Sample BillQuick 2009 Available to Advisors

BQE Software Releases BillQuick 2009 with Features that Help Businesses Offset Economic Slowdown with Improved Productivity.

Los Angeles, March 18, 2009:  BQE Software Inc, the innovative leader in Time Billing & Project Management solutions, announced today the release of BillQuick 2009, a major upgrade to the affordable business software application that simplifies time tracking, project management and billing. Focused on maximizing billable hours in professional firms, the latest version gives businesses the ability to do more with less time and resources.

“To survive the current economic slowdown, businesses must optimize processes and eliminate all overheads related to repetitive tasks. BillQuick 2009 is packed with features to achieve process optimization and therefore offset the slowdown with improved productivity.” says Shafat Qazi, President and CEO of BQE Software.

(See the full press release.)

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As part of your membership in the BillQuick Reseller Program, you can request sample licensed copies of BillQuick and add-on modules. The software is licensed to your company (with “Sample” in the company name). Please send an email requesting BillQuick 2009 and other modules to the Channel Manager.

Training Announcement – Billing with BillQuick

Here’s are three things we all know to be true:

• Sending the right bills at the right time for the right amounts is essential for a strong cash flow.
• The invoice format must effectively communicate what is owed
• An invoice projects your firm’s professionalism and high value to the client.

In the 2-hour training webinar on Thursday, March 19, 2009, at 9 a.m. Pacific Time , a BillQuick Certified Trainer covers key BillQuick elements as well as the flow of information into invoices. You will learn everything from generating a billing record through billing decisions. You will learn how to create invoices for a variety of billing situations — hourly, fixed fee, recurring, percent complete, phased billing, joint invoices, etc. Your BillQuick Certified Trainer steps you through batch billing, on-screen billing and off-line billing, as well as how to create manual invoices.

To gain the most out of BillQuick, shorten your billing cycle, and improve your productivity, sign up for Billing with BillQuick.

To do our part, we reduced the price for the March 19th training more than 55% off the list price ($350). You pay only $145 per person. This training earns you 3 CPE credits.

Pre-Release BillQuick 2009 Available

The pre-release version of BillQuick 2009 is available for download. Also “What’s New in 2009″ demo are available along with a summary page.  (See the links below.) Fifteen of the top features (from among 200 new and improved features) include:

1. Simple Expense Log: A brand new Simple Expense Log screen allows you to enter expense quickly and easily.
2. Dash Board: A brand new dashboard available from the View menu to display your business Key Performance Indicators. Each widget in the dashboard has its own refresh time setting.
3. Reports Customization: Enhancement in Report Viewer toolbar. Tools available that will allow you to customize reports, change fonts, colors and email as Word, Excel or PDF.
4. Report Filters: Ability to filter by discrete items instead of the “From and To” range when applying filters to the reports.
5. Vendor Bill: Ability to create a vendor bill automatically from un-billed time and expense data.
6. Spell Check: A brand new global spell checker that can spell check Description and Memo fields in time and expense data. Available from Sheet View, Simple Timecard, Expense Log, Simple Expense Log, Reviewer and Billing Review.
7. Custom Invoice Number Per Project: Ability to specify custom invoice numbering sequence per project.
8. Retainage + New Contract Types: In BillQuick 2009 we have introduced two new contract types. “Cost + Fixed Fee” and “Cost + Percentage”. In addition you now have the ability to specify “Retainage” percentage per project.
9. Allocate Hours by Activity Group: The self-policing feature has been improved. You can now assign hours to any employee without having to specify a specific Activity. Instead you can specific an Activity Group or “All” activities.
10. QuickBooks GL Accounts per Project: Ability to assign separate GL accounts per Project for all invoice items + Retainer collected and applied.
11. Assigning Made Easy: We have added the new “Assign” tab to the Employee and Project Screen. Makes assigning Project Control or Employee Control items easy.
12. Expense Part of the Contract: If your fee includes expense, you can now manage such contracts by simply selcting the “Exp Part of Contract” rule on the Project screen’s Detail tab.
13. Company: Closing Date in company screen prevents editing of items older than closing date. Impacts Time, Expenses, Invoices and Payments.
14. SMTP Support: You can now specify your SMTP Server (Outgoing mail server) info and have BillQuick bypass Outlook when sending email.
15. New Themes: Last but not the least, Check out the new themes in User Preferences screen. Please let us know if you like the default “Pear” theme.
16. File Linking: Ability to link documents to your time and expense data and many other records including employee, project, vendor bill, purchase order etc.

To view the What’s New in BillQuick 2009 demos, click here.

To review the What’s New in 2009 summary page, click here.

To download a copy of pre-release copy of BillQuick 2009, click here.

A few items more:

• BillQuick 2009 does not overwrite BillQuick 2008 or earlier versions. It installs into its own folder.
• When you first start-up BillQuick 2009, it will “see” your 2008 (or earlier) database and ask if you want to upgrade it for BillQuick 2009. This does not change your original database.
• You can answer No to the ‘upgrade database’ question and work with the sample databases in BillQuick (for up to 30 days in Evaluation Mode).

Your feedback is very much welcome.

Bob

BillQuick 2008 SP3 Released

BillQuick 2008 SP3 version 9.0.103.0 was released on January 7, 2009. 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 service pack, refer to our BillQuick Support Download Page at http://www.bqe.com/supportpages/download_support.htm#BQ2008.

Click to view the Release Notes (Build Log) for BillQuick 2008 SP3.

BillQuick and QuickBooks 2009

BillQuick 2008 has undergone extensive testing with QuickBooks 2009 (US and Canadian editions). BillQuick now works with:

• QuickBooks 2002 thru 2009 U.S. Edition, including Accountant’s Edition
• QuickBooks 2003 thru 2009 Canadian Edition
• QuickBooks Enterprise 2.0 (US) and later (including Accountant’s Edition)

Getting a Quote for Customized Invoices & Reports

(Part 2 of a 2-part post)

Part 1 discussed:

• What does “Customization” mean
• Why you might customize BillQuick invoices, statements and reports
• Customization options
• Which option is best for your client

For the do it yourself/let the client do it options, a quick summary of requirements and consulting services was included.

Advisors: Remember that you are commissioned on all product and service sales delivered to BQE Software. This includes consulting services.

When will a customization situation arise?

There are several situations when your client might consider customizing an invoice, statement or report.

1. You raise this as an option when doing a needs analysis, workflow analysis or when working through a quote with your client. Invoices, statements and reports content and how they are laid out (presentation) should be part of every needs analysis.
2. Your client tells you that BillQuick invoices or reports “just aren’t right” or “are not adequate” during a follow-up visit or call.
3. Your client tells a BillQuick Support Rep, BillQuick Certified Trainer or BillQuick Certified Consultant invoices or reports “just aren’t right” or “are not adequate”.
4. Your client learns about the customization option through BillQuick Help, the BillQuick Reference Guide, or the BillQuick eLetter.

To maximize your client’s satisfaction with you and with BillQuick, the best time for customization to come up is the needs analysis or quote. Your client does not feel like there was a “gotcha” hidden from them. During the early stage of a new relationship, clients are more open to what they will invest to gain desired benefits. Learning about this option later can sometimes frustrated clients.

How to get a quote for report customization?

The BillQuick Report Team can customize standard BillQuick invoices, statements and reports, as well as create customize output to your client’s specifications. Templates can be defined for output to a printer, as PDF file, in an Access database file, in a comma separated value file, and other formats.

Follow the steps below to obtain a quote:

1. Review the standard templates (invoices, statements, reports) included with BillQuick to determine if one is close to what your client wants. Print a sample copy of the invoice, statement or report. Customizing an existing template takes less time than creating one from scratch – for you, your client and for the BillQuick Report Team, thus reducing the overall investment.
2. If there is no standard template like what your client needs, create a mock up or obtain an existing sample from your client’s files.
3. Mark up the sample template. Note where changes should be made. If special process is required, such as presenting a subset of data or presenting details in a summary form, make a note of this.
4. Fax or scan and email the marked up template to the BillQuick Report Team Manager or the BillQuick Reseller Channel Manager.
5. The BillQuick Report Team Manager will review the customization needed. If necessary, he will contact you with questions. Typically, you have a quote within 72 hours.

How to submit a sales order for report customization?

To ensure proper credit – both for your commission and addition to your accumulated sales, do the follow when submitting a sales order for report customization.

1. After confirming with your client to go ahead, use the quote to complete the BillQuick Advisor Order Form.
2. Submit the form to the Channel Manager.

Custom templates will be delivered within 10 business days.

NOTE: If you verbally accept the quote and give the go-ahead to the BillQuick Report Team Manager after discussing the work, be sure to inform the Channel Manager.

NOTE: The BillQuick Advisor Order Form is included in each Advisor’s Welcome Pack. Also, you can download a copy from the Marketing & Consulting Resources blog page.

Advisors: Remember that you are commissioned on all product and service sales delivered to BQE Software. This includes consulting services.

The BillQuick Report Team Guarantee

All work will be to the client’s satisfaction.

If BQE Software changes the run-time version of Crystal Reports built into BillQuick and this impacts any custom invoice, statement or report, the template will be updated at no charge to the client.

Customize Invoices & Reports?

(This is Part 1 of a 2-part post)

Any BillQuick invoice, statement or report can be customized.

What does “Customization” mean?

Customization means some aspect of a standard BillQuick invoice, statement or report, called a “template,” is changed in some way. This might involve:

• Adding a special-size company logo
• Replacing the entire company “letterhead” area with the company’s standard letterhead
• Adding or removing columns of data
• Rearranging invoice memos or detail time and expense memos
• Adding or removing a billing and payment history block
  
• Add or removing an invoice aging block
• Creating a new summary invoice page with details on a second page
• Adding a profit percentage column
• Adding a profit multiple column
• Adding a bar or pie chart to a report
  

Customization also means a template is created from scratch. A sample or mock-up of an invoice, statement or report is used. Also, instructions (specifications) define the data to pull from BillQuick and how to process it before placing it in the right place in the template. These instructions also describe the presentation (text, graphic) and desired output (printer, database file, etc).

In short, there is a lot the BillQuick Report Team can do for your client.

Why Customize?

Invoices and statements sent to customers of your client reflect the firm’s professional image. This is no small part of their marketing and branding with clients. Also, clients want invoices and statements that clearly and effectively communicate the work done and financial information.

For reports used in a client’s firm, the greatest benefits are gained when information matches their  management style. Because styles vary among firms, this can be a major source of efficiency and time savings. Always remind your clients about this. What information is presented and how it is laid out is often an unconscious expectation among clients.

What are your customization options?

1. Outsource to the BillQuick Report Team.
2. You do it yourself for a BillQuick customer.
3. A BillQuick customer does it.

Which option is best for your client?

If your firm or your client has a Crystal Reports programmer on staff and they have time to do the work, then using them is the best option. See Do It Yourself or Client Does It below.

In most situations, you will want to outsource the work to the BillQuick Report Team because:

• No one has adequate skills.
• Time to do the work is in short supply.
• Crystal Reports experience is not used everyday, resulting in more time for the relearning process and doing the work.

In short, there is a real, often overlooked, cost for doing. Whether done by you or your client, time that is otherwise billable at a good rate can be lost.

To get a quote from the BillQuick Report Team, see Part 2 – Quote for Customized Reports & Invoices.

Do It Yourself or Client Does It

All standard invoice, statement and report templates included with BillQuick can be customized.

To work with a template you need Crystal Reports 10 or later. Also, you need to know how to use Crystal Reports. If you do not, please obtain training and other Crystal Reports services via the Web and a local resource.

BQE Software does not provide technical support for Crystal Reports. However, members of the BillQuick Report Team do provide for-fee consulting services.

Advisors: You are commissioned on all product and service sales delivered to BQE Software. This includes consulting services.

BillQuick’s Project Hierarchy

New in 2008, BillQuick now offers up to four levels in the project hierarchy for your clients. Of course, only one project per client is required, and only one level per projects. Under the client, the four project levels are:

When would a company need more than one project level?

Most commonly, an architectural, engineering or IT/computer consulting firm will break down the scope of work in a project into a second level called a Phase. Some of these professionals may follow a management style that prefers to break the scope of work down further into Segments and possibly Sub-Segments. These are the third and fourth levels in the project hierarchy.

One common scenario for use of Segments is Change Orders. Inevitably a client of an architect, engineer or consultant requests a change to the project. In a house building project, a client may ask for a small change like lighting changes in the family room or a larger change like a special small building to take care of plants for the garden at the back of the property. Rather than change the scope of the entire project, a segment is added to handle the change. This allows the architect to track the budget, profitability, etc. for the original project and for the change order separately. Change orders often are done on a time and materials basis and at premium rates.

Another common scenario is an architect or engineer may want to track Services and Expenses separately for each phase. In this case, they will create a segment for each, complete with a contract amount, budget, percent complete and other items.

In summary, segments and sub-segments are powerful features for many clients. When discussing their information requirements, be sure to ask about these project levels. With a little planning, they can add tremendous management information.

Check out the demo about the Project Hierarchy and how to set one up in under a minute.

There is no FREE BillQuick Support

When one of your clients purchase BillQuick or any add-on module, they receive 30 days of support with it. This is not Free Support. It is a start-up support contract bundled with the software and included in the price of the software.

There is no free. Free has no value.

Agent 2008 SP1 Released

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

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?

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.

BillQuick and QuickBooks 2009

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.