Name of your website?Agency Timesheets
Your name?
Dan Boresjo
Your Location (city, etc)
Reading
Please give us a short summary of your website?
The site hosts an internet service for recruitment agencies in the UK. We provide online timesheet and invoice processing purpose built for those contractors that operate via a limited company rather than as employees operating PAYE.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
Having been an IT contractor for many years, I found it strange that almost all agencies in the UK operate paper-based timesheet and invoice processing.
The only agency I know of that operates electronic timesheets already, does so via a system they built themselves in-house. Most smaller agencies could not afford to do this, and I wanted to bring the benefits of electronic processing to them at a fraction of that cost.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
Back in 2004, having observed the habit of people on the internet was to be reluctant to give out their email address, for fear of encouraging spam. I felt this was harmful as it makes people very much less contactable, as in fact people miss out on a lot of opportunities that way.
So I came up with the concept of a 'public email address', that you need not fear revealing, as the gateway service there stops spam before forwarding legitimate mail to your private email address.
This had the advantage of being compatible with any of the email services, so you don't need to change provider or install anything.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
I just picked the obvious. Later on we can invest in a trademark and logo but for now the focus is on selling the service to our first prospects.
What makes your website different from other, similar offerings?
I think it is the focus on a very specific niche. There are plenty of systems out there which are designed for single organisations with in-house employees, operating PAYE payroll.
In our target sector, administration is spread across three organisational entities. There is an invoice trader providing the service, and timesheet approvals coming from a different business than the person filling in those timesheets.
It is getting these details right, and keeping things simple so there is no expensive training of users required, that makes the difference.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
I think there is an opportunity here to raise the standard across the industry and that is our goal.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
It's too early to say yet.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
Not technically. I think a professional logo and more graphics in general.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Yes.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
Well it took a little longer to write than expected, but that is not unusual for software projects.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Learning to sell. I am technical guy really so selling is well outside my ordinary comfort zone.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
This sector is so specific that cold-calling is really important.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
So far it's all pretty straightforward.
How long have you run the site already, and how long will yup if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
It's been going for a week now, and I will give it several months really
What is your website address?
Agency Timesheets