Hour Timesheet vs Deltek Costpoint: DCAA Compliance Without the Enterprise Price Tag
Both are DCAA compliant. One costs $8-14/user/month (+ $40 base with payroll). The other starts at $50,000+. Here's when each makes sense.
Quick Verdict
Choose Hour Timesheet if:
- You're a small to mid-size government contractor (up to 250-350 employees)
- You need DCAA compliance without massive IT overhead
- Budget is a major concern (under $50K for software)
- You need to be live in days, not months
Choose Deltek Costpoint if:
- You're a large defense contractor (500-1,000+ employees)
- You need a full ERP system with complex project accounting
- You manage multiple contract types (FFP, T&M, CPFF, etc.)
- You have dedicated IT staff and enterprise budget
Bottom Line:
For small government contractors: Hour Timesheet delivers DCAA compliance at 1% of Deltek's cost with setup measured in days, not months. For large defense primes: Deltek's comprehensive ERP capabilities justify the enterprise investment.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Hour Timesheet | Deltek Costpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $8-14/user/month (+ $40 base with payroll) | $50K+ implementation |
| DCAA compliant | ||
| Implementation time | 1-3 days | 6-12 months |
| Time tracking | ||
| Expense management | ||
| Full ERP system | ||
| Project accounting | Basic | Advanced |
| Contract management | ||
| IT requirements | None (cloud-based) | Dedicated IT staff |
| Learning curve | Minimal (hours) | Steep (weeks) |
| Best for | Small contractors | Large enterprises |
Pricing Reality Check: The True Cost Difference
Total Cost of Ownership Comparison
Hour Timesheet (20-person team)
Live in 1-3 days. Zero ongoing IT costs.
Deltek Costpoint (20-person team)
Implementation: 6-12 months. Requires dedicated IT staff.
Cost Difference for Small Contractors:
Save $103,000+ in Year 1
For a 20-person team, Hour Timesheet costs 98% less than Deltek Costpoint—while still delivering full DCAA compliance.
Implementation: Days vs. Months
Hour Timesheet: Live in 1-3 Days
Day 1: Setup (2 hours)
Create account, add users, configure projects/contracts. Everything is self-service.
Day 2: Training (1 hour)
Quick team walkthrough. Interface is intuitive—most users need less than 30 minutes.
Day 3: Go Live
Team starts tracking time. DCAA compliant from day one.
Total time investment: 3 hours
No consultants. No IT team. No project plan.
Deltek Costpoint: 6-12 Month Project
Months 1-2: Requirements & Design
Consultants map your business processes, configure ERP modules, design workflows.
Months 3-6: Implementation
Data migration, system configuration, integration testing, user acceptance testing.
Months 7-9: Training & Rollout
Department-by-department training, phased go-live, troubleshooting.
Months 10-12: Stabilization
Post-launch support, process refinement, optimization.
Total time investment: 6-12 months
Requires consultants, dedicated IT team, project manager.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hour Timesheet really DCAA compliant?
Yes. Hour Timesheet meets all DCAA timekeeping requirements: daily entry, audit trails, supervisor approval, project segregation, and change logs. We've supported successful DCAA audits for hundreds of government contractors.
When should I choose Deltek over Hour Timesheet?
If you're a large enterprise contractor (500-1,000+ employees) with complex project accounting needs, multiple contract types, and dedicated IT staff, Deltek's full ERP capabilities are worth the investment. For small to mid-size contractors (up to 350 employees), Hour Timesheet delivers compliance at 1% of the cost.
Can Hour Timesheet scale as we grow?
Yes, Hour Timesheet scales effectively up to 350+ employees. Many of our customers have 250-350 employees and use Hour Timesheet successfully. Beyond 500+ employees with complex multi-division operations, you may benefit from Deltek's advanced project accounting features. But most contractors operate well within Hour Timesheet's range—and if you do outgrow it, migration is straightforward.
What if we need help during a DCAA audit?
Call us: 1-888-780-9961. We'll generate audit-ready reports, walk you through DCAA requirements, and provide documentation showing Hour Timesheet meets all compliance standards. We've helped hundreds of contractors through audits successfully.
How long does Hour Timesheet implementation actually take?
Most teams are tracking time within 24 hours. Setup takes 1-2 hours (create account, add users, configure projects). Training takes 30 minutes. You're DCAA compliant from day one—no consultants, no IT team, no project plan required.
The Bottom Line
For small government contractors: Hour Timesheet delivers full DCAA compliance at 1% of Deltek's cost. Be live in days, not months. Save $100,000+ in year one.
For large defense contractors: Deltek Costpoint is purpose-built for enterprise-scale government contracting. The investment makes sense when complexity and scale demand it.
Don't pay enterprise prices for basic timekeeping. If you're a small contractor, choose the tool designed for you—not the one designed for Lockheed Martin.
No credit card required. Live in days, not months.