Billable Hours vs. Hours Worked

In the dynamic world of advertising agencies, it is crucial to understand the distinction between billable hours and hours worked. Billable hours encompass the total time an employee dedicates to their tasks, encompassing both billable and non-billable activities. These activities may include client meetings, brainstorming sessions, research, administrative work, and other essential responsibilities that contribute to the overall success of the agency.

On the other hand, hours worked solely refers to the specific duration an employee spends on billable tasks that can be invoiced to clients. These billable hours directly correlate to the services provided to clients, such as creating captivating ad campaigns, developing strategic marketing plans, executing PR initiatives, and delivering exceptional results that align with the clients' objectives.

Understanding the difference between billable hours and hours worked is vital for juniors in the advertising industry. It allows them to grasp the concept of time management, resource allocation, and the financial aspect of agency operations. By comprehending this distinction, juniors can better appreciate the value of their contributions to the agency's success and the importance of accurately tracking their time spent on various tasks.

Moreover, this understanding enables juniors to effectively communicate with clients and internal teams, as they can provide transparent and detailed reports on the billable hours invested in each project. This transparency fosters trust and strengthens relationships with clients, as they can clearly see the tangible efforts and dedication put forth by the agency.

In summary, the comparison between billable hours and hours worked is a fundamental concept in the advertising industry. It encompasses the total time an employee devotes to their responsibilities, both billable and non-billable, and the specific duration spent on billable tasks that can be invoiced to clients. By grasping this distinction, juniors in advertising agencies can enhance their understanding of time management, financial aspects, and effectively communicate their contributions to clients and internal teams.

Related terms

Allfred guides your agency’s financial process

Increase agency profitability by up to 30% with all‑in‑one integrations

Allfred’s connected data and analytics capabilities enable agency owners to make data‑informed decisions, leading to better client satisfaction and successful campaigns.

  • Seamless budget, finance, billing & reporting management
  • Simple CRM for employees, clients and contractors
  • Easily scalable for business growth

Learn about:

BudgetingFinance & Reporting
Budgeting visual

Get complete control of your invoicing

Automatically plan and track invoiced amounts and be confident nothing is left unpaid.

Control of your invoicing visual

Analyse profit per project, client or even an employee

Breakdown your project’s profit and get insights into top performers.

Profit visual

Is Allfred the right fit for your agency?

Try for free for a week. No strings attached. No prepayment needed.

Tailor made icon

Tailor made

for advertising

Reliable icon

Reliable

99.9% uptime

Secure icon

Secure

Corporate grade encryption

Device icon

Support

24/7

Helpful icon

Onboarding

Assistance