancers.*