The BalaBoss Client Navigator from BalaBoss Software Corporation (888-635-1111) is an Access-based workflow front-end similar to many DOS-based shell programs from days of yore. It offers a unique practice management alternative, acting as a control center that opens third-party tax and accounting applications from one centralized location. BalaBoss Client Navigator’s utility doesn’t end there, though. The company recently added a much-needed time and billing module. Now BalaBoss is an official competitor in the time and billing market. Other staples include contact management, due-date monitoring, client notes, staff scheduling/allocation and "file room" storage. Visit www.balaboss.com for more information.

Pricing

BalaBoss includes all program features for one price, a nice touch that is not the norm for this industry. In fact, BalaBoss doesn’t offer any add-on modules; it is a complete product. Pricing starts at $399 for a single-user license. A five-user license costs $799; a ten-user license costs $1,499; a 25-user license costs $3,699; and individual user licenses cost $199 each.

BalaBoss offers data conversion from selected time & billing products. A deposit of $250 is required to reserve data conversion service at 25¢ per client subject to a minimum of $250.

Setup

The BalaBoss User Guide is handy to keep by the computer for quick reference since it is five by seven inches in size. BalaBoss doesn’t offer an online help system, but the printed manual offers precise instruction with multiple screen shots.

Setting up this software follows a slightly different course compared to its competition since BalaBoss Client Navigator has the ability to automatically open various tax/accounting programs residing on your system. All initial setup takes place from the System Administration button located at the bottom of the program’s main menu. Also called Client HQ, this window is the only access point into the program (BalaBoss doesn’t offer traditional pull-down menus).

Pressing the Administration button opens a window with two options: System Administration and Time & Billing Administration.

In System Administration, users have a new way to display information. In addition to its point-and-shoot menu concept, BalaBoss has added "tree" view, a hierarchical display that puts all options in one, scrolling window. Various System Administration tasks include assigning staff to status levels (manager, senior, partner, etc.); entering Launch Pad button titles and setting the link to the program’s executable file; adding users, permissions and startup profiles; entering firm setup information, etc. Time & Billing Administration is a centralized location for setting users and permission levels; identifying bank accounts, tax codes, titles, etc.; entering service codes; and picking an invoice format among others.

Data-Entry

BalaBoss Client Navigator features batch and online time entry. Although online entry is supported, the time & billing module does not include a stopwatch; however, the program does track the amount of time spent inside each client file. In the time & expense entry window, seven tabs delineate major functionality. They include time & expense entry; import activity; time sheet; expense report; time (client); expense (client); and post to WIP. The "import activity" tab automatically logs how much time is spent in each client file. After navigating to that tab, it only takes one click to import those automatic time transactions into the time/billing module. This is an example of intelligent programming that I like to see.

Billing

This program supports four types of billings: selected items, progress bills, progress bills plus selected items and non-WIP invoices. One of the best features in this area of the program is the invoice flexibility. BalaBoss simplifies the creation of invoices thanks to two buttons that automatically insert verbose or summary billing information. (All text is user-definable.)

Reporting

BalaBoss Client Navigator includes over 89 reports. Each report is highly customizable, so you can technically produce hundreds if not thousands of variations. BalaBoss keeps its data files open, so anyone with a basic knowledge of ODBC-compliant report writers can gain access to the underlying data that this program manages. In fact, that is the only way to produce custom reports, since the program ships without a custom report writer.

Bottom Line