How can we reduce non-billable hours?
Andrew Ramirez
Published Feb 14, 2026
Here are some ways to reduce the percentage of non-billable hours in your business, so you can bid more competitively and earn higher profits.
- Communicate and Plan at the End of Every Day.
- Job Planners.
- Include Loading and Driving Hours in Your Estimated Hours for Jobs and Tasks.
- Stocked, Organized Trailers.
What are the two types of non-billable hours?
Non-billable hours are hours that a law firm’s client should not pay for. These include truly wise time investments such as continuing legal education, networking, and rainmaking, for example. Non-billable hours also include timekeeping (ouch), other administrative functions, and errands, for example.
Are non-billable hours paid?
Non-billable hours refers to the time you spend at work engaged in non-money making activities. When you spend time on activities that don’t directly make money, you still need to get compensated for your time.
How do I make billable hours?
The standard process for calculating billable hours looks something like this.
- Set an hourly rate.
- Track every billable hour on a timesheet.
- Add up your billable hours.
- Multiply total billable hours by billing rate.
- Add fees or taxes to the client’s invoice.
How can I improve my billable hours?
How To Increase Billable Hours
- Track Time in Real Time. So often, timekeepers submit their time at the end of the month, weeks after the actual work has been completed.
- Make the Timekeeping Process More Efficient.
- Analyze Reductions & Non-Billable Time.
- Set Expectations.
How many hours should be billable?
Firms “average,” “target” or “minimum” stated billables typically range between 1700 and 2300, although informal networks often quote much higher numbers.
What counts as non-billable hours?
Non-billable hours represent everything you do at work that can’t be billed or expensed to a client. They’re costs swallowed by your business that enable it to function and continue. Common examples of non-billable time includes: Bids, proposals and pitches for new business.
What’s the difference between billable and non billable hours?
Billable versus non-billable hours If a client is paying you per hour, any work you do on their behalf is considered billable. Any work you do for yourself, your business, or your team—unrelated to the client—is non-billable. Depending on your industry, here are a few tasks that may count as billable hours.
Do you have to record your non billable hours?
One requirement both might face is recording their non-billable hours to get paid for all the time they’re at work. Billable hours are tied to the client. But their employer must pay for all working hours (including non-billable hours) they spend on other tasks. If the employee is hourly, they must keep track of billable and non-billable hours.
What do you need to know about business tax deductions?
According to the IRS, business expenses must be both ordinary and necessary to be considered deductible. The purpose of tax deductions is to reduce the overall total income that is subject to federal and state-imposed taxation. How do business tax deductions work?
What’s the best way to calculate billable hours?
Billable hours: 1 Spend an hour going over a client’s account, in preparation for an in-person meeting. 2 Meet with the client from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. 3 Compile your notes for 30 minutes, and send a follow-up email to the client, outlining the next steps. 4 Respond to client questions for 15 minutes about the follow-up email.