Subprojects allow you to break down large projects into manageable parts. This is especially useful when working with both an overall budget and individual budgets per subproject.
Note: Subprojects are available in the Advanced plan.
In order to create (sub)projects, you need to have the role of administrator or project manager of all projects.
When should you use subprojects?
Using subprojects is ideal when managing large or complex projects. With subprojects, you can link new or existing projects to a single, overarching main project. You still track your hours on the subprojects, and if you invoice, you do so from the subprojects as well.
The main project is used for overarching insight. It’s especially useful when you're working with both a total budget and individual budgets per subproject.
Each subproject can be set up just like any regular project. You can assign specific team members, make certain activities available, and configure individual budgets and billing methods.
This approach gives you control and visibility over each part of the project, while still maintaining a clear overview through the main project.
Example
Let’s say you’re building a house. You can track this process using a main project and subprojects in TimeChimp.
You create one main project for the entire house. You might set an overall budget here for the total hours or total cost.
Then, you create subprojects for each room—like the kitchen, where you define a specific budget and assign the right team members. For the living room, you create a separate subproject with its own activities and team.
How to use subprojects?
You can set up main and subprojects as follows:
Create a regular project that you want to link to a main project. Fill in all required project details.
In the Projects overview, select the project and click Actions > Bundle Projects (top right). You can do this with one or multiple projects.
A new Main Project will be created automatically. You can now assign an overall budget to this project.
To link more subprojects, edit the main project and go to the Subprojects tab to add them.
Important notes:
You cannot track time on a main project. A main project is for dashboard and reporting purposes only.
You cannot assign multiple clients to a single main project.
Main projects cannot have a billing method assigned.
In the Projects page, you’ll see an overview of all your projects. Main and subprojects are labeled clearly so you can identify them at a glance. Clicking a main project gives you a structured overview, and from there you can easily navigate to the dashboards of each subproject.