We hear questions about BillQuick Training all the time from new users and from customers who have used BillQuick for months or years. Some wonder whether they are using BillQuick's capabilities to their fullest extent for maximum return on investment. Others wonder whether to invest in training at all, and if they do, whether it should be a standard training course or custom training.

But the most common question is:

Why should I get BillQuick Training? Isn't the software user friendly, you know, easy to learn?

We work very hard to make BillQuick as easy to learn and use as possible. In addition to following de facto user interface standards (for example, the look and feel of Microsoft Office 2003 and QuickBooks), BillQuick contains options to customize the software to your profession AND to your firm AND to individual users. Many security options turn off features and functions, eliminating potentially confusing options on the screen.

BillQuick's ability to adapt to you, rather than you adapting to the software, reduces learning time. Customization, even as basic as customizing terminology, can cut learning time by 50% or more.

However, a crucial fact about us human beings is paramount here: It takes time to change habits.

Whether you want to stop biting your fingernails or learn new software, it takes time to "unwire" our brains for old habits and "rewire" it for the new things. Research shows that optimum habit-changing time frame for a typical person is 3 to 6 weeks. You become "comfortable" with the new software (or bite your nails less, and so on). Of course, this is a statistical average. All of us are different.

In short, no matter how easy and friendly BillQuick is, no matter how much Help, quick-start tutorials and other assistance we provide, everyone needs time to rewire their brains.

Other factors that impact your habit-changing time frame include:

• Differences in terminology used in the software

• Effectiveness of an individual's self-learning skills

• Time pressures/demands

Research shows that the average habit-changing time frame expands to two, three or more times longer when one or more of these factors are present.

BillQuick overcomes the first factor with the Custom Label function. It allows you to change key terms to match your profession and your firm preferences. Other options to adapt BillQuick to your profession, firm and individual users are built-in. Also, BQE Software tries to compensate for differing skill levels (different ways and speeds at which we learn) with tutorials, Help, special guides, and other information. These resources also help reduce the stress associated with learning new habits.

While these same resources can reduce time pressure, it is mostly beyond our assistance. When on-the-job self-learning is the training model, the typical dilemma is:

Spend 30, 60 or 90 minutes learning about BillQuick capabilities

or

Generate billable time for the firm

Even with good self-learning skills and BillQuick learning resources, the latter tends to win out most often. Time is your most precious asset. Unless captured, it ceases to exist.

As much as we would like to deliver it, magical BillQuick knowledge and experience is still on the drawing board. Thus, the best solution is guided learning. It makes economic sense to invest in BillQuick Training.

Guided learning from a National Certified BillQuick Trainer provides the foundation and how-to information you need. Over the past 3 years, BillQuick Trainers have efficiently and successfully guided staffs and managers through the learning process to BillQuick comfort and satisfaction. With structured BillQuick courses -- all optimized for different roles in a firm (see below), PLUS access to a live, experienced trainer to answer your questions, you jump quickly from learning to using the new knowledge. Our experience shows guided learning from an experienced trainer shortens the lower productivity period. There is less stress and time pressures are minor. In short, happy campers using BillQuick.

Bottom Line: Training delivers a strong return on investment. The benefits sought when you purchased BillQuick come to your firm sooner, allowing you to focus more and more on your success.

NEW BillQuick Role-Based Training Available - 20% Discount

BQE Software is proud to announce another innovation inspired by customers -- Role-Based Training.

The NEW BillQuick Role-Based Training courses focus on what a person needs to know to efficiently and accurately fulfill their responsibilities in the "role" they have in a firm using BillQuick. Role-based training courses reduce learning time and effort by focusing the trainee on a finite set of tasks. In situations where a trainee performs various roles in a firm -- timekeeper, project management, billing, firm management, etc., separating learning by role ensures the person learns steadily and effectively, leveraging and expanding the knowledge of one role into the next.

New role-based training courses include:

• New Employee Orientation - A trainee learns to interact with BillQuick and its basic functions.

• BillQuick for Timekeepers - A timekeeper learns how data flows into time and expense entries, and how to enter, review, edit, manage, delete and print time and expense entries.

• BillQuick for Billing Managers - A biller learns how to send the right bills at the right time for the right amounts in an invoice format that effectively communicates what is owed as well as the firm’s professional high-value image.

Training for special situations is available also.

• BillQuick<->QuickBooks Integration - Covering the basics of integration between BillQuick and QuickBooks, a trainee learns about communication between the two applications and how to set up the integration correctly.

• BillQuick 1-on-1 Training - Limited to a single firm per session, this course lets you customize training topics to your firm’s particular needs. As needed, this may include consulting services for BillQuick setup, BillQuick integration with other applications, etc.

To kick off the new role-based training, all BillQuick Training is 20% Off through October 31. Purchase any training course and you immediately receive the discount, whether you want one person or your entire staff trained. Multiple attendees from the same firm receive an additional discount.

There is no scheduling restriction. Schedule your courses for ASAP training or spread them out. Of course, the sooner you complete your guided learning, the faster your return on investment rises.

Remember: the 20% Discount on all BillQuick Training ends October 31.

BillQuick Advisors Demand Growing

With BQE Software's accelerating success in welcoming new customers to BillQuick, demand for Certified BillQuick Advisors is rising fast. BillQuick is used by professionals who track and/or bill their time -- accountants, attorneys, engineers, architects, IT consultants, business consultants, and others. If you are an accountant or consultant, you should consider adding BillQuick to expand your market sphere. Other professionals should let their accountant or consultant know about BillQuick and that they should consider it for their other clients.

In short, BQE Software wants you, or your accountant or consultant, to join our team as a BillQuick Advisor.

BillQuick is a top-rated time & billing package. Microsoft chose BQE Software as its launch partner for the new Small Business Accounting software. Now, BillQuick integrates with two top accounting packages, expanding opportunities for its BillQuick Advisors still further.

BQE Software's high double-digit growth rates result as much from expanded marketing and high-profile partners as continuous improvement of its software. In the past three years, BQE Software launched two new modules, and annually added 85 to 150 new and improved features to the BillQuick Family based on customer, prospect, BillQuick Advisor and consultant input. We introduced truly smart functionality that employs innovative, advanced fuzzy logic and learning algorithms. We deployed workflow automation in BillQuick and modules, and will expand this technology further in 2006. Plans for the coming months through the next two years include new modules, new products, new services, and enhancement of products and services.

Why do we do this? Substantive improvements benefit our customers (and BillQuick Advisors). Happier customers generate positive word-of-mouth, which leads to greater mind-share, and ultimately, leads to greater demand, more sales, and greater market-share. This has been our road to success since 1995.

BQE Software's BillQuick Advisor Program offers three levels of participation - Premier Advisor, Advisor and Affiliate. Accountants, consultants and others can choose the level that best fits their resources, commitment, business plan, and business model. Commissions are paid on software sales AS WELL AS training and report development services. Commission rates range from 10% to 40% depending on the level of participation, sales, and other factors. As part of their annual contract, Premier Advisors and Advisors receive a copy of BillQuick, Gold Support, a BillQuick User Guide, certification training, and marketing materials. Premier Advisors receive sales leads for prospects asking for an advisor. Requirements and other information can be found in the BillQuick Advisor Program booklet.

Come join our team.

BQE On The Road

BQE Software will participate in the 2005 QuickBooks® Consultant’s Conference hosted by The Sleeter Group, November 9 – 11, 2005, Tuscany Suites Hotel, Las Vegas, NV. QCC is the largest gathering of Accountants, Bookkeepers, CPAs and QuickBooks Consultants in the nation. BQE Software is a conference sponsor and will be demonstrating the BillQuick Family of software. Be sure to stop by and visit with us.

Upgrade to BillQuick 2005 - 30% to 40% Off + FREE Bonuses

Using BillQuick 2004 and haven't had time to upgrade to BillQuick 2005?

Maybe you're using BillQuick 2003 and need a little "incentive" to upgrade to the latest and greatest BillQuick yet.

Now's the time, BillQuickers!

Until October 31, you can upgrade to BillQuick 2005 at a Discount PLUS receive 2 Free Bonuses.

BillQuick 2004 users receive:

• 40% Off List Price (PLUS an extra 10% if you have Priority Support)

• FREE Priority Support (1 month)

• FREE BillQuick Add-On Modules (choice of 2)

BillQuick 2003 users receive:

• 30% Off List Price PLUS an extra 10% if you have Priority Support

• FREE Priority Support (1 month)

• FREE BillQuick Add-On Modules (choice of 2)

Choose the add-ons from our most popular, including:

• Agent 2005 - Workflow automation that monitors your firm's policy for time entry completeness and timeliness, and that schedules reports, automatically generates them, and delivers scheduled reports to a printer or to any email address.

• BillQuick Palm - Capture time and expenses in the field on your Palm PDA or Smart Cell Phone, then automatically update BillQuick when you sync your PDA.

• BillQuick CE - Capture time and expenses in the field on your Windows-based PDA or Smart Cell Phone. Auto-update BillQuick when you sync.

• BillQuick Assistant - Convert Microsoft Outlook appointments into BillQuick time records, PLUS Assistant learns what projects and tasks you associate with particular appointments.

Remember: Save up to 40% PLUS receive FREE Support PLUS choose Two FREE add-on modules. This special upgrade offer ends October 31.

NEW Resource Allocator 2006

Initial response to the new Resource Allocator 2006 has exceeded expectations!

Added to management toolkits of project managers, principals, firm resource schedulers, and administrative personnel, Resource Allocator boots Project, Excel and other software out the door.

When you assign a resource, Resource Allocator immediately identifies conflicts. It is quick and easy to see the impact of any number of resource allocation scenarios.

The old days of keeping it all in your head, politicking for resources, and other hassles are gone. No more checking multiple Project reports to see if there are conflicts or where gaps might be. Resource Allocator intelligently makes project management easier and faster. You can focus on the client and the project, not on stressing about another resource glitch.

Try Resource Allocator 2006 for FREE. Simply download the software from the BillQuick web site. The Resource Allocator trial version is fully functional and runs for 30 days. FREE support is included during the trial period too.

Resource Allocator is now a stand-alone application and integrates with BillQuick, QuickBooks and Outlook.

BillQuick Family "How-To"

The value of Custom Fields would not be very high if they were limited to being viewed in the master record as "reference information."

In BillQuick, the value of Custom Fields is boosted by the ability to:

1. Customize the field label to what makes sense for you.

2. Restrict data input to Text, Numbers, Dates, or Currency.

3. Search custom fields (or any field) using the Find function (available on most screens and from the menu), then performing a desired task involving the associated records.

4. Filter reports by custom fields. You may filter reports to include only your A or B-rated clients.

All master records - Client, Project, Employee, Activity Codes, Expense Codes, etc. - include custom fields.

How-To for BillQuick + (FREE) MSDE

Small to mid-sized firms utilizing BillQuick Pro in their practice should take a serious look at the Microsoft SQL Desktop Engine (MSDE) database. MSDE is able to support 5 to 50 users well because it contains many of the state-of-the-art capabilities found in Microsoft's industrial-strength SQL Server database. MSDE is FREE from Microsoft.

To help BillQuick customers implement MSDE, BQE Software recently published a FREE White Paper that guides you through installing MSDE with BillQuick. This includes "upsizing" your firm database to MSDE.

If you have more than 5 users sharing your firm database under Microsoft Access and/or Access has failed you and become corrupted at some point, then you should consider MSDE and download our FREE White Paper.

Monthly BillQuick Quizzer
Win $50!

Ready, set. . .GO!

When BillQuick and QuickBooks are integrated and you want to record expenses to bill to a client, which statement below is true?

1. Enter expenses in the Expense Log. Make sure they are marked "Billable."

2. Enter expenses in QuickBooks as a Bill to be Paid, Paid Bills (Checks), or a Credit Card Bill. Make sure the expense is charged to a Job.

3. All expenses to be billed to a client must be marked as "Reimbursable."

4. B and C

5. A and C

6. A and B

7. All are true.

8. All are not true.

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

Current BillQuick Release Information

BillQuick 2005 and QuickBooks 2005

BillQuick 2005 has 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 2005 Version

BillQuick 2005 v. 6.0.108. 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