No one actually likes filling out a timesheet. No one.
And yet, for decades, we’ve built entire business models around a process that’s flawed from the start. It’s inaccurate. It’s inconsistent. It’s based on memory. And half the time, it’s a guess.
The problem isn’t just that timesheets are annoying. It’s that they’re bad data. And bad data leads to bad management decisions, bad pricing and bad culture.
But what if we could fix that without forcing anyone to fill out another spreadsheet from memory?
That’s exactly what Laurel is doing. AI can finally take the pain out of timesheets, making it easy for firms to rethink what they’re really measuring.
Automating the “Ugh” Out of Timesheets
Laurel’s AI captures your digital work automatically — emails, meetings, documents, projects — and organizes it into accurate, real-time data. It frees people from the mental gymnastics of reconstructing their week.
Accountants lose hours every month trying to remember what they worked on. Laurel gives that time back. The result? More accurate data, less frustration and a clearer picture of how your team actually spends its time.
When their users forget to log about 30 minutes of billable work a day. That’s not just lost time, it’s lost value.
Why Accurate Data Matters More Than Ever
I’ve been anti-timesheet for years, but there’s something valuable in the data. When that data’s accurate, it can transform how you price, plan and lead.
Plus, not every 15 minutes is created equal. The 15 minutes spent solving a client’s problem is worth far more than 15 minutes waiting for QuickBooks to load. But traditional timesheets treat them the same.
AI fixes that. Laurel captures the real story of your work, the value behind the minutes. With clean data, firms can finally move away from tracking hours and toward pricing on outcomes.
That’s the shift the profession’s been waiting for.
From Time Sheets to Time Freedom
Studies show the average knowledge worker spends nine hours a day “working,” but only three of those hours actually create leverage or impact. AI can help reclaim the other six. Think about how you could use that time? You could focus on deep work, strategic thinking or even just being present at home.
That’s not automation replacing people. That’s automation restoring balance.
The Radical Takeaway
Firms were built around timesheets because we thought that was the only way to measure productivity. It’s not. AI gives us a better way. One that’s faster, fairer and more human.
So no, I’m not saying bring timesheets back. I’m saying if you’re still stuck in that old way of managing, this is your halfway step out.
Use the data. Trust the tech. Then use what you learn to finally price on value, not hours.
Because honestly, accountants, we don’t have time for this sheet.
About Laurel’s “No Time for This Sheet” Campaign
If you’ve seen the billboards popping up in a few cities across the country, you already know: Laurel’s not just automating timesheets — they’re starting a movement.
Their “No Time for This Sheet” campaign says out loud what every accountant has quietly thought for years. It’s funny, it’s bold and it’s a perfect reflection of where the profession is headed.
Because we really don’t have time for this sheet — literally or figuratively. AI’s ready to take it off our plates. And the faster we let it, the more time we’ll have to focus on the work (and life) that actually matters.
