- Project Management: Tracked project progress, budgets, and schedules in real-time with interactive Gantt charts and task allocation ensure efficient project delivery.
- Time and Expense Tracking: Intuitive tools for time tracking with timers or timesheets and linked expenses to projects, accessible via mobile apps, enable on-the-go management.
- Billing and Invoicing: Automated invoicing processes with support for multiple billing methods (fixed fee, hourly, or hybrid), integrated with time tracking, ensure accurate, fast billing.
- Accounting Integration: Combined project and business accounting with automation for bank reconciliation, accounts payable/receivable, and customizable financial reports streamline financial management.
- Reporting and Analytics: Real-time, customizable dashboards and automated reports for financial and operational insights, including KPIs and project performance metrics, support decision-making.
- Client Relationship Management (CRM): Built-in tools for managed client interactions, campaigns, prospect tracking, and project proposals enhance business development.
- Resource Allocation and Forecasting: Staff planning with predictive analytics for task assignments based on skills and workload optimizes project outcomes.
- Human Resources (HR) Module: Managed employee data, payroll, benefits, and performance reviews streamline HR processes for firms of all sizes.
- Mobile App: iOS and Android apps for time tracking, expense logging, project overviews, and resource scheduling ensure productivity on the go.
- Third-Party Integrations: Seamless connection with tools like QuickBooks, Office 365, Dropbox, Xero, and Power BI, with custom APIs, enhances functionality.
- 24/7/365 Support: Round-the-clock live phone and email support, with free training courses and a dedicated account manager, ensures subscriber assistance.
BQE Core
Streamline project management, time tracking, billing, accounting, and CRM for professional service firms.
Updated February 27, 2026
BQE Core Overview
BQE Core is a comprehensive business management software designed for professional service firms, such as architects, engineers, and consultants. It integrates project management, time and expense tracking, billing, accounting, and CRM into a single platform.
With features like automated invoicing, real-time reporting, and client management, BQE Core enhances efficiency, improves financial oversight, and streamlines operations, enabling firms to manage projects, track performance, and boost profitability effectively.
Key Features
Pricing
| Price Plan | Details |
|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Per-user, modular—only pay for the features you need. |
| Foundations Module | Includes time & expense, billing & invoicing, project management, reporting & analytics, 24/7 support, dedicated account manager. |
| Optional Modules | Accounting, CRM, HR—available à la carte. |
| Pricing Disclosure | Custom quotes only—no public pricing listed. |
| Purchase Methods | In-app subscription management or via Sales Account Manager; flexible payment options. |
Pricing details: https://www.bqe.com/pricing
Pros
Competitor |
Pros of BQE CORE |
|---|---|
| Monograph | BQE CORE shines as an all-in-one platform, allowing firms to consolidate time tracking, expenses, billing, project management, reporting, and analytics in one system. Users appreciate the flexibility to select only the modules needed and commend its responsive customer support. According to Software Advice, BQE CORE scores slightly higher on functionality and value-for-money compared to Monograph. |
| BigTime | Compared to BigTime, BQE CORE offers a comprehensive feature set with strong support systems. Users value its robust reporting and modular architecture, which enables firms to pay only for the features they require, whereas BigTime may lack depth in integrations and system-wide capabilities. |
| Quickbase | BQE CORE excels in core service areas such as time tracking and expense management. Users report higher satisfaction with these functionalities and particularly commend the high quality and responsiveness of BQE CORE’s customer support—areas where Quickbase scores slightly lower. |
| Deltek Replicon / Journyx / FreshBooks / Expensify | While not direct feature-for-feature matches, BQE CORE’s holistic functionality like covering time, expense, billing, accounting, project management, and CRM provides a unified solution. Reviewers note that BQE CORE’s broad coverage sets it apart from point solutions like FreshBooks or Expensify. |
Cons
Competitor |
Cons of BQE CORE |
|---|---|
| Monograph | Compared to Monograph, BQE CORE is often seen as more complex and less intuitive. Users transitioning to Monograph describe it as simpler to use, more visually streamlined, and better tailored to A&E workflows. |
| BigTime | Many users report that BQE CORE is slower, clunkier, and harder to set up compared to BigTime. Performance issues such as lag and sluggish navigation are recurring complaints. |
| Quickbase | While Quickbase provides more powerful customization and task management capabilities, BQE CORE falls short in these areas—particularly for firms that require finely tuned, workflow-specific flexibility. |
| General (Community Feedback/Reddit) | Broader user feedback highlights significant usability issues: frequent performance slowdowns, buggy interfaces, steep learning curves, and limited template consistency for project management.
Even high praise from some users is tempered with caution over these usability hurdles. |
Reviews
- G2 Review (Rating: 4.3/5): The intuitive interface makes time tracking and project management straightforward, and the customizable dashboards with pie charts, bar graphs, and interactive lists help teams see real-time data the way they prefer. Many highlight the “world’s fastest and smartest time tracking system” with smart timers and mobile location tracking, though some report occasional performance lags that interrupt their workflow. BQE Core earns praise for its wide range of reporting and invoice templates that support different contract types.
- Software Advice Review (Rating: 4.5/5): BQE Core speeds up invoicing and expense reconciliation, and one reviewer noted it allows updates to items before finalizing monthly entries. The user-friendly interface and customizable dashboards deliver real-time insights, yet several users mention lag during timecard submission and say report templates need more flexibility to remove or add fields.
- Reddit r/civilengineering: One firm that switched from BQE Billquick (desktop) to BQE Core (web based) calls it “pretty awful,” citing slow performance, convoluted workflows, and missing simple reporting such as alerts for jobs at or over not-to-exceed values. Billing works fairly well after hours with support to set up and troubleshoot, but the web version costs about three times more than the desktop, which frustrates the team.
- Capterra Review (Rating: 4.5/5): Several reviewers describe an easy-to-navigate interface and responsive customer service that answers questions quickly. One finance analyst says invoicing and reconciling expenses feel fast and efficient, while another architect enjoys the clean UI and helpful webinars. A few note slower performance, occasional glitches, and the inconvenience of signing in every time.
