Time is money:

1daylater is hoping to change the face of onerous timesheets. Its innovative timesheet does not just include time logs but also journey miles and expenses, allowing users to insert all their information into one easy-to-use database.

The idea was dreamt up by David King who, when working as a freelance, couldn’t believe how basic and restrictive many off-the-shelf timesheets were. He used timesheets which only enabled him to enter his hours, which meant he had pieces of paper everywhere for expenses and travel, which could often be misplaced. David wanted to provide a timesheet to workers that would allow them to input all their expenses and hours into one smart system to generate an invoice at the end of the month that would incorporate all these different elements. As a computer programmer David began to build a new timesheet integrating all of these factors. To help turn the idea into a reality, David teamed up with his brother Paul, who has also encountered similar problems when he was a freelancer, and who bought into the new system immediately.

With his technical background David had no problems rising to the challenge of creating a more user friendly timesheet that contained the values that workers needed in order to bill their work correctly.

Both of the brothers had started University but had left as they felt it was too structured for their creative ways of working. However, when 1daylater needed help to grow from an idea to a company the brothers had no hesitation in applying to the DigitalCity Fellowship for its renowned programme for start ups.

Time to grow:

1daylater started its six month DigitalCity Fellowship in February 2009 and after six months completed the programme in October.

Paul King said: “The IDI was a great help to David and I. Although we could research the wants and needs of freelancers and companies that bill their services based on hours, we really struggled with the finance and marketing side of the business. The workshops that IDI has provided us with help us to develop the idea into a valid company.”

David adds: “The IDI recognised that we had a great idea, but we didn’t have the know-how to turn it into a business. The people that we met and worked with at IDI were great. The whole experience was incredibly inspirational and provided us with great advice; for us the best outcome was the fantastic mentorship which has really, helped drive us and the business forward.”

Clocking up successes:

1daylater is currently in the beta testing phase of development and the King brothers are hoping to launch it in early 2010. Currently the beta testing has seen xx businesses sign up to use the timesheets and offer feedback to Paul and David. A local North East company, Codeworks, which is also taking part in the trial, will provide the company with feedback that will ensure it has everything users need when they are ready to launch it to a mass business market.

The company has just been awarded £7,500 from Kingpin Intelligence Marketing to market the product to media companies.

Initially the software will be marketed to small businesses employing around 10 employees however, as they continue to receive feedback and develop the website it is hoped that it will be desirable to organisations of all sizes that bill by the hour.

one day later from Loday Gonpo on Vimeo.