A fiscal year or financial year is a 12-month period used for annual reporting in businesses and other organizations. A fiscal year can be the same or different than the calendar year (January 1 to December 31).

In the U.S., a company's tax year is the same as its fiscal year. Tax returns must be filed by 15th day of the third month following the fiscal year end. For a fiscal year ending September 30, the return would be due by December 15.

Why elect a fiscal year different from the calendar year?

One reason is to avoid accounting year-end activities that would overlap with periods when resources that are not available, or when there is extra high demand on company resources. November 15 through January 15 are the busiest two months of the year for individuals and most businesses.

Take, for example, a company with an LLC or Corporation structure. They might chose a September 30 fiscal year-end because at calendar year-end owners and key managers and staff have demands on their time (e.g. client relationship management and family parties, other gatherings). At calendar year-end, outside advisors such as tax advisors are rapidly ramping up for tax season. All these parties are needed to make informed decisions about distribution of profits, reinvestment of profits, tax planning, and so on.

In short, the simple fact is people you need most would not be as readily available in a calendar business year. They would be distracted by competing demands on their time, and with those demands, be under greater stress. Stress and lack of time to consider options impacts the quality of decisions.

Also, in many companies the end of the calendar year coincides with a push to complete projects and win a solid base of new projects for the new year. While most companies try to keep the "glass full" throughout the year, practically speaking, many remain "marketing passive" until they see a "half empty glass." Jets of marketing activity follows until the glass is full or overflowing again.

Without the distractions and stress of a calendar financial year, a company can take time in August, September and October to end their business year. This involves more than just "closing the books." It also involves business and personal tax planning, that is, taking actions to minimize taxes. Working with your accountant, tax advisor and others, you can calmly consider and make decisions on what investments and purchases to make (copiers, office furniture, computers, network server, larger monitors, software) to manage your tax bill. Similarly, your advisors have time to bring you options and strategies to consider.

Of course, there are other factors involved in choosing a fiscal year, as well as a business structure. Talk with your accounting, tax and legal advisors to determine the best structure and fiscal year for your business and personal goals.

Welcome To New York!

As you read this, BQE Software is at the New York CPA Show at the Hilton Hotel. As a premier launch partner for Microsoft Small Business Accounting,  BQE Software will be presenting BillQuick in the Microsoft booth to accountants and their staffs on July 17 and 18.

Chicago, the Windy City

BQE Software will be demonstrating BillQuick 2006 and its family of modules August 22 and 23 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. As a launch partner for Microsoft Small Business Accounting, BQE Software participates in their booth.

Come visit us and share your ideas and experiences with BillQuick. Ask about data conversions, implementation consulting, guided learning, and more ways we help you get up and running fast!

Architect Wins BillQuick Pro at the AIA Convention

Over 15,000 architects and others attended the Los Angeles Convention June 8, 9 and 10. Over 1,000 professionals stopped by the BillQuick booth to talk about the business of architecture, and how BillQuick can help them spend less time on the business and more time on their passion - Architecture.

The winner of BillQuick Pro is . . . (drum roll, please):

Charles R. Schwartzapfel
Charles R. Schwartzapfel, AIA Architect
New York, NY.

Congratulations Charles!

Different BillQuick editions support different databases. These databases include Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Desktop Edition, and Microsoft SQL Server.

Which database provide the best speed and
overall performance for my company?

Various factors impact the decision. One key factor is the number of users accessing BillQuick and company information. Another is the volume of information in the database (number of client, project, invoice, time, expense, and other records).

General guidelines for database selection are:

If you chose Standard database (Microsoft Access) when you first setup your company database, and now want to upgrade to a SQL database in BillQuick Pro or Enterprise, BillQuick's got you cover. You can “upsize” to an SQL database (MSDE or SQL Server) using built-in features. With the appropriate BillQuick Edition, the software creates the SQL database and transfers data from the Access database into it. Creating an MSDE or SQL Server database requires a minimum of 100 MB of free disk space. Upsizing requires twice as much free space.

What is Microsoft SQL Desktop Engine?

MSDE is a free SQL database system from Microsoft. Essentially, it is a downsized version of its industrial-strength Microsoft SQL Server database system. As the table above shows, organizations as large as 50 BillQuick users can utilize it to gain better performance.

MSDE is no longer upgraded by Microsoft. Instead, Microsoft created a new "baby brother" SQL database system called SQL Server 2005 Express Edition. Unlike MSDE, it is limited to 5 concurrent users and demands greater resources. (Which is why we recommend MSDE.)

The state-of-art technology in MSDE and Microsoft SQL Server handles higher information volume and more simultaneous users than the Microsoft Access database. In other words, Microsoft SQL Desktop Engine (MSDE) and Microsoft SQL Server provides more robust performance (little reduction in processing speed) compared to Microsoft Access. In addition to optimized database and application performance, MSDE and SQL Server incorporate features that provide greater scalability, security, reliability, and recoverability.

The BillQuick Support Download page includes more information about MSDE. You can download MSDE and an installation guide. Other helpful links are available too. And of course, Technical Support as well as Implementation Consulting Services are available if you need them.

If you need to change your BillQuick Edition to take advantage of MSDE or SQL Server, contact your Account Rep at (888) 245-5669 or Sales@bqe.com.

Free Wind2 Data Conversion

Available immediately, Wind2 users receive free data conversion to BillQuick.

The process is simple:

1. You provide your Wind2 database.

2. BillQuick consultants convert your data in Wind2, contacting you as needed for additional information.

3. You receive a BillQuick database with your company data.

4. You're ready to start using BillQuick.

No fuss, no hassle, no cost.

This offer is available for a limited time only.

Ask your Account Rep about it. Call (888) 245-5669 or email us at Sales@bqe.com.

BQE Software Honored As Top Innovator

The CPA Technology Advisor chose BQE Software as one of the Top Ten Innovators of 2006. Receiving the honor at the June 2006 California CPA Show, BQE Software's President, Shafat Qazi, and General Manager, Will Breiholz, were on hand to accept the honor.

The Innovation Awards, sponsored by The CPA Technology Advisor, are the end result of recommendations and extensive review and voting. The awards recognize innovative developments in technologies that benefit the tax and accounting professions, as well as significant advancements in existing technologies. BQE Software was recognized for BillQuick and its family of software because it enhances the productivity and profitability of accounting professionals.

Greg LaFollette, CPA, Executive Editor of The CPA Technology Advisor, said: “The marketplace for technologies that enhance productivity and client service in the accounting and tax profession is thriving. Each year, we are increasingly impressed with the innovations that vendors develop to help meet the unique challenges we face in our practices. Innovation Awards help to further stimulate development by publicly commending those vendors whose products or services represent the most significant technological innovations in these fields.”

Save Up To $300 on BillQuick

Through July 31, 2006, you receive up to $300 off the price of BillQuick.

Save $300 on BillQuick Enterprise

Save $200 on BillQuick Pro

Save $100 on BillQuick Basic

Contact BillQuick Sales at 888-245-5669 or Sales@bqe.com.

And there is more specials below.

Training Special

You also receive 20% off BillQuick Guided Learning. Select any web-based training course, decide who in your company should attend, then talk to your account rep to get your discount. Take the course immediately, or schedule it for later. It's the fastest way to get up to speed!

BillQuick Guided Learning courses include:

• BillQuick for Timekeepers

• BillQuick for Billing Managers

• BillQuick-QuickBooks Integration

• BillQuick-Microsoft Small Business Accounting Integration

• BillQuick for Partners/Principals

• BillQuick for Project Managers

• BillQuick 1-on-1 (custom training for your firm)

  BillQuick training courses are recognized by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) for continuing professional education (CPE) credits. Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) who attend any BillQuick training course (web-based or on-site) earns 1 CPE unit per 50 minutes of training.

  Contact your Account Rep today at (888) 245-5669 or Sales@bqe.com.

  Mid-Summer Consulting Special

Changing to new software takes a little time and effort. When available time is short -- There's not enough hours in a day to do it all!, stress builds. You need help.

BillQuick and other modules are important to your company. They offer the opportunity to minimize non-billable hours and maximize billable hours and improve profits. However, we understand that implementation might take a backseat to pressing client and company demands. BillQuick consulting services can help you implement BillQuick and other modules. We can be your collaborative guide for an optimum BillQuick implementation. We can also handle technical tasks like installing and setting up Web Suite or BillQuick Mobile.

In short, if you need assistance, BQE Software consultants are available.

As a mid-summer special, you receive 15% off consulting services. Through July 31, you can subscribe to 3 hours, 5 hours . . . however many hours you wish, and take 15% off the standard hourly rate.

BQE Software consultants utilize state-of-the-art web conferencing and other technology to handle special tasks involving your systems. We supplement your IT staff, providing IT and BillQuick software expertise to get you operating quicker and with minimum hassle. In an implementation consultation, we accelerate the process by utilizing tools and interviews to analyze your needs. Then we help you build an implementation plan, and guide and work with you to execute it.

Remember: The deadline is July 31, 2006.

Contact your Account Rep at 888-245-5669 or Sales@bqe.com.

Monthly BillQuick Quizzer
Win $50!

Be one of the first 10 people to respond with the correct answer and win $50. You can apply it to any BillQuick product or service.

Which of the follow statements is true about BillQuick's Project Merge feature?

1. One project can be merged into another project record.

2. Two projects can be merged into a new project record.

3. BillQuick changes references to the merged project(s) throughout the database.

4. All statements are true.

5. None of the statements are true.

Hurry and send your answer to BQ-Quiz@bqe.com. You could be a winner!

Current BillQuick Release Information

Latest BillQuick 2006

BillQuick 2006 v. 7.0.62.  For details, see the BillQuick 2006 Update Log File.

BillQuick 2006 has been tested with all versions of QuickBooks, from 2004 through 2006. It has also been tested with Microsoft Small Business Accounting 2006 and later, Peachtree Accounting 2005 and later, and MYOB Australia 2005 and later.

BillQuick 2005 and QuickBooks 2006

BillQuick 2005 has been tested with QuickBooks 2006. Everything is A-OK.

Macintosh Compatibility

Quick reminder: BQE Software is compatible with the Macintosh in two ways: The Web Suite add-on modules or by using Virtual PC.

Latest BillQuick 2005 Version

BillQuick 2005 v. 6.0.124. For details, see the BillQuick 2005 Update Log File.

Various fixes and general improvements throughout BillQuick, including Billing Review, Payment, Manual Invoice and Memo features..

Latest BillQuick 2004 Version

BillQuick 2004 v. 5.0.102. 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 latest BillQuick 2004 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