HoursLogger
About the Company
HoursLogger is a simple, intuitive time-tracking and invoicing app designed for small business owners, consultants, and freelancers. Based in San Diego, California, the app was created by Drew, a software developer, and Matt, an accountant, to meet their own needs while consulting. Frustrated by the complexity of existing tools, they focused on building a user-friendly, minimalist solution for tracking time and generating invoices.
HoursLogger’s unique appeal lies in its ability to serve small businesses effectively with its simplicity and affordability. The app’s B2B pricing model, $9 per user per month, ensures scalability while maintaining low costs for its users. To date, the brothers have kept operations lean, handling development and customer support themselves without additional employees.
Idea Behind Company
The inspiration for HoursLogger originated from Drew’s entrepreneurial spirit, cultivated during his college years. After witnessing the financial fallout from his family’s struggling construction business, Drew explored several business ideas before transitioning into software consulting with Matt. While managing their consulting projects, they struggled with time tracking and billing inefficiencies, prompting them to create a streamlined solution.
Recognizing a gap in the market for a straightforward tool, they built HoursLogger to meet their own needs. The app’s development was guided by key principles: addressing a real pain point, ensuring recurring revenue potential, and appealing to other small business owners. Their conviction in the product was solidified after securing their first sale from a stranger, validating the app’s broader appeal.
Creating the Company
The development of HoursLogger began with Drew coding during college lectures, sketching initial designs in notebooks, and refining the app through iterative improvements. Their consulting work through DevCo funded the project, allowing them to bootstrap without external investment. This approach ensured they retained full control over the business while steadily improving the product.
The brothers prioritized essential functionality in the app’s early stages, such as creating time entries, managing clients and tasks, and generating invoices. Despite limited resources, they managed to minimize costs, hosting on DigitalOcean for $10 per month and incurring basic expenses like domain registration and LLC fees. They also refined branding through multiple logo iterations and integrated the app with QuickBooks Online, which became a pivotal growth driver.
Launching the Business
HoursLogger’s launch process was gradual, involving multiple “soft launches” after major updates. Initially, Drew and Matt shared the app with friends and family to gather feedback. Once the app matured, they expanded their outreach through in-person networking, social media, and participation in events. The integration with QuickBooks Online marked a significant milestone, driving consistent signups through the QuickBooks app store.
Marketing efforts have been diverse but modest in impact, with Drew experimenting with blogging, SEO, social media, and ads. Despite these challenges, the focus on continuous product improvement has been the cornerstone of customer retention and satisfaction. Drew believes that a great product with decent marketing ultimately outperforms a mediocre product with excellent marketing.
Earnings
HoursLogger generates approximately $850 per month in revenue with high profit margins of around 80%, given its software-based business model. Although Drew and Matt have not drawn salaries from the business, it remains a reliable source of passive income, covering operating costs and reinvestments in marketing.
Their goal for 2021 and beyond is to double the user base, reaching 200 customers in the short term and scaling to 10,000 customers long-term. To achieve this, they plan to expand their content strategy with targeted blog posts and short educational videos on consulting. HoursLogger’s steady growth trajectory underscores its potential to become a significant player in the time-tracking and invoicing space while aligning with the founders’ commitment to lifestyle-focused entrepreneurship.
Drew and Matt's journey with HoursLogger offers several valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs. First, focus on solving real problems you’ve encountered personally, as this ensures your solution has genuine value. Second, bootstrapping and maintaining lean operations can help sustain profitability even in the early stages. Third, prioritizing product quality and customer retention over aggressive marketing can lead to sustainable growth over time. Lastly, embracing a long-term vision and refining the business incrementally can lead to steady progress while maintaining a balanced work-life approach.
