Time Capture & Billing

In its literature, BQE says that BillQuick overcomes some of the limits Timeslips and QuickBooks impose, including a limited number of clients and expense categories. I did find BillQuick to be a powerful time-and-billing program, but with some faults nonetheless.

One of the nicest features of BillQuick is that it lets you create multiple projects (matters) per client. Just enter a client once and then add as many separate matters as you need.

BillQuick is easy to set up. With BillQuick, you can track a lot of information about time keepers, including holiday, vacation and sick pay. There are also slots available for billable rates, tax information, deductions from pay, etc. This is useful, but BillQuick doesn't do payroll, so you'll have to use another program to handle your payroll and check-writing functions

The program offers 90 predesigned invoices, statements and reports, all easily customizable using the Crystal Reports editor included with the software. The sample reports I re-viewed were quite attractive and conveyed billing information in a professional manner. The shaded account summaries given at the bottoms of invoices are particularly well done and useful.

BillQuick can also interface with PalmPilot time and expense applications. Off-site data entry is supported, and it is network and Microsoft Access compatible.

The export module transfers your data to an accounting or management program. When billing, the program makes it easy for you to review all projects for a single client and pick and choose which ones you want to bill.

Unfortunately, BillQuick doesn't have a simple "navigator" like Timeslips and QuickBooks. Thus, some attorneys may find it harder to use than the more familiar programs, although I got used to it (and you probably will too if you spend a little time exploring the program's features).

I did, however, find it difficult at times to figure out what I needed to do to change an option. For example, I had to send an e-mail to BQE to get instructions on how to change the way invoices are printed. Making the change was a simple process, but I couldn't locate any information about the process in the manual or online help.

BillQuick is powerful, but this power is sometimes not apparent on the surface, and therefore may not be exploited by all users.

$495

Reviewed by Richard C. Belthoff, Jr., senior corporate counsel, The Compass Group, Charlotte, N.C.

Dec/Jan '99 Issue

PROS
Multiple matters per client.

CONS
Difficulty in locating features.

VERDICT
A viable alternative.

  | Home  | 

|  Issue Archive  |  Resources  |  About Us  |  Contact Us  |  Subscribe  |

|  Subscribers  |  Advertisers  |

Updated 09/19/01
© Law Office Computing Magazine
www.lawofficecomputing.com
(800) 394-2626