2012 Review of BillQuick 2012

BQE Software — BillQuick 2012
855-687-1024
www.bqe.com

From the September 2012 review of time and billing systems.

Best Fit

Small and mid-sized accounting firms or other professional services businesses with a need for time, billing, and project management.

Strengths

• Industry-specific versions, including for accounting firms
• Optional online version of program
• Optional HR and various add-ons
• Mobile apps
• Integration with virtually all small business accounting systems

Potential Limitations

• No built-in calendaring feature, but integration with Outlook enables creation of timeslips from appointments.
• The user friendly system may require some training to fully benefit from all of the program’s many features.

On the market for more than 16 years and with a growing U.S. and global user base, BillQuick is among the more mature and fully seasoned time and billing systems available to the accounting profession, offering automated timekeeping, invoicing and project cost management. In addition to a free “Lite” version of the program for single users, the fuller system is available in versions that culminate in the Enterprise level, which can support larger businesses.

For firms with mobile needs, BQE offers the BillQuick Web Suite, which can be hosted either by BQE or by a firm and integrates with the installed version. Also,available is BillQuick Online, a completely web-based cloud solution.

Basic System Functions: 5 Stars

The latest version of BillQuick produced a very crisp and modern interface that defaults to the home Navigator screen, which provides an uncluttered work area with access to key program features. Icons are available for moving to company details, time card entry, expense tracking and management features, while pull-down menus at the top of the screen provide additional navigation options.

Text-based navigation options are also available on the Navigator screen, with options for submitting time and other tasks, as well as accessing the BillQuick knowledge base, e-newsletters, support and the company’s blog. Yet another navigation menu can be displayed (or hidden) on the left side of the screen.

The program can be quickly tailored to accounting firm use, with appropriate terminology and settings. Firms and individual users can also customize many of the screens, data fields and shortcuts. Practices can also move between the Lite, Basic, Pro and Enterprise versions as their needs require more extensive tracking, customization or project management capabilities.

Time Management Capabilities: 4.75 Stars

BillQuick offers two methods of time entry, a time sheet mode for quick entry functions, and a detailed mode, which provides more data entry options. Time entry includes selection lists for date, engagement, activity and description, along with fields for entering unlimited notes, details and other custom data. New projects and work codes can be added directly from the time sheets, as necessary.

BillQuick’s time sheet data entry screens can track overtime and comp time, and advanced versions also include time sheet review and approval processes, vacation accruals and multi-employee time sheet review screens. The system includes spell checking, font control and other word processor functions for customization of text. The system also includes task timers that can be started, paused and resumed, with the ability to have multiple timers running for different tasks.

Project management functions include up to 11 contract types, including recurring billing, fixed fee cost plus and hourly, the ability to create and track phases and segments, project estimating and budgeting by hours and funding, and interactive Gantt charts for project allocations. The program’s Project Center acts as the hub for these activities, as well as for assigning activities, expenses and employees to projects.