Time Clocks for Small Business- 5 Best Time Clocks for Your Business

time clocks for small business January 10, 2023

Priyanka Bhadani

Writer

What is a Time Clock?

Any large or small business needs to keep track of its employees, be it their work hours or their productivity. Most large and small businesses use time clocks to record their employees' work hours. A time clock is a device that is used to record employees' coming in and logging out time.
In the days before automation and digitization, employees would insert a time card into a machine and press a button and the machine would record the date and time of punching in and out.
But now with technology, organizations can digitize the process of recording the employee time spent at the workplace or working. Most organizations now opt for a time clock software or a time clock app to record the employees' time and attendance.
A time clock software or an online employee time clock allows employees to clock in and out from authorized locations through their smartphones or terminal at the worksite. The time and attendance data is then automatically integrated into the payroll system which reduces the hassle managers and margin of error while tracking time.

Why Should You Use Time Clock in Your Small Business?

Time tracking is essential in any business to record the employee time spent at the workplace and also make sure that there are no errors while processing payroll. In a small business, the use of Time Clocks reduces human error as it accurately records clocks in and out. It not only streamlines the payroll process but also provides documentation in case of payroll audits or any lawsuits.
Let us now look at the benefits garnered by using clocks for small business to track time-

Payroll accuracy- Any rime clock software starts time track when an employee punches and stops when they punch out. As the time clock app can be integrated with human resources and payroll processing software, the employee spends at the workplace is directly integrated into the software which reduces the manual management of data. As the time clock precisely records the employee time, there is less chance of time theft or missed hours based on human memory when manual recording is carried out. The accurate records also ensure that the employees are paid for their time properly.
Increase in productivity- As the time tracking process is automated, it saved the time that used to be spent on manual collection of time cards and entering the data in the system. The automated time tracking process also reduces the chances of human error in recording time and attendance data. As the time spent on processing the time and attendance data are reduced, there is also an increase in productivity as the time can be spent on other tasks.
Better security- When the organizations used the manual clock system, there was no security about the authenticity of the data reported to the organization. Misuse of time like buddy punch (when one employee would punch in for the other who was running late or had left early) and time theft were common. But a web based time clock software has biometric time tracking features like a fingerprint reader. The new time clock app with features like facial recognition and biometric fingerprint scanning increases the time tracking reliability and decreases misuse of time.
Increased employee satisfaction- The use of a time clock is also beneficial for the employees as the time clock software ensures timely and accurate pay and gives employees secure access to their data. This also saves time as employees can access information through an employee portal without having to go through the human resources department. A time clock ensures that employees can manage their time-related activities which leads to a feeling of empowerment and satisfaction.
Legal compliance- Time clocks also help an organization stay in compliance with the law and the clock software issues alerts for overtime or when an employee reaches the maximum number of hours allowed to be worked. A clock app also documents all time-related activities hence if there are payroll audits, it provides documentation to prove compliance. Time clocks are also a safeguard against any legal trouble by keeping accurate records of employee time.

Finding the right time clock for your small business can be a challenge.

Zipschedules suggests a time clock for small business can simplify this process. Time clocks for small businesses are an affordable option that will save you time and money in the long run.

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When Should You Use Time Clock?

An organization should invest in a time clock software if they want an accurate record of the time spent by their employees in the workplace. A Time Clock is also used to keep track of the breaks that employees are entitled to. A time clock software system provides data if an employee is consistently late or taking long breaks. Having a time clock helps an organization increase efficiency levels and productivity.
Using a time clock software also helps you track labor costs as employee time clocks can provide data on-

Which area of the labor is taking up the most time and cost
Which departments or employees need the most overtime to do their job.
What is your labor time and costs as compared to industry standards.
Are you paying more for less productivity.

We have already discussed how opting for employee time clocks can streamline the payroll process. But a time clock can also regulate the hidden cost the company bears due to absenteeism as a time clock system calculates paid time off, vacation and any absenteeism linked to payroll without having to dig through past records. Time clocks make it easy to identify employees who are absent regularly and this data can be used to prevent and minimize future absences. By addressing time and attendance issues, use of time clocks can also help to improve morale and productivity levels.

How to Set Up Time Clock in Small Business?

When you are a small business, it is easier to opt for a cloud based time clock software as you can track the employee time and attendance from anywhere. A time clock is easy to use and here is how you can use a time clock in your organization-

Log in when you come in office-

Create an employee account on the time clock software
Put a tablet near the entrance which has all the relevant data
People can log in and log out by selecting their name

Remote working

Create an account on the time clock app as an admin
Use the teams feature and enter emails if all employees for time tracking
The employees will be sent an email to join the workspace
After accepting the invite, they can log in from their browser even if they are not in office
They can create time cards and log in their work data and use the time tracker to clock in and out

Clock in from work station

Most time clock software have an extension for browsers which has a built in timer for clocking in and out which starts and stops when the browser is opened or closed
The extension can be installed on the work station
The automatic timer should be enabled
You can track who is working via the team dashboard

Accounting for a break

When you create a project for an employee for time tracking, you can create two tasks work and break which the employee can choose in the time cards.
You can also create a break tag which can be used by the employees to create a time entry without a project and just attach the break' tag
When you create a project for an employee for time tracking, you can create two tasks work and break which the employee can choose in the time cards.
You can also create a break tag which can be used by the employees to create a time entry without a project and just attach the break' tag

5 Best Time Clock for Small Business in 2022

As discussed, the benefits of opting for a time clock system in a small business are many like-
Time clocks are easy to use and make it simpler for employees to clock in and out.
A time clock software ensures that employees have access to their data and this provides a feeling of empowerment and satisfaction.
A time clock can track employee time even when they are not in office. Now with remote working a part of our lives, a time clock makes it easier for small businesses to track their employees work time.
As the time clock app can be integrated with payroll, it streamline the process and ensures accuracy and keep records.
Time clocks provide a boost to small businesses that are looking to streamline efficiency and improve productivity.
It is also important to note that small businesses don't have to invest in a separate time clock app if they have an employee scheduling app like Zip Schedules. The cloud based employee scheduling app not only provides templates for creating schedules but it also has time clock feature which helps a small business simplify time and attendance, eliminate time theft and buddy punching and stay compliant with payroll and labor laws.
As a small business, you should check the market for best time keeping system which can help you streamline your operations. We can help you by listing the best time clocks that are there in the market right now. Let us take a look at the options now-

Managing employees can be difficult. As a small business, you are probably juggling a lot of responsibilities and it is difficult to keep track of everyone&#039;s hours.

There are many different types of time clocks for small businesses suggested by Zipschedules and the right one for your company depends on your needs.

Schedule an Appointment Now

1. Timelogix

It is an affordable solution that provides time clocks and time and attendance software for your small business. The time clocks use biometric fingerprint or facial recognition scanning, smart time cards or pin number to allow clock-ins or outs, and the data is transmitted to the software. The clock app has an easy to use time and Attendance solution and affordably priced employee time clocks software. The software has plans which start from $20 per month for a small business that has less than 10 employees. The online time keeping system also has geolocation and geofencing to manage your employee time data. The time clock ensures no time theft or manual time tracking, and compliance with law.

2. Homebase

The clock app for small businesses can easily track employee time, prep for payroll and get control of your labor costs. The digital time keeping system also track breaks, overtime and paid time off. It can be used on Android and iOS devices, computers and POS devices. The time clock allows employees to clock in and out with their own PIN. The clock app issues alerts when employees are late and uses GPS to confirm who is clocking in and from where. The time clock allows a small business to manage remote work and field teams. The employee time clock has built in features for messaging, alerts, and more. The clock app also tracks your labor costs by department, role and more. The time clock can also import the sales data which can help set targets. The time clock charges per location per month and if you have just one location for your small business, then you can use it for free.

3. Time Doctor

The time clock software provides employee-friendly time tracking and productivity insights which enables a small business improve its productivity. The time clock helps an owner or manager analyze how the employee time is spent and identify strong performers. The clock app gives employees valuable inputs about their strengths and weaknesses which boosts morale. The real time analytics provided by the time clock also helps improve performance and productivity. The time clock has features to approve time cards or set them for automatic approval. The time clock can also analyze and track time spent on each project, client, or task and provide accurate details for billing clients. The time clock app provides summary reports to help you analyze behavior patterns. The time clock has plans which start from $7 per month.

4. Clockify

It is a free clock app which turn any web based device into a time clock. The clock software allows employees to clock in on their mobiles or desktops and also record their time and attendance and breaks. The time clock also allows for manual filling of the time cards. The time clock helps in time tracking across projects so you can calculate billable hours, labor costs and payroll. The time clock also uses GPS to track the location of employees who are working onsite. The time clock also provides a dashboard to where employee time is spent, track the budget spent on a project and its progress. The time clock also helps you create time off policies, define holidays for paid leaves and requests and approve leaves. The time clock app is free which is ideal for small businesses.

5. Allied Time

The time clock allow employees to clock in and out from their phones and notifies a business when they are late or forget to clock in. The clock app can track employee time and export time cards for payroll processing. The time clock has a geofencing feature which can tell where the employees are. The time clock allows for setting a limit to how early employees can clock in and automatically clock them out if they forget to do it to prevent time theft and save labor costs. The time clock also provides information and insights on absenteeism, tardiness, long breaks and unapproved accumulation of overtime hours.

When you’re running a small business, time management is key. You need to know how much time each task takes in order to stay on top of your work and make sure that you’re not spending too much time on one thing.

Zipschedules has researched and compiled a list of the 5 best time clocks for small businesses. We have taken into account all of the different features and benefits of each, so you can make a smart decision on which is right for you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do businesses still use time clocks?

Time clocks are a widely used tool in the world of business to track employees' time. However, time clocks are not always used for the right reasons, and you might wonder if it's time to say goodbye to them. They can be an effective tool for ensuring that employees are paid for the time they spend at work. But, over time, time clocks have become outdated and bureaucratic, making it harder for businesses to monitor their staff and track their productivity.Time clocks are a widely used tool in the world of business to track employees' time. However, time clocks are not always used for the right reasons, and you might wonder if it's time to say goodbye to them. They can be an effective tool for ensuring that employees are paid for the time they spend at work. But, over time, time clocks have become outdated and bureaucratic, making it harder for businesses to monitor their staff and track their productivity.Time clocks are a widely used tool in the world of business to track employees' time. However, time clocks are not always used for the right reasons, and you might wonder if it's time to say goodbye to them. They can be an effective tool for ensuring that employees are paid for the time they spend at work. But, over time, time clocks have become outdated and bureaucratic, making it harder for businesses to monitor their staff and track their productivity.Time clocks are a widely used tool in the world of business to track employees' time. However, time clocks are not always used for the right reasons, and you might wonder if it's time to say goodbye to them. They can be an effective tool for ensuring that employees are paid for the time they spend at work. But, over time, time clocks have become outdated and bureaucratic, making it harder for businesses to monitor their staff and track their productivity.Time clocks are a widely used tool in the world of business to track employees' time. However, time clocks are not always used for the right reasons, and you might wonder if it's time to say goodbye to them. They can be an effective tool for ensuring that employees are paid for the time they spend at work. But, over time, time clocks have become outdated and bureaucratic, making it harder for businesses to monitor their staff and track their productivity.Time clocks are a widely used tool in the world of business to track employees' time. However, time clocks are not always used for the right reasons, and you might wonder if it's time to say goodbye to them. They can be an effective tool for ensuring that employees are paid for the time they spend at work. But, over time, time clocks have become outdated and bureaucratic, making it harder for businesses to monitor their staff and track their productivity.Time clocks are a widely used tool in the world of business to track employees' time. However, time clocks are not always used for the right reasons, and you might wonder if it's time to say goodbye to them. They can be an effective tool for ensuring that employees are paid for the time they spend at work. But, over time, time clocks have become outdated and bureaucratic, making it harder for businesses to monitor their staff and track their productivity.Time clocks are a widely used tool in the world of business to track employees' time. However, time clocks are not always used for the right reasons, and you might wonder if it's time to say goodbye to them. They can be an effective tool for ensuring that employees are paid for the time they spend at work. But, over time, time clocks have become outdated and bureaucratic, making it harder for businesses to monitor their staff and track their productivity.

What is the best time clock system?

Time clocks can be a useful tool for tracking employee time and keeping records accurate. But they're not necessarily right for your business. Some time-tracking solutions are better suited to small businesses with simple payroll needs. Others are better suited to large organizations that require in-depth time and expense reporting or advanced features like time off, virtual time, and payrolling. Time clocks are different from time management systems such as WorkFlowy or time management techniques such as Pomodoro. However, many of the same factors apply when choosing the right time-tracking system for your business. Time clocks are a great tool for tracking employee time and keeping records accurate. But they're not necessarily right for your business. Some time-tracking solutions are better suited to small businesses with simple payroll needs. Others are better suited to large organizations that require in-depth time and expense reporting or advanced features like time off, virtual time, and payrolling.Time clocks can be a useful tool for tracking employee time and keeping records accurate. But they're not necessarily right for your business. Some time-tracking solutions are better suited to small businesses with simple payroll needs. Others are better suited to large organizations that require in-depth time and expense reporting or advanced features like time off, virtual time, and payrolling. Time clocks are different from time management systems such as WorkFlowy or time management techniques such as Pomodoro. However, many of the same factors apply when choosing the right time-tracking system for your business. Time clocks are a great tool for tracking employee time and keeping records accurate. But they're not necessarily right for your business. Some time-tracking solutions are better suited to small businesses with simple payroll needs. Others are better suited to large organizations that require in-depth time and expense reporting or advanced features like time off, virtual time, and payrolling.Time clocks can be a useful tool for tracking employee time and keeping records accurate. But they're not necessarily right for your business. Some time-tracking solutions are better suited to small businesses with simple payroll needs. Others are better suited to large organizations that require in-depth time and expense reporting or advanced features like time off, virtual time, and payrolling. Time clocks are different from time management systems such as WorkFlowy or time management techniques such as Pomodoro. However, many of the same factors apply when choosing the right time-tracking system for your business. Time clocks are a great tool for tracking employee time and keeping records accurate. But they're not necessarily right for your business. Some time-tracking solutions are better suited to small businesses with simple payroll needs. Others are better suited to large organizations that require in-depth time and expense reporting or advanced features like time off, virtual time, and payrolling.Time clocks can be a useful tool for tracking employee time and keeping records accurate. But they're not necessarily right for your business. Some time-tracking solutions are better suited to small businesses with simple payroll needs. Others are better suited to large organizations that require in-depth time and expense reporting or advanced features like time off, virtual time, and payrolling. Time clocks are different from time management systems such as WorkFlowy or time management techniques such as Pomodoro. However, many of the same factors apply when choosing the right time-tracking system for your business. Time clocks are a great tool for tracking employee time and keeping records accurate. But they're not necessarily right for your business. Some time-tracking solutions are better suited to small businesses with simple payroll needs. Others are better suited to large organizations that require in-depth time and expense reporting or advanced features like time off, virtual time, and payrolling.Time clocks can be a useful tool for tracking employee time and keeping records accurate. But they're not necessarily right for your business. Some time-tracking solutions are better suited to small businesses with simple payroll needs. Others are better suited to large organizations that require in-depth time and expense reporting or advanced features like time off, virtual time, and payrolling. Time clocks are different from time management systems such as WorkFlowy or time management techniques such as Pomodoro. However, many of the same factors apply when choosing the right time-tracking system for your business. Time clocks are a great tool for tracking employee time and keeping records accurate. But they're not necessarily right for your business. Some time-tracking solutions are better suited to small businesses with simple payroll needs. Others are better suited to large organizations that require in-depth time and expense reporting or advanced features like time off, virtual time, and payrolling.Time clocks can be a useful tool for tracking employee time and keeping records accurate. But they're not necessarily right for your business. Some time-tracking solutions are better suited to small businesses with simple payroll needs. Others are better suited to large organizations that require in-depth time and expense reporting or advanced features like time off, virtual time, and payrolling. Time clocks are different from time management systems such as WorkFlowy or time management techniques such as Pomodoro. However, many of the same factors apply when choosing the right time-tracking system for your business. Time clocks are a great tool for tracking employee time and keeping records accurate. But they're not necessarily right for your business. Some time-tracking solutions are better suited to small businesses with simple payroll needs. Others are better suited to large organizations that require in-depth time and expense reporting or advanced features like time off, virtual time, and payrolling.Time clocks can be a useful tool for tracking employee time and keeping records accurate. But they're not necessarily right for your business. Some time-tracking solutions are better suited to small businesses with simple payroll needs. Others are better suited to large organizations that require in-depth time and expense reporting or advanced features like time off, virtual time, and payrolling. Time clocks are different from time management systems such as WorkFlowy or time management techniques such as Pomodoro. However, many of the same factors apply when choosing the right time-tracking system for your business. Time clocks are a great tool for tracking employee time and keeping records accurate. But they're not necessarily right for your business. Some time-tracking solutions are better suited to small businesses with simple payroll needs. Others are better suited to large organizations that require in-depth time and expense reporting or advanced features like time off, virtual time, and payrolling.Time clocks can be a useful tool for tracking employee time and keeping records accurate. But they're not necessarily right for your business. Some time-tracking solutions are better suited to small businesses with simple payroll needs. Others are better suited to large organizations that require in-depth time and expense reporting or advanced features like time off, virtual time, and payrolling. Time clocks are different from time management systems such as WorkFlowy or time management techniques such as Pomodoro. However, many of the same factors apply when choosing the right time-tracking system for your business. Time clocks are a great tool for tracking employee time and keeping records accurate. But they're not necessarily right for your business. Some time-tracking solutions are better suited to small businesses with simple payroll needs. Others are better suited to large organizations that require in-depth time and expense reporting or advanced features like time off, virtual time, and payrolling.