Help Center

Open the Timer tab, select the matter you're working on, and hit Start. BillZero timestamps the start and runs a live counter.

When you're done, click Stop. You'll be prompted to add a description before the entry saves. The elapsed time is recorded to the nearest minute.

Yes. In the Timer tab, select a matter and click Add Manually. Enter the date, hours and minutes, and a description. This is useful for logging work done offline or reconstructing billable time from notes.

Yes. Go to the Time Entries section, find the entry, and click the edit (pencil) icon. You can change the date, duration, matter assignment, description, and billing rate.

The timer keeps running. BillZero does not auto-stop or auto-save timers. When you return, you'll see the full elapsed time and can stop it normally.

If you need to correct the duration, stop the timer then edit the entry to set the accurate time. Billing is only created when you stop and save — the running timer doesn't affect invoices.

BillZero runs one active timer at a time, which covers most solo practitioner workflows. For parallel billing, use manual entries: start a timer for the primary matter, and add the secondary matter's time manually when you're done.

BillZero uses a four-level rate hierarchy. The highest-priority rate set for a time entry is always used:

1. Entry-level override (highest priority) — set the Rate Override field on a specific time entry. Useful for pro bono ($0), discounted work, or one-off exceptions.
2. Timekeeper default rate — the hourly rate on the timekeeper's profile (set in Settings → Timekeepers). Used when no entry override is set.
3. Matter rate — an override set on the matter itself. Used when no timekeeper rate applies.
4. Client default rate (fallback) — the attorney or paralegal rate set on the client record. Used when nothing above is set.

In practice: set your standard rate on each timekeeper's profile, leave the override blank for normal work, and only fill in the override when this specific entry is billed differently.

Go to Timekeepers in the sidebar. Click Add Timekeeper, enter your name (or the attorney's name), role (e.g., Partner, Associate, Paralegal), and hourly rate. This becomes the default rate for all time logged by that timekeeper.

Yes. When editing a matter, you can set a billing rate override specific to that matter. When BillZero generates an invoice for that matter, it uses the override rate instead of the timekeeper's default rate.

This is useful for flat-fee clients, discounted rates, or contingency matters where you still want to track time at a different reference rate.

Invoices pull all unbilled time entries for a matter within your selected date range. For each entry: hours × rate = line item amount. The invoice subtotal is the sum of all line items.

You can add expenses, discounts, or a flat fee line item before generating the final PDF.

Yes. Add each billing professional as a separate timekeeper with their own hourly rate. When logging time, select the appropriate timekeeper — the invoice will show the correct rate per person and break out the totals.

BillZero is built around hourly billing. For contingency matters, most attorneys use BillZero to track time at their standard rate (for internal records and potential fee-shifting arguments) but bill the client based on settlement outcome rather than the invoice total.

You can generate an invoice and simply mark it as "for internal tracking only" — it won't be sent unless you choose to.

Yes. Set the Rate Override to $0 on any time entry or matter. BillZero will generate a complete invoice showing all work performed with a $0 total — documenting the services rendered at no charge.

This is useful for:

• Tax documentation — pro bono contributions may qualify for deductions; a dated invoice creates a formal record.
• Client relationships — a professional invoice demonstrates the value of the work even when no fee is charged.
• Bar reporting — many bar associations require annual pro bono hour tracking; BillZero time entries serve as your audit trail.

The Rate Override field is available when logging time manually, editing a time entry, or setting a matter-level override. A $0 rate on a matter applies to all entries on that matter unless overridden at the entry level.

BillZero accepts UTF-8 encoded CSV files. The first row must be a header row. Column names are flexible — the importer maps common header variations automatically (e.g., "Client Name", "client_name", and "ClientName" all work).

For best results, download the template from the Import section — it has the exact column structure with sample data.

For client imports, the minimum required column is client name. Optional columns include contact email, phone, and address. Rows with blank client names are skipped.

In the Import section, choose the Matters import type. Required columns are matter name and client name (must match an existing client exactly). Optional columns include billing rate override and matter description.

If a client name in the CSV doesn't match an existing client, that row will be flagged in the import summary — you can create the missing client first and re-import, or the importer will offer to create clients automatically.

Select the Timekeepers import type. Required columns: name and hourly rate. Optional: role (Partner, Associate, Paralegal, etc.).

Duplicate names will prompt you to confirm before overwriting the existing timekeeper's rate.

Most import failures come from one of these:

• Wrong file encoding — save your file as UTF-8 (not UTF-16 or Windows-1252). In Excel: File → Save As → CSV UTF-8.
• Missing required columns — check the template header names match yours.
• Numeric formatting — billing rates should be plain numbers (e.g., 350), not formatted with dollar signs or commas (e.g., $350.00).
• Blank rows — extra blank rows at the bottom of the file are safe to delete.

The import summary will show which rows succeeded and which failed, with a reason for each failure.

BillZero generates clean, professional PDF invoices with:

• Your firm name and logo (if uploaded)
• Client name and matter description
• Itemized time entries with dates, descriptions, hours, and rates
• Subtotal, any adjustments, and total due
• Invoice number and date

The layout is designed to be appropriate for legal billing — clean, legible, and professional without unnecessary decoration.

Yes. Go to your Account settings and upload your firm logo under Firm Branding. Accepted formats: PNG or JPG, recommended size 400×120px or similar horizontal proportions. The logo appears at the top of every generated invoice.

In Account settings under Firm Profile, you can add your firm's full name, address, phone, and email. These appear in the invoice header alongside your logo. Full custom letterhead HTML is not currently supported, but standard contact block customization covers most firm needs.

Yes. When generating an invoice, you can set a due date, add payment terms (e.g., "Net 30"), and include a free-text notes field that appears at the bottom of the invoice — useful for payment instructions, trust account details, or case notes.

Open the invoice from the Invoices section and click Mark as Paid. Enter the payment date and optionally a reference/check number. Paid invoices are archived and won't appear in outstanding balance calculations.

Yes. BillZero uses industry-standard security practices:

• Encryption in transit — all data is transmitted over HTTPS/TLS.
• Encrypted passwords — passwords are hashed with bcrypt and never stored in plain text.
• Isolated data — each account's data is scoped to authenticated sessions; no cross-account access is possible through the application layer.
• Hosted on Render — infrastructure runs on SOC 2 compliant cloud hosting with automated backups.

Only you — authenticated with your email and password. BillZero does not share, sell, or provide access to your billing data to any third party. Internal staff may access data in aggregate for support purposes only, and only with your explicit request.

BillZero is designed to support attorney confidentiality obligations. Your client data remains in your account, is not indexed or disclosed, and is accessible only via authenticated sessions you control.

We recommend reviewing your jurisdiction's ethics rules on cloud-based practice management software. Most state bars have approved the use of properly secured cloud tools for client data — BillZero uses the same infrastructure tier as other legal SaaS products.

Your data is retained for the duration of your active subscription plus 90 days after cancellation. During the 90-day window, you can export your data or reactivate your account. After 90 days, data is permanently deleted.

We strongly recommend exporting your data before cancelling if you need long-term records for a client matter or audit.

Yes. From your Account settings, you can export your time entries, client list, and matters as CSV files at any time. Invoice PDFs can be downloaded individually from the Invoices section.

BillZero is $49/month, flat. No per-user fees, no invoice caps, no percentage of billings. Unlimited clients, matters, time entries, and invoices.

Subscriptions are monthly, billed on the same date each month. Payment is processed securely via Stripe. You'll receive an emailed receipt for each billing cycle.

You can cancel at any time from your Account settings — your access continues through the end of the paid period.

BillZero accepts all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) via Stripe's secure checkout. ACH bank transfers are not currently supported.

Go to Account → Subscription and click Cancel Plan. Your subscription will remain active until the end of your current billing period. No prorated refunds are issued for mid-cycle cancellations.

You can create an account and explore the app without a subscription. Core billing features (invoice generation, PDF export) require an active subscription. There is no time-limited free trial — create an account to see the interface before subscribing.

On the login page, click Forgot your password? Enter your email address and we'll send a password reset link. The link is valid for one hour and can only be used once.

Check your spam folder if you don't see the email within a few minutes.

Go to Account settings. Under Profile, update your email address and save. You'll need to confirm your current password to make the change. Your new email becomes your login credential immediately.

Go to the Sign In page and click Forgot your password? to receive a reset link by email. Click the link, choose a new password (minimum 8 characters), and you're all set. All existing sessions are logged out automatically for security.

Email support@billzero.com with your account email and a deletion request. We'll confirm, cancel any active subscription, and permanently delete your data within 5 business days. Export your data first — deletion is irreversible.

Use the Forgot Password flow to reset via email. If you no longer have access to your account email, contact support@billzero.com with proof of account ownership (e.g., last billing receipt) and we'll help recover access.