BQE Software Inc. — BillQuick 2007

From the Nov. 2007 Review of Time & Billing Systems

BillQuick 2007 provides small businesses with highly customizable and flexible time and expense tracking, project management and complex billing capabilities. Industry-specific versions are available for accountants and CPAs, architects and engineers, computer and IT consultants, and attorneys. The program also offers direct integration with QuickBooks, Microsoft Office Accounting, Peachtree by Sage and MYOB. The program can be used on stand-alone PCs or across networks, with support for mobile devices included. BillQuick was recently selected by The Sleeter Group as one of its 2008 Awesome Add-ons for QuickBooks (for the third year in a row). BillQuick Basic 2007 costs $495 for a two-user license; additional user licenses cost $100 each. BillQuick Pro 2007 costs $895 for a five-user license, with additional licenses available for $85. BQE also offers a web-based version of the program, BillQuick Web Suite, which enables remote access and use by satellite offices.

Ease of Use/Navigation Features -- 5 Stars
BillQuick simplifies invoicing, billing, posting of receipts and time tracking, with interfaces that can be customized to user roles and preferences. Various wizards are included, such as the BillQuick Interview, which helps guide users during the setup of companies, staff, customers, employees and projects, and rates. The program also offers wizards for virtually every function area, helping users with specific tasks, including invoicing and reporting. The newly designed interface is exceptionally intuitive and looks and feels great, providing quick access to primary feature areas via a vertical menu that houses links to Company, Management, Time & Expenses, Billing, Clients, and Projects. Each of these system areas opens into a Navigator screen that provides flowchart design for accessing specific functions, as well as quick-links to reporting options and frequently used tasks. It also provides graphical displays of key business indicators such as cash flow, AR, billable hours and other options.

Selection screens for clients, employees, projects and other items are easily accessible and include sorting and search options, with data entry and presentation on intuitive tabbed windows that enable drilldown to detail information, account data, invoicing and histories. Time and expense data-entry functions are also very simple to use, with multiple entry methods that allow time to be recorded in as little as two keystrokes. Entry methods include the ability to transfer time data from the system’s calendaring function, the use of time clocks, or the use of timesheets that allow fast entry of multiple tasks across multiple clients. Multiple timers can be run simultaneously. Timesheets can also be created from Outlook Calendar entries.

Management Functions -- 5 Stars
BillQuick can manage any number of clients, staff and employees, and it supports trust and retainer-based billing. The program’s various versions provide managerial features designed for different types of businesses, including accounting-centric capabilities for tracking engagement phases such as write-up, planning, trial balance, audit, tax and others. Other features include joint invoicing, budget versus actual comparisons, and billing for subcontracted services such as legal or financial planning consultants. BillQuick can bill flat rate or hourly, with the ability to create fee schedules that vary by task and allow for different rates per client and specific project or engagement. In addition to having multiple rates for each employee, the program can apply overtime billing rates for staff. BillQuick’s project management functions also enable projects to be grouped or merged, while its time tracking options support management of employee vacation, sick and holiday time.