GUIDE

How do I prove the hours I worked to a client?

Q: How do I prove the hours I worked to a client?

Provide a detailed log of arrival and departure timestamps for every job site visited. TradesTimer automates this by using background GPS to detect stops and trips, giving you a verifiable timeline of your workday.

By Ryder Wishart — years on the tools, then time tracking in a contractor’s back office · Updated 2026-07-09

Present Chronological Records

When a client questions your hours, a single total is rarely enough. You need a record showing the exact time you arrived at a property and the time you left.

Leverage Objective GPS Data

Manual logs are prone to human error and can be challenged. GPS-based logs provide objective proof of your presence at a job site based on physical location changes, making your claims much harder to dispute.

Link Travel to Work Time

A complete record includes the travel between jobs. Showing the distance traveled between sites alongside your work durations creates a cohesive narrative of your entire workday.

From the tools: how this played out for me

Invoicing for an electrical contractor taught me how hour disputes actually go. The client doesn't call you a liar — they just ask 'can you break that down?' and the quality of your answer decides whether you get paid in full, get talked down, or lose the client. A vague answer costs money even when your number was right.

The strongest answer I could give back then was built from job numbers and clock-ins when they existed. The strongest answer you can give today is a timeline: arrived 7:42, left 11:15, back 1:05 after the supplier run, off-site 4:50. Nobody argues with that breakdown — it sounds like records, because it is.

— Ryder, founder of TradesTimer. Years on the tools across framing, fencing, roofing, concrete, drywall, and painting, plus the back office of an electrical contractor — orders, invoices, and yes, the time tracking.

FAQ

Can I use these logs for tax purposes?

Yes, you can export your mileage and work duration logs to support your business expense claims during tax time.

What if I forget to log a job?

You don't need to manually log anything; the app uses background GPS to automatically detect stops and trips.

Last updated 2026-07-09.