Custom Residential Architects Network

We are a 20-person architecture firm currently using QuickBooks and are evaluating  BQE Core for both accounting and project tracking.

Would appreciate any feedback from anyone who has used BQE Core, particularly on:

• Ease of implementation/training
• Integration with QuickBooks or whether you fully replaced it
• Overall functionality and reporting
• Pros/Cons or things you wish you knew before switching

Thanks in advance for any insights you can provide! 

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Anne Mooney, FAIA
Sparano + Mooney Architecture
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Use or at least evaluate Monograph!

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Jeff Montague AIA
Mathison | Mathison Architects
Grand Rapids MI
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Core is a love hate relationship.  We use it for all our job profitability tracking, employee timesheets, employee utilization, project planning, client management, and project billing.  There is a big learning curve but its totally worth it.  The free training they provide just gets you started.  So you either have someone that is tech savy on staff, or pay for a year of additional training support.    

Basically, what we use it for is not accounting, our accountant does all that in Quickbooks based on info we send him.  For our firm we use Core on the project management and profitability side of things and it can be amazing once you get it set up.  

Quick note - The project scheduling/resource allocation side of things is new to core and is lacking at this point, but they are rapidly making improvements. 

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Brian Maslyk AIA
Cadence Architecture PC
Midlothian VA
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Perhaps not suited for your firm but could be very helpful for small firms is Toggl (toggl.com).  I can't say enough good about it, after five plus years. The timer is so easy and intuitive for client project/phase tracking. The reports are easy to run and flexible as to calendar, client, project, or description. - Bonnie, bfburns.com

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Barbara Burns AIA
Middleburg VA
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We are a mid-sized firm and have been using Factor for the past two years.  It was designed for AE firms, and the time sheet function is extremely easy for our employees to use.

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Tom Taylor, AIA
Hensley Lamkin Rachel, Inc.
Dallas, Texas

2027 International Residential Code Building Code Committee
2024 IECC Residential Envelope and Embodied Energy Committee
Safety Assessment Program Evaluator
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-01-2026 08:09 AM
From: Barbara Burns, AIA
Subject: software for accounting/project tracking

Perhaps not suited for your firm but could be very helpful for small firms is Toggl (toggl.com).  I can't say enough good about it, after five plus years. The timer is so easy and intuitive for client project/phase tracking. The reports are easy to run and flexible as to calendar, client, project, or description. - Bonnie, bfburns.com

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Barbara Burns AIA
Middleburg VA
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I tried CORE several years ago and stopped because the learning curve was too high. I have a problem with software that costs more in training than the software itself!  I switched to monograph several yeas ago and have been happy. It is intuitive enough for new employees to figure out without excessive training and they keep improving it. Definitely one to consider.

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Robert Ross AIA
Ross Design, Inc.
Atlanta GA
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I've been using BQE Core since 2020. I transitioned from ArchiOffice. We use it primarily for time tracking, billing, accounting, and some project management. I will admit I don't use it to the fullest. The customizable dashboard is really helpful to see time logs and accounting metrics at a glance. I really like the interface that they keep improving.

My main complaint is the software can be a bit clunky and has it's slow days. I understand they are continually trying to improve their performance. Hope this helps! 

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Robert Black AIA
ROBERT BLACK 5 design, LLC
Potomac MD
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-01-2026 05:46 PM
From: Robert Ross, AIA
Subject: software for accounting/project tracking

I tried CORE several years ago and stopped because the learning curve was too high. I have a problem with software that costs more in training than the software itself!  I switched to monograph several yeas ago and have been happy. It is intuitive enough for new employees to figure out without excessive training and they keep improving it. Definitely one to consider.

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Robert Ross AIA
Ross Design, Inc.
Atlanta GA
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