Spectrum Research

What Spectrum Research does

Spectrum Research, Inc. is a privately held software company founded in 2004 and headquartered in Fairview, Tennessee. The company's flagship product, Spectrum TimeClock, is a web-based employee time-and-attendance application hosted on company servers in a secure data center with diesel backup power, supporting multiple locations across time zones, biometric and barcode punching, and complex payroll calculations including California overtime, double-time, the 7th day rule, Colorado overtime, and Chinese/fluctuating hours. The platform is built on a Microsoft SQL, ASP, HTML, DHTML, JavaScript, ASP/VBScript, C, C++, and C#/.NET stack, with the company's proprietary ParaCoder code generator reportedly producing 85-90% of ASP/SQL/HTML code for database applications.

The company also markets Fitness Club Management Software (originally a custom C# .NET POS and membership system built for a Tennessee county government), a Time Card Calculator for paper timesheet processing, and resells SecuGen Hamster Plus fingerprint readers plus Calculated Industries specialty calculators (ElectriCalc Pro, ConcreteCalc Pro, Ultra Measure Master) as accessories. A patent-pending Workplace Communication System with chain-of-command messaging and an optional Vacation/Sick Time Accrual module extend the platform surface beyond time tracking.

Revenue is generated through monthly/quarterly/annual pay-as-you-go web software subscriptions with no contract requirement, a free 30-day trial for up to 15 employees, optional add-on module fees, custom software and web development services in Nashville, and one-time hardware sales. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the company website, with shipping limited to the USA and international orders not accepted. No external funding, M&A activity, or parent company ownership is disclosed, indicating a bootstrapped, founder-controlled operating model.

Name

Spectrum Research

Legal name

Spectrum Research, Inc.

Website

https://spectrum-research.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Spectrum Research is a privately held Tennessee software company that develops Spectrum TimeClock, a web-based employee time-and-attendance platform with biometric and complex multi-jurisdiction payroll features, serving small and mid-sized US businesses alongside fitness club and custom development offerings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Spectrum TimeClock Subscription: Web-based time clock software offered on a subscription basis with monthly, quarterly, or annual billing. Pay-as-you-go with no contract required. Includes free trial for up to 15 employees.
2. Optional Modules and Add-ons: Additional revenue from optional vacation and sick time accrual module with setup and support fees. Biometric fingerprint reader hardware sold separately.
3. Custom Software Development: Custom software development services in Nashville for large projects using Microsoft SQL, ASP, HTML, JavaScript, C, C++, C# and other languages.
4. Hardware Product Sales: One-time sales of SecuGen Hamster Plus fingerprint reader at $79.00. Calculators sold include ElectriCalc Pro ($89.95), ConcreteCalc Pro ($59.95), and Ultra Measure Master ($39.95).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Spectrum Research sells web-based employee time and attendance tracking software (Spectrum TimeClock) on a subscription basis, with optional biometric fingerprint verification, multi-location multi-timezone support, and complex overtime/payroll calculation engines including California and Colorado overtime rules. The company also offers a desktop and ASP Fitness Club Management Software suite, custom software and website development services, and resells SecuGen fingerprint readers and Calculated Industries specialty calculators (ElectriCalc Pro, ConcreteCalc Pro, Ultra Measure Master) as accessories.

Product overview

Spectrum Research offers a portfolio of time and attendance software products centered around Spectrum TimeClock, a web-based time clock solution with supporting modules and hardware accessories. The core platform is complemented by ParaCoder, an AI-powered automated code generator used internally to build applications. The company also sells fitness club management software and offers custom software and web development services. Hardware accessories include SecuGen biometric fingerprint readers and Calculated Industries calculators (ElectriCalc Pro, ConcreteCalc Pro, Ultra Measure Master). Free web-based tools include barcode generators, time conversion tables, and educational resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Spectrum TimeClock: Web-based time clock software for employee time and attendance tracking with biometric options
• ParaCoder
• BioNetick
• Fitness Club Management Software

Products and services

• Spectrum TimeClock

Quantifiable outcome

• Companies with 50 employees could save more than $2,500 from paid time saved by payroll personnel and another $50,000 per year through elimination of payroll errors (American Payroll Association estimates)

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SecuGen CorporationcoreTechnology or IntegrationSecuGen is a technology partner providing the Hamster Plus 500 DPI optical fingerprint reader used with Spectrum Research's BioNetick biometric module. The partnership enables biometric time clock functionality with Auto-On feature and 0.0% false acceptance/rejection rates. SecuGen is a member of the BioAPI Consortium.
• Calculated IndustriescoreTechnology or IntegrationCalculated Industries manufactures specialized calculators (ElectriCalc Pro, ConcreteCalc Pro, Ultra Measure Master) that Spectrum Research resells as accessories to their time tracking software customers in the construction and professional trades markets.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• UKG (Kronos): Enterprise workforce management incumbent offering time and attendance, scheduling, and HR. Overlaps in time tracking but targets much larger organizations.
• Justworks: HR, payroll, and benefits platform for SMBs with time tracking capabilities. Competes for the same small-business employer wallet with broader offerings.
• Paychex: Large payroll and HR provider with time tracking add-ons. Overlaps in time-and-attendance but as part of a broader payroll/benefits portfolio.
• Gusto: SMB-focused payroll, HR, and benefits platform with an integrated time tracking tool. Comparable target market and bundling approach.

Direct peers

• Homebase: Free/low-cost time clock, scheduling, and team communication for small businesses. Direct overlap in the SMB hourly workforce time-tracking category.
• Toggl Track: Web and mobile time tracking with payroll/HR integrations and a free tier. Comparable subscription pricing structure and SMB-friendly onboarding.
• Clockify: Time tracker with web and mobile apps targeting SMBs and freelancers. Comparable on web-based time tracking, payroll-ready exports, and free-tier go-to-market.
• When I Work: SMB-focused employee scheduling and time tracking platform with mobile apps. Comparable on target customer (small business hourly workforce) and subscription pricing model.
• Deputy: Scheduling, time tracking, and workforce management for shift-based SMBs. Comparable on time clock functionality, multi-location support, and payroll integrations.
• TSheets (QuickBooks Time): Direct SMB time-tracking competitor offering web and mobile time clocks, GPS tracking, and payroll integrations. Most comparable on core product category and SMB customer overlap.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/esker-software-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Spectrum Research