Realization Rate

Realization rate is the share of billable work that is actually invoiced and paid. It compares what you billed against what you could have billed, revealing revenue lost between doing the work and collecting for it.

How it is calculated

Divide the value billed by the value of the billable hours recorded:

  • Record 100 billable hours at 100 per hour, and you could bill 10,000.
  • If discounts and write-downs mean you invoice 8,500, realization is 8,500 / 10,000 = 85%.

The gap is revenue that was earned but never collected.

Realization vs utilization

Utilization rate asks how much of someone's time was billable. Realization asks how much of that billable value you actually captured. A team can be busy (high utilization) yet still lose money to weak realization, so the two are best read together.

How Sandtime.io fits

Realization starts with an honest record of billable time. Sandtime.io captures billable hours and rates as work happens, so the value you could bill is clear before discounts, and the revenue you actually collect is easier to protect.

Realization rate is read alongside utilization rate, builds on recorded billable hours, and directly affects revenue.

Related Terms

Explore other time tracking and workforce management definitions.

Utilization Rate

The percentage of available work hours spent on billable activities. A key metric for professional services profitability.

Read more →

Effective Rate

What you actually earn per hour once non-billable time is spread across your billable hours. It turns a headline rate into the real return on every hour worked.

Read more →

Billable Hours

Work hours that can be charged to a client or project. Essential for professional services firms to track revenue.

Read more →

Revenue

Income generated from billable work. Calculated by multiplying billable hours by revenue rates.

Read more →