Client entry and maintenance system for timekeeping and billing for professional services system and method

摘要

The present invention consists of an improved system and method for generating flat fee bills and interim bills to professional service clients where the system will automatically assign a flat fee amount to a client's matter, task or activity and then the final bill amount issued to the client will not exceed the flat fee contractually agreed upon. The flat fee payment amount may be billed each time a matter, task, or activity is mentioned in a client bill. An interim bill also may be generated for a client at anytime in order to collect retainers and advance funds. The improved method and system is directed to use in professional services firms such as law, engineering, architecture, accounting and the like.

主权项

1. An improved System for Flat Fee Billing comprising entering at least the following Time Data: Work Date, Timekeeper ID, Client ID, Matter ID, Matter Description, Client Costs, an Hourly Rate and Time Worked; providing a CPU and data storage, the improvement comprising creating a Flat Fee Amount associated with one or more of the following groups consisting of: a Matter, Task or Activity, creating a Bill Total comprising all the Time Worked multiplied by the Hourly Rate plus Client Costs, providing a Bill Reduction Amount which equals the Bill Total minus the Flat Fee Amount and generating a Flat Fee Bill listing the Bill Total, the Bill Reduction Amount and the Flat Fee Amount to the Client.