New Marketing Tools for Advisors

August 30, 2008

BillQuick Advisors now have 3 new marketing tools to help them better communicate BillQuick’s benefits. The new tools are role specific. The 3 tools are:

  1. BillQuick for Billing Managers eBook
  2. BillQuick for Business Managers eBook
  3. BillQuick for Project Managers eBook

Each eBook identifies key problems of the the target user. Summaries along with sample reports and invoices illustrate how BillQuick handles each problem.

By being role specific, the main influencers and decision-makers get information that helps them understand what BillQuick does for them as well as for the company overall.

These new tools are available to Advisors on the Marketing Resources page (password protected).


Agent 2008 SP1 Released

August 28, 2008

Agent 2008 SP1 version 9.0.34.0 was released on August 27, 2008. BillQuick Customers and trial users will receive an automatic update notification when they start up Agent (if they have an Internet connection).

In case there is an issue downloading the patch, go to the BillQuick Support page at http://www.bqe.com/supportpages/download_support.html#114.

Latest release notes (Build Log) for Agent 2008 SP1


BillQuick 2008 SP2 Released

August 25, 2008

BillQuick 2008 SP2 version 9.0.97.0 was released on August 24, 2008. BillQuick Customers and trial users will receive an automatic update notification when they start up BillQuick (if they have an Internet connection).

In case there is an issue in downloading the patch, refer to our BillQuick Support download page at http://www.bqe.com/supportpages/download_support.htm#BQ2008

Latest release notes (Build Log) for BillQuick 2008 SP2


Is BillQuick compatible with Microsoft SQL Server 2008?

August 22, 2008

Yes, BillQuick is compatible with Microsoft SQL Server 2008. In fact, BillQuick works with any Microsoft SQL Server version from 2000 to 2008.

BillQuick also supports Microsoft SQL Express 2005 (free from Microsoft).

In addition, on the server side BillQuick supports Microsoft Windows 2003 Server and Microsoft Windows 2008 Server.


The BillQuick Advisor Business Model

August 18, 2008

Before launching the newest upgrade of the BQE Software’s reseller program, we talked a lot with BillQuick Advisors, other resellers, and industry experts. The conclusion was that advisors today are far less inclined to invest substantial time and money in every product they need to help their clients.  They want product and market knowledge. They want to be comfortable with a company’s solution, but they do not want to spend hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars.

Most advisors today reserve such investments for their core or “primary” solutions. They view products and services for “non-primary” solutions as resources to tap as needed. “Non-Primary” solutions are ones critical to a client’s business, but that the reseller has not invested substantial time and money. The application may become “primary” over time.

Of course, other advisors want to make a new solution part of their “primary” or core solutions. They want to expand their skills and knowledge to include BillQuick as a key focus in their business.

BQE Software offers partnership paths for both types of advisors.

Certified Advisor Partnership

The BillQuick Reseller Program is for the large majority of companies as noted above. These companies want fast, efficient and effective certification training that focuses on making its BillQuick Advisors comfortable with BillQuick. Their advisors should:

  • Know when BillQuick is a good candidate.
  • Know what products and services are available and where they fit with target markets and in various situations (e.g., remote and outsource staff).
  • Understand the basics of time and expense entry.
  • Understand billing options and flexibility.
  • Understand how BillQuick’s time, expenses, billing, and other features save time and effort.
  • Understand target market differences so the right products and services, their benefits and features are emphasized.
  • Understand the basics of integration between BillQuick and QuickBooks, Microsoft Office Accounting, Peachtree Accounting and MYOB Accounting.

In other words, a reseller’s Advisor should know what BillQuick resources can serve their a client.

So, how does an advisor make money?

  1. Commissions – BQE Software commissions advisors on products as well as training, consulting and custom report/invoice services. Once certified, advisors also receive commissions on technical support contracts and upgrades. Advisor training focuses on what’s needed to recognize opportunity, give good advice, and close the sale.
  2. Value-Added Consulting – BillQuick is the not beginning and end of what a client needs. An effective advisory engagement with a client involves workflow discussions and needs analyses to make sure BillQuick is right for the client and to a great extend, layout a good part of the plan for implementation (optimizing BQ, customization, etc). A certified advisor’s training plus direct and indirect experience (e.g., blog articles, webinars) provides a solid foundation that facilitate value-added consulting.
  3. Implementation Management – BillQuick needs to be implemented. More than simple installation of software, this involves data conversion, setting preferences before deployment, training and more. Some advisors do most of the implementation process using internal resources and available documentation. Most manage the process while outsourcing implementation tasks to leverage their time and compensate for less experience. Outsourcing may be to a local IT or other expert and/or to BillQuick Consulting (which can handle most consulting on-site or remotely). Your client pays you for the valuable service of expertly managing implementation (rather than them assigning someone to do it, taking time away from billable activities).

Value-added consulting and implementation management are natural parts of being a client’s advisor.

Certified Trainer Partnership (Coming soon)

BillQuick Resellers who want to make BillQuick part of their primary focus will soon have the opportunity to add a new component to their partnership with BQE Software – BillQuick Certified Trainer.

The BillQuick Certified Trainer Program is in development now.

Certification is the only way to ensure that individuals have the requisite skills and in-depth knowledge required to effectively train their clients and others. Individuals granted the title BillQuick Certified Trainer will be tested and proven. BQE Software will call on the best and the most willing to conduct online and on-site trainings for BillQuick customers. Because this involves a greater commitment of time and money, commissions will be higher.

Watch the blog! When the BillQuick Certified Trainer Program is ready, you will receive an announcement.


3 Advisor Questions

August 6, 2008

What is the difference between a Reseller and an Advisor?

A BillQuick Reseller is the company with whom BQE Software has entered into a business agreement. The Reseller “owns” sales leads assigned to the company by BQE Software. Leads may be generated through reseller marketing or originate with BQE Software. BQE Software pays commissions to the BillQuick Reseller.

A BillQuick Advisor is an individual who works for a Reseller as an employee or is under contract. The Advisor receives compensation from the Reseller. Advisors (along with Resellers) have the option of Basic Training and Certification.

Can a Reseller have two or more Advisors?

Resellers may employ or contract with as many individuals as they wish to represent their company and BQE Software to prospective BillQuick customers (and company clients). BQE Software only requires that the individual be ethical in their representation of BillQuick products and services. BQE Software will revoke an Advisor’s status if customers complaints or other information shows anything but honesty in dealings involving BillQuick.

What does it cost to train multiple advisors?

At present, BQE Software does not charge for BillQuick Advisor Certification Training. Each new advisor may take the online, on-demand training for free. Advisor training includes:

  • BillQuick Foundation
  • BillQuick Target Markets
  • Time & Expenses
  • Billing
  • Data Conversion & BillQuick-Accounting Integration (including QuickBooks)

Other knowledge-building information (articles, recordings, videos, training materials, etc.) will be made available through the BillQuick Advisor blog and other channels.


Announcement – QuickBooks Enterprise User Conference

August 6, 2008

BQE Software will be on the road in Dallas, TX, on September 10-12, 2008, at the 3rd Annual QuickBooks Enterprise User Conference at the Hyatt Regency. As a QuickBooks Gold Developer, BQE Software will be presenting BillQuick and the entire BillQuick Family of software. The User Conference is for current QuickBooks Enterprise users and Pro and Premier users who want to learn more about Enterprise. Come by and see us!


BillQuick and QuickBooks 2009

August 6, 2008

BillQuick is testing QuickBooks 2009 with its BillQuick 2008, 2007 and 2006 versions. While Intuit has assured us that there are no significant changes that will impact integration between BillQuick and QuickBooks 2009, BQE Software will continue testing each beta version as it becomes available.

BQE Software cannot guarantee that BillQuick 2008, 2007 and 2006 will work with QuickBooks 2009 the day it is released. BillQuick will work as soon after release of QuickBooks 2009 as possible.

Update 8/18/08 – BillQuick 2008 is compatible with QuickBooks 2009 Beta 2. Testing continues.


BillQuick Certified Advisor Training Update

August 6, 2008

BillQuick Certified Advisor training is underway. Glitches slowed full release of all five modules and held up processing at the exam web site.

All these glitches have been corrected.

However, because of these issues BQE is doing an extra quality-checks of training materials and the supporting technology.

The final certification training modules will be released as soon as they are tested.


The BillQuick Advisor Blog

August 6, 2008

Welcome to the BillQuick Advisor.

This blog is an ongoing discussion and growing resources for BillQuick products and services, target markets and VAR business development. It is intended for resellers and their BillQuick advisors, but BillQuick partners and others will appreciate its content too.

BillQuick Advisors receive free certification training, but as any consultant knows, this is only the beginning. This blog will contain articles, special training materials, topical webinars, BillQuick Advisor resources, current software promotions and announcements.  Success requires knowledge-building information and that is what this blog is all about.

BillQuick Advisors receive the blog automatically via RSS email as part of their membership. Others can request  RSS feed or email delivery too.

If you are not a BillQuick Reseller and want to learn more, click “I Want To Be A BillQuick Reseller“.