Free Marketing Consultant Timesheet Template
Marketing consultants often juggle strategy, campaign execution, and reporting across multiple clients, making clean time records essential for accurate billing. Whether working on a monthly retainer or a project basis, a timesheet documents how hours are distributed across activities and gives clients visibility into the value being delivered. It also provides data for reviewing retainer scope at renewal.
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What does a marketing consultant record on a timesheet?
A marketing consultant timesheet tracks hours by client, campaign, or channel, with the date, the task, and the time spent. Note the client, whether the work was strategy, content, or reporting, and the campaign it relates to. Clear entries support both retainer and project invoices and show where the month went.
Typical line items
- Date of work
- Client and campaign reference
- Channel or workstream
- Task description
- Hours worked
- Billable or non-billable flag
- Hourly or retainer rate
- Running total for the period
How the work is charged
Marketing consultants often work on a monthly retainer but log hours to show the retainer was used and bill any work beyond the agreed scope by the hour. Campaign and reporting tasks are usually recorded separately.
Payment terms and deposits
A timesheet supports an invoice rather than collecting payment itself. Retainers are commonly billed monthly with overage on top, so keep entries dated and tied to the campaign for the client to review.
Tax and compliance
If you are registered for sales tax or VAT, that applies on the invoice the timesheet supports, not the timesheet itself. Confirm the rules where you work.
Frequently asked questions
How do I track time when I am managing contractors or agencies on behalf of a client?
Your time managing contractors is billable as project management. Record it separately from the actual deliverable work. Contractor costs are usually passed through as expenses rather than time, so keep the two categories clearly separated on your timesheet and invoice.
Should I track time spent on tools like scheduling platforms or analytics dashboards?
Yes. Time spent setting up tools, configuring integrations, pulling reports, and monitoring campaign performance is billable. Describe each entry specifically, for example 'Google Analytics audit and conversion tracking setup' rather than 'analytics work'.
How do I handle a month where a client asked for significantly more work than the retainer covers?
Your timesheet is your evidence. Show the client the full hours logged versus the retainer allowance and invoice the overage at your agreed hourly rate. This conversation is much easier when records are contemporaneous rather than reconstructed at month end.
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Read the complete timesheet guide to see how to log hours and turn a tracked timesheet into an invoice.
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