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BQE CORE

What BQE CORE is
BQE CORE is a cloud-based business platform for architecture, engineering, and other professional services firms. It brings project management, time and expense tracking, billing, accounting, HR, and business intelligence into one system. Project tools show progress and budget status, support task allocation and forecasting, and include interactive Gantt charts. For time and expenses, teams can use pre-populated timesheets, capture receipts, and calculate overtime automatically. Billing supports manual, batch, and recurring invoices, flexible billing schedules, and online payment processing.
CORE provides real-time KPI reporting, customizable dashboards, and scheduled automated reports. Listed integrations include QuickBooks Online and Desktop, Xero, MYOB AccountRight, DocuSign, Microsoft Office 365, Power BI, Google, and Zapier; BQE also offers public APIs for custom integrations. iOS and Android apps are available. The Android app supports project creation, time and expense entry, approvals, invoicing, and reports. Some downloaded records can be viewed offline, while adding, editing, or deleting records requires an internet connection. BQE lists two-factor authentication, 24/7/365 support, and complimentary public group training for CORE customers. Pricing is on request, and a free trial is available.
Who it suits
CORE suits architecture and engineering firms that want project, financial, people, and reporting tools in one platform. Other professional services firms can also consider it, particularly if they use the listed accounting, signing, productivity, or analytics integrations.
What it does well
- Combines project management, billing, accounting, HR, and business intelligence.
- Project tools include forecasts and interactive Gantt charts.
- Timesheets, receipt capture, and automatic overtime calculation support expense workflows.
- Supports scheduled reports and customizable dashboards.
- Offers QuickBooks, Xero, DocuSign, Office 365, and other integrations.
- iOS and Android apps support work on mobile.
What to know first
- Pricing is available only on request.
- There is no free plan.
- Android requires internet access to add, edit, or delete records.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CRM | Campaigns · Prospect tracking · Proposal builder · Win-loss tracking · Sales enablement | On request |
| HR | Benefits and reviews · HR forms · Journals · PTO · Salary history | On request |
| Accounting | Bank reconciliation · Cloud feeds · Deposits and transfers · Chart of accounts · Financial reports | On request |
| Foundations | per user per month · Time and Expense · Billing and Invoicing · Project Management · Reporting and Analytics · 24/7/365 support · iOS and Android mobile app | On request |
As bqe.com lists them, read 20 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the BQE CORE website.
- Request pricing for the Foundations or optional modules that fit your needs.
- Start a free trial; BQE says trial customers can receive support.
- Use the web platform or install the iOS or Android app.
- Connect supported services such as QuickBooks, Xero, or Microsoft Office 365 if needed.
Verdict
Choose BQE CORE if your professional services firm needs project oversight alongside time, expense, billing, accounting, and reporting tools. Its free trial gives prospective customers a way to explore the platform, and BQE says trial customers can receive support. Look elsewhere if you need a published price or a free plan.
Questions
How much does BQE CORE cost?
Pricing is on request. Foundations pricing varies by modules and number of users; CRM, HR, and Accounting are optional modules with quotes on request.
Is there a free plan or trial?
There is no free plan. A free trial is available, and BQE says trial customers can receive support.
Which platforms does CORE support?
CORE is available on the web, iOS, and Android, and it provides an API.
What integrations are available?
Listed integrations include QuickBooks Online and Desktop, Xero, MYOB AccountRight, DocuSign, Microsoft Office 365, Power BI, Google, and Zapier. BQE also says its public APIs can be used to create custom integrations.
Does CORE support trust accounts and client payments?
Yes. The listed capabilities include trust account support, a client payment portal, ACH and card payments, payment plans, and reconciliation tools.
Who makes BQE CORE?
BQE makes CORE and was founded in 1995.
Facts from BQE CORE's own pages
- Accounting module
- The optional Accounting module includes bank-feed reconciliation, deposits, transfers, customizable charts of accounts, budgeting and financial statements. · bqe.com, 20 Oct 2026
- API
- BQE says its public APIs can be used to create custom integrations. · corehelpcenter.bqe.com, 3 Oct 2026
- API access
- CORE public APIs are available to CORE developer accounts, and account owners or administrators receive API access without an additional subscription. · corehelpcenter.bqe.com, 20 Oct 2026
- API resources
- The developer resources include API documentation, a developer portal, Swagger, an API getting-started guide, code samples and an API explorer. · corehelpcenter.bqe.com, 20 Oct 2026
- API samples
- The API help center links sample applications for ASP, PHP and Python developers and documents authentication, parameters, methods, troubleshooting and best practices. · corehelpcenter.bqe.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Audience
- The product is designed for architecture and engineering firms and also serves other professional services firms. · bqe.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Billing
- Billing features include manual and batch invoicing, recurring invoicing, flexible billing schedules, and online payment processing. · bqe.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Billing and invoicing
- CORE supports manual, batch, recurring and automatic invoicing, flexible billing schedules, online payments and pay-when-paid vendor-bill management. · bqe.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Cloud-only deployment
- CORE is hosted in the cloud, requires no desktop installation and is accessed through a browser or mobile apps. · corehelpcenter.bqe.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Company founded
- LinkedIn lists BQE Software as founded in 1995. · linkedin.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Company headquarters and size
- LinkedIn lists West Hollywood, California headquarters and 201–500 employees. · linkedin.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Company legal name
- Crunchbase identifies the legal entity as BQE Software, Inc. · crunchbase.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Company ownership
- LinkedIn describes BQE Software as privately held. · linkedin.com, 20 Oct 2026
- CRM module
- The optional CRM module provides campaign and budget management, multi-stage prospect tracking, proposals, win-loss analysis and sales tools. · bqe.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Custom integration
- BQE markets an open API for building custom integrations and also provides a Zapier connector for additional applications. · bqe.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Documentation and support
- BQE provides an online Help Center, in-app Resource Center, community forum, training, onboarding and technical support advertised as 24/7/365. · bqe.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1995 · bqe.com, 23 Sept 2026
- Gartner Peer Insights
- Gartner Peer Insights lists BQE Software with no reviews yet. · gartner.com, 20 Oct 2026
- HR module
- The optional HR module includes benefits and reviews, HR forms, employee journals, automated PTO and salary-history tracking. · bqe.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Supported integrations listed by BQE include QuickBooks Online and Desktop, Xero, MYOB AccountRight, DocuSign, Microsoft 365, Power BI, Google and Zapier. · corehelpcenter.bqe.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Licence
- The SaaS agreement grants a non-exclusive, non-perpetual, non-transferable licence for internal use; the service is proprietary rather than open source. · bqe.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Limit: learning curve
- Reviewers report that the breadth of features creates a significant onboarding and training learning curve. · capterra.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Limit: mobile data safety
- Google Play lists that the Android app may share personal information and photos or videos and states that data is not encrypted. · play.google.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Limit: performance
- Independent reviews mention slow loading, sluggish operation and occasional system stability problems. · trustradius.com, 20 Oct 2026
Where BQE CORE stands on Freedom251
- Professional Services Accounting Software#1 of 30
- Project Accounting Software#2 of 26
- Engineering Accounting#1 of 13
- Legal Trust Accounting Software#4 of 40
- Professional Services Automation Software#3 of 26
- Agency Project Management Software#4 of 30
- Legal Billing Software#4 of 25
- Legal Payments Software#7 of 43
- Time and Expense Software#11 of 27
- Professional Services CRM Software#16 of 35
- Time Billing Software#19 of 31
