Staffers select a value in the CATEGORIES picklist to classify how they’re spending their time, like consulting or paid time off. This article will show you how to access Basic Code categories, and how to create a new category.
Keep in mind that the “categories” field name is configurable in the company lexicon. So it may be called something different in your firm, such as “labor code” or “work code.”
NOTE: The Basic Categories label has been renamed to Basic Codes, which is the label this article uses.
Create Category Values
First, let’s find out how to create and edit Category values. Follow these steps:
1. Click MY COMPANY...FIELD VALUES. This will take you directly to BASIC CODES...CATEGORIES, which is where you want to be.
2. Click ADD NEW VALUE to add another value to your list. When creating a new value, you must also create a “code,” such as an abbreviation or acronym, in order to save the value.
To edit an existing value, just click on it and make your edits on the right-side of the window.
3. Add details about your new value on the right-side of the window.
NOTE: You can link the categories you create with QuickBooks.
4. Scroll down and you’ll see several billing options.
Here’s what you need to know about these options:
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- This category is non-billable: the value is associated with non-billable time, or time that’s not billed to the client, like internal meetings.
- This category is taxable: the field value is a taxable item. If you’re using the Single Invoice Rate tax style and subtotaling invoices by Category, then the line item will automatically be marked as “Taxable” if that category is marked as Taxable.
- This category is inactive (no longer used): you want BigTime to archive, but not delete, a value and the data associated with it. By doing so, the value will no longer appear in the Category picklist, so staffers won’t be able to select it. However, you can always reactivate an inactive value.
- Billing Rates will be applied at the project level. Once you add these rates, you can access them by clicking MY COMPANY...PROJECT LIST. Select a project and click RATES, found on the gray navigation bar. Under BILL RATES you’ll select a category base rate to be applied to the project.
- This category is non-billable: the value is associated with non-billable time, or time that’s not billed to the client, like internal meetings.
5. Click SAVE+NEW to save your new value. Doing so will also allow you to add more values, if you wish.
We’ll show you how to access and use these categories next.
Access Categories in Bigtime
Staffers can access and use the Categories values when they create timesheet entries. Here’s what you need to know:
Click TIME/EXPENSE…TIMESHEETS. Then, click +ADD TIMESHEET ROW. Under CATEGORY column, click the red triangle to populate the picklist. In the image below, you’ll see our newly added value called “blogger,” has populated into the Category picklist.