BQE CORE
6.3/10Cloud firm management platform for architecture, engineering and consulting firms. It combines project management, time tracking, billing, accounting, CRM and payroll.
Data last updated November 2026 · Our methodology
Overview
BQE CORE is a cloud business management platform from BQE Software, the company behind BillQuick. It is built for architecture, engineering and consulting firms that bill clients for their time. Project management sits next to the money side of running a firm. Project managers track budgets, estimates, fee schedules, phases, milestones and task allocation, and they can view progress in interactive Gantt charts and a project dashboard. Time and expenses go into pre-populated timesheets and flow straight into manual, batch, recurring or automatic invoicing with online payments. Firms can add modules for accounting, a CRM called CORE Pursuit, HR, and payroll. Payroll is powered by Gusto and is only for US businesses. Pricing is per user and quote-based. The Foundations base plan covers time, billing, project management, reporting and 24/7 support with a dedicated account manager, and the other modules cost extra. BQE says it has more than 100 pre-built integrations, including QuickBooks, Xero, DocuSign, Power BI, Google and Microsoft, plus a Zapier connector and an open API. The main limitation is that BQE CORE is a financial and project-accounting tool rather than a team collaboration workspace. Its project pages don't mention Kanban boards, a client portal or document collaboration. Reviewers also mention slow load times, occasional glitches, and reports that take effort to configure.
Our Rating
Project Management6.3/10
CRM6.3/10
Who BQE CORE is best for
Good fit
Built for professional service firms that bill for time, and BQE names consulting firms as a target market.
- Mid-Market7/10
Modules for accounting, HR and payroll suit growing firms that need everything in one system.
Small A&E and consulting firms can replace QuickBooks plus spreadsheets with it, but onboarding takes effort.
Less suited
Time billing fits agencies, but it lacks creative-workflow tools such as Kanban boards.
Quote-based per-user pricing and a firm-management scope are more than a solo worker needs.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Time entries, project budgets and invoicing live in one system, so billable work flows straight into invoices.
- Reviewers say they can track project budgets in a way QuickBooks could not.
- Built specifically for architecture, engineering and consulting firms, including phased billing and fee schedules.
- The base plan includes 24/7/365 support and a dedicated account manager.
- More than 100 pre-built integrations, including QuickBooks, Xero, DocuSign and Power BI, plus Zapier and an open API.
Cons
- No public prices. Every plan and module needs a quote.
- Users report slow page loads and occasional glitches.
- Some reports take considerable work to configure for the result you want.
- Its project pages don't mention Kanban boards, a client portal or document collaboration.
- Implementation can be hard, especially with the QuickBooks Online integration.
Key Features
BQE CORE Pricing
Foundations
- Online payments
- iOS and Android apps, open API
- Gantt charts and phased billing
- Project budgets, estimates, fee schedules
- 24/7/365 support and dedicated account manager
- Manual, batch, recurring and automatic invoicing
- Time and expense tracking with pre-populated timesheets
- Unlimited customizable dashboards and scheduled reports
Frequently Asked Questions
BQE lists QuickBooks, Xero, DocuSign, Power BI, Google and Microsoft, plus a Zapier connector and an open API for custom integrations.
BQE charges per user but publishes no prices. You request a quote for the Foundations plan and for any add-on modules.
Accounting, CRM (CORE Pursuit), HR and Payroll are add-ons on top of the Foundations base plan.
No. BQE's pricing page says the Gusto-powered payroll module is for US-based businesses.
Yes. Project management includes interactive Gantt charts, milestones, phase breakdowns and a PM dashboard.
The Foundations plan includes 24/7/365 support and a dedicated account manager.
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