Topic: Now...this is just a 'toe in the water' kinda thing...

I'm currently out of work, and as such, money becomes a struggle to get a hold of.

I've been doing quite a bit of programming in PHP lately, and an idea came to mind last night about being able to write a PHP based web-app that acts as a time sheet, allowing you to enter your current project, how long you spend on each file, and have it spit out the calculations for the bill and a properly formatted invoice for the client. There is also a longin page where the client can log in and access the info on thier project, and see what their mounting bill is up to and estimated time until completion.

So I'd like to know...would you be willing to pay for something like this?

Honestly, no.
I would have no reason to pay for something like this as prexisting software exists in many forms for free to handle billing. The other issue would be that I really wouldn't want the client to know exactly what and when I am working on their project, nor where I am with it, as long as it gets done when I tell them it will be done, that is what matters to me.

If you were going to make such a web ap for web designers / developers it would have to be a part of a package that really makes sence for them. Maybe say an application that not only does the billing but also handles the prototyping process, allowing access via a secure connection, then handles the development process with a "SNAP SHOT" type capability. It would need a couple of other tools as well. In order to sell something like this to me, it would have to make what I do now easier, not harder, nor more complex.


Me

Not every one might but imagine a web page where any person who provides a service for an hourly rate can setup a custom section for their business and their customers can check in at anytime to see what teh total is as well as what the progress may be at. It gives the customers a little sense of control. You can link it up with Paypal or something so the customer can pay it right their. It could be from someone mowing lawns for their neighbors to large service company. For larger companies you could package it to be ported to their own server and web page and for smaller companies or individuals they can log into your site and maybe have some customization to add logos and such and make it part of their identity.

I think it is a great idea and wish it was mine or that I had the know how to pull it off.

I helped in the development of a ColdFusion (ugh, I know) web application for a PowerBuilder system doing that very thing. We spent months in production. The project was started in '97 in PowerBuilder, and the web access was added in '01. As of right now, they've still not sold a copy.

Granted, they priced it *way* over market value, and hyped it to nearly no one, but the fact remains that most companies already have systems in place for this sort of thing. It'd be handy for you (and I'd encourage you to use your own systems in putting out invoices, etc), but I doubt anyone with money would buy it. Not because it's not worth the coin, but because of the old addage, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Most companies already have something that isn't broken.