BQE Software eLetter
March 2005
In This Issue
1. BillQuick 2005 On The Horizon!
2. Upgrading to BillQuick 2005
3. Last Chance to Beta Test
4. Wasting Time Keying Shipping Information
5. BillQuick Quizzer - $50 For The Right Answer
6. Current BillQuick Release Information
BillQuick 2005 On The
Horizon!
BillQuick
2005 is close . . . real close.
In beta
testing now (interested in being a tester? [link to below]) and scheduled for delivery in
just weeks, BillQuick 2005 contains more than 150 new and improved features. From little
tweaks of program code to make data display and print a little faster, to an improved user
interface, document management and payroll integration, BillQuick 2005 delivers features
you requested and inspired.
Integration
BillQuick
2005 delivers new and improved integration.
 Starting with QuickBooks integration, you can now transfer items
from the BillQuick Expense Log to QuickBooks as Bills. Also, you can transfer expense
items such as checks, bills, EFT, credit cards, etc. that are assigned to jobs in
QuickBooks into BillQuick’s Expense Log. For invoices, BillQuick now transfers
greater detail to QuickBooks, including time entries adjusted for write-ups/downs. To
minimize data record volume in QuickBooks, BillQuick summarizes time entries by activity.
 All new, BillQuick 2005 integrates with QuickBooks
Complete Payroll. Now you can generate payrolls through a direct connection with
BillQuick. Of course, if you use QuickBooks and prefer to do payroll using transferred
time entries, or you use another payroll package, you can continue to do so. In fact, now
you have the option to transfer A-Hours or B-Hours to QuickBooks.
 Last
but far from least, BillQuick 2005 integrates with Microsoft Small Business Accounting,
scheduled for Fall 2005 delivery. Real time, seamless integration and much more. Stay
tuned!
Document
Management
Building on
the Project Folders feature in BillQuick 2004, the new Document Management function takes
defining a folder structure for documents to a new level. Now you can organize tax
returns, correspondence, CAD, spreadsheets, financial statements, invoices, reports –
any document – by client, project, project manager or any structure you wish.
Everything related to clients and projects are now at your fingertips.
Everything?
Well, everything that matters, including . . . email!
That’s right, campers, BillQuick’s new Document Management function integrates
with Microsoft Outlook 2000 (or later) and Outlook Express, automatically linking sent and
received emails to the client and project based on email address. Wow! And you
can view emails and open any document from the Document Management screen. Double Wow!
Retainer
History
Kicking it up
a notch for attorneys, accountants, financial planners, computer consultants, and anyone
who accepts funds against future services, BillQuick Retainer function provides both
improved and entirely new features.
The first
major enhancement is client retainers. Now you can record funds received for future
services that cover multiple projects to the client account. Or in cases where you receive
funds before
formalizing the service or project, you can do the same. Retainer funds may be transferred
later to a project, or simply applied to project invoices as desired. Also, you can save
unapplied payments in the client retainer account for later application.
The second
major enhancement is the complete, viewable audit trail of retainer activity. Via the
Retainer History screen and reports, you can view retainers paid, applied and available,
each retainer-related transaction, and more. You can even generate a new retainer invoice
with a couple clicks, either for the client or for a project.
Wow! Could
there be more?
How about
faster, more efficient navigation within a new user interface with the look and feel of
the Microsoft Office family of software. Brighter colors. Quick-access side menu. Larger
screens (800 x 600 pixels or greater) with easier to read forms. Button bars you can drag
to the top or bottom of the screen. [button bar screen – right] Sortable drop-down
lists. Shortcuts like date insertion in memo fields. Instant text expansion in memo fields
when you enter an abbreviation, turning a few keystrokes into a word, phrase, sentence or
paragraph. Quick-click addition of employees, clients, projects – any master record
– to a group.
For projects,
enhancements include the ability to add a memo to multiple projects at once. You can
append it to at the top or bottom of the memo, or replace it entirely with the new memo.
Another new mass-change feature is updating due dates across multiple projects. Still
another time saver is creating a client record on-the-fly when defining a new project.
A new feature
sure to be popular is Estimates. You can define, edit and print estimates, including the
details you need. After winning the business, you can convert the estimate into a budget
and/or turn it into an invoice with a simple click.
Then
BillQuick 2005 has what no other time
& billing software company offers –
delayed fee schedule. In addition to the currently available service fee schedule, you can
setup a second one that becomes active only after available retainer funds fall to $0.00.
The delayed fee schedule is perfect for graduated bill rates, pre-sold hours, and
“kicker” situations.
Want to know
still more about BillQuick 2005 enhancements? Then check out BillQuick 2005 - What’s
New [Web]
[PDF].
Upgrading to BillQuick 2005
All BillQuick users received an upgrade letter in the last few
days. By ordering BillQuick 2005 and add-on modules before their release, you receive a
HUGE discount.
Please see the letter you received, or contact BillQuick Sales at
(888) 245-5669 or Sales@bqe.com.
Last Chance to Beta Test
If you are interested in beta testing BillQuick 2005 and its
add-on modules, or testing BillQuick 2005 and Microsoft Small Business Accounting, please
let us know ASAP. In addition to learning about new features and considering how you can
use them in your firm, you can earn discounts on upgrades based on your level of
participation.
To be considered, please send an email to BillQuickBetaTest@bqe.com.
Wasting Time Keying Shipping Information
Most of us experience the hassle associated with shipping
documents and products. BQE Software recently came across tools from Z-Firm that eliminate
the hassle.
Winning awards for the last 3 years, ShipRush for FedEx and
ShipRush for UPS integrate out of the box with multiple accounting packages and CRM
systems. These solutions include QuickBooks, Peachtree, Great Plains, Act!, Goldmine and
more. ShipRush pulls out address and other information, then saves tracking numbers and
freight charges back in the applications. You can even include freight charges on
invoices! No more wasted time spent re-keying shipping information.
This new level of efficiency is a great plus, but there is more.
ShipRush prints enclosure codes (e.g. order number) on the shipping labels and supports
thermal, inkjet and laser printers. Moreover, built-in capabilities send email alerts to
package recipients that include the tracking number.
If ShipRush sounds like a tool you need to add to your arsenal of
profit-tools, you can get more information at www.zfirm.com or by calling (206) 812-RUSH.
Monthly BillQuick Quizzer
Win $50!
Superior minds, step forward. Test your knowledge of BillQuick.
Are you worthy of 50 BillQuick Bucks?
Ready?
Assume you have a project with a fixed type contract (Fixed
Fee, Hourly Not To Exceed, Recurring with Cap). Also, time and expense evaluation is
turned on.
A staff person charges time to the project, recording the time
entry on the Sheet View screen. Which of the following is TRUE?
- BillQuick evaluates the entry to determine if it pushes the
total amount spent over the contract amount.
- If the contract amount is exceeded, BillQuick displays a
message that directs the user to change the entry's status to Non-Billable if he has the
appropriate security permission, or to send an email to the project manager informing him
that the job is now over-contract.
- The Sheet View screen window bar displays the total amount
spent and the remaining contract amount.
- If the contract amount is exceeded, BillQuick changes the
entry's status to Non-Billable.
- A, B and C
- B, C and D
- A, B and D
- A, C and D
- A, B, C and D
- None of the above are true statements.
Hurry and send your answer to BQ-Quiz@bqe.com. You could be a
winner!
Current BillQuick Release Information
BillQuick and QuickBooks 2005
BillQuick 2004 (and BillQuick 2005 in
development now) have been tested with QuickBooks 2005. Everything is A-OK.
Macintosh Compatibility
Quick reminder: BQE Software is compatible with the Macintosh in
two ways: The Web i add-on module or by using Virtual PC.
Latest BillQuick Version
BillQuick 2004 v. 5.0.100. It includes
enhancements and minor fixes. Click to view the
changes.
If you have Internet access but do not allow
BillQuick to automatically download updates (you turned off AutoUpdate in the Other 2 tab
on the Preferences screen), go to the File menu and select Get Updates. When you exit
BillQuick, the update automatically installs.
If desired, you can download
the update from the BillQuick web site. Click Save when prompted. Next, run the setup
program from the folder in which it was saved.
Happy BillQuicking!
Thanks from the
BQE Software Marketing Team
May Success Follow You
. . . Always |
