Buddy Punch
Buddy Punch is a bootstrapped, cloud-based time tracking and workforce management SaaS platform serving more than 10,000 U.S. small businesses with hourly workers across construction, healthcare, retail, restaurants, education, and field services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Buddy Punch does
Buddy Punch is a cloud-based time tracking and workforce management SaaS platform built for U.S. small businesses with hourly workers. Founded in 2013 by Eric Czerwonka and Nick Murphy in Appleton, Wisconsin, and bootstrapped since inception, the company reports more than 10,000 customer organizations across construction, healthcare, restaurants, retail, education, and field services. The product addresses the core "buddy punching" problem through layered accountability features including PIN, QR code, geofencing, GPS location tracking, photo-on-punch selfie capture, and Apple Face ID facial recognition. The platform is delivered via web application, native iOS and Android apps, and a shared-device kiosk mode, with a 4.8/5 average rating across G2, Capterra, and the company's own review page based on 1,600+ verified reviews.
The product surface spans three core modules (Time Tracking, Employee Scheduling, and Payroll) plus a wide set of add-ons including PTO accrual management, job costing, automatic break tracking, attendance alerts, overtime calculation, and reports. Revenue is generated through monthly Pro subscriptions and annual Enterprise subscriptions, with the Enterprise tier unlocking SAML 2.0 SSO (Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, OneLogin, Google, Apple), a closed Developer API for advanced integrations, and additional enterprise controls. Go-to-market is predominantly product-led growth with a self-serve free trial and no-credit-card onboarding, supplemented by demo requests for larger accounts and a PartnerStack-based affiliate channel paying 20% recurring commission for 12 months to accountants, bookkeepers, and consultants. Native payroll is delivered via a partnership with Check Technologies, with additional payroll data exports into QuickBooks, Gusto, and ADP.
Buddy Punch firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Buddy Punch
- Legal name
- Buddy Punch Inc
- Website
- https://buddypunch.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Buddy Punch is a bootstrapped, cloud-based time tracking and workforce management SaaS platform serving more than 10,000 U.S. small businesses with hourly workers across construction, healthcare, retail, restaurants, education, and field services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Buddy Punch industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Time Tracking Software
- NAICS
- Payroll Services (541214), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Payroll, Time & Attendance (BPACAPAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Employer Payroll Processing (SMB & Enterprise) (FSAMAKAA)
Keywords
Where Buddy Punch is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Buddy Punch business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Subscription Plans: Monthly or annual subscription revenue from Pro and Enterprise tier plans. Pricing tiers offer different feature sets including API access, SSO, and advanced capabilities at higher tiers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free trial available with no credit card required |
| Subscription | Monthly | Pro Plan |
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise Plan |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels14 records
Buddy Punch product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Buddy Punch is a cloud-based SaaS time tracking and workforce management platform that enables U.S. businesses with hourly workers to track employee hours via web, mobile, or kiosk clock-in/out. The platform unifies time tracking, employee scheduling, and payroll (built-in or via integrations with QuickBooks, Gusto, ADP, Check), augmented by accountability features such as GPS tracking, geofencing, facial recognition, and photo-on-punch verification.
Product overview
Buddy Punch is a unified cloud-based time tracking and workforce management platform for U.S. small businesses with hourly workers. The core offering consists of three integrated modules: Time Tracking (clock in/out via web, mobile, or kiosk with PIN, facial recognition, or QR code), Employee Scheduling (drag-and-drop schedule builder with automated notifications), and Payroll (built-in payroll or integration with QuickBooks, Gusto, ADP, and Check). These core modules are supplemented by add-on features including GPS Tracking, Geofencing, Photos on Punch, Facial Recognition, Job Costing, Reports, Break Tracking, PTO Tracking, and Attendance Tracking. A private Developer API (Enterprise plan) enables custom integrations and data automation. The platform is accessible via web browser, native iOS and Android apps, and time clock kiosk mode.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Time Tracking Core time clock software allowing employees to clock in and out via web browser, mobile app, or time clock kiosk using PIN, facial recognition, or QR code, with automatic timesheet generation and overtime calculation; targeted at U.S. small businesses with hourly workers.
- Employee Scheduling Drag-and-drop schedule builder enabling managers to create employee work schedules, set up recurring shifts, assign employees to different roles or locations, view employee availability, and automatically notify employees of published schedules and changes.
- Payroll Built-in payroll service and integrations with third-party payroll providers (QuickBooks, Gusto, ADP, Check) that enable time data to flow directly into payroll processing with automatic calculation of regular hours, overtime, and pay.
- Developer API Private Developer API available on the Enterprise plan enabling programmatic reading and management of employees, punches, time entries, time off, schedules, and more for custom integrations, data automation, and reporting.
Quantifiable outcome
- Deploy system for 40 employees in 2 days
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Buddy Punch
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Buddy Punch technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
AI capability2 records
Feature9 records
Buddy Punch partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- QuickBookscoreQuickBooks integration allows seamless export of time tracking data and employee information directly into QuickBooks payroll for streamlined payroll processing.
- GustocoreGusto integration enables automatic sync of time and employee data to Gusto's payroll platform for automated payroll runs.
- ADPcoreADP integration allows businesses to export time tracking data formatted for ADP payroll processing.
- Check (Check Technologies, Inc.)coreCheck provides payroll service to Buddy Punch customers as an integrated payroll processing option. Check is an unaffiliated third-party vendor. Terms apply per Check's terms of service.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Buddy Punch competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Homebase: Scheduling, time tracking, and team communication app purpose-built for hourly SMBs in restaurants, retail, and similar verticals. Closely overlaps Buddy Punch's primary customer segment and feature set.
- When I Work: Employee scheduling and time tracking for hourly and shift-based workforces. Targets the same SMB-with-hourly-workers segment with comparable scheduling and attendance functionality.
- Deputy: Workforce management platform covering scheduling, time tracking, and compliance for shift-based teams. Comparable feature set across time clock, scheduling, and payroll integrations.
- Clockify: Time tracking and timesheet software with free and paid tiers, used by small businesses and project-based teams. Competes on the same core use case of simple, low-cost time tracking.
- Hubstaff: Time tracking with GPS, geofencing, and productivity monitoring for field and remote teams. Direct overlap on GPS tracking and accountability features used to deter time theft.
- Toggl Track: Lightweight time tracking app popular with SMBs and freelancers. Competes on simplicity and cross-platform availability, though lighter on field-service features like GPS and geofencing.
- QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets): Intuit-owned time tracking app for SMBs with GPS, scheduling, and deep QuickBooks payroll integration. Directly competes with Buddy Punch on the same hourly-worker, small-business customer with similar pricing tiers.
- Connecteam: Employee app for deskless workers offering time tracking, scheduling, and communication. Targets the same hourly, mobile-first workforce that Buddy Punch prioritizes.
- Harvest: Time tracking with invoicing and team management for SMBs and agencies. Comparable on time tracking core; differentiated by tighter invoicing workflow.
Broad incumbents
- Gusto: Full-service payroll, benefits, and HR platform that integrates with Buddy Punch but also offers built-in time tracking. Larger, broader incumbent that competes for the same SMB customer wallet.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Buddy Punch social profiles
Digital presenceBuddy Punch compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Buddy Punch financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Buddy Punch leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Buddy Punch funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Buddy Punch M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Buddy Punch
What does Buddy Punch do?
Buddy Punch is a cloud-based SaaS time tracking and workforce management platform that enables U.S. businesses with hourly workers to track employee hours via web, mobile, or kiosk clock-in/out. The platform unifies time tracking, employee scheduling, and payroll (built-in or via integrations with QuickBooks, Gusto, ADP, Check), augmented by accountability features such as GPS tracking, geofencing, facial recognition, and photo-on-punch verification.
Is Buddy Punch a public or private company?
Buddy Punch is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Buddy Punch founded?
Buddy Punch was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Buddy Punch based?
Buddy Punch is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Buddy Punch make money?
One revenue line is on record: subscription Plans.
Who are Buddy Punch's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Homebase, When I Work, Deputy, Clockify, Hubstaff, Toggl Track, QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets), Connecteam and Harvest. Gusto is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Buddy Punch have an API?
Yes. Buddy Punch offers a private/closed Developer API served from api2.buddypunch.com. It requires special access — only Administrators on Enterprise plan accounts can request approval. The API enables integration for advanced data automation and custom reporting related to employee time tracking, including managing employees, punches, time entries, time off, schedules, and more. Developers subscribe via the Buddy Punch Developer Portal (developers.buddypunch.com), authenticate using subscription keys, and can grant per-resource Read and/or Write permissions. Full API documentation including endpoints, authentication, code examples (curl, Node.js, Python, C#), rate limits, pagination, error reference, idempotency, and webhooks is available at api2.buddypunch.com/docs/. Developer documentation is at api2.buddypunch.com/docs.
What industry is Buddy Punch in?
Buddy Punch's product category is Time Tracking Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAPAB, Payroll, Time & Attendance, with a secondary code of FSAMAKAA, Employer Payroll Processing (SMB & Enterprise). Its NAICS code is 541214.