Thursday, September 23, 2010

Do the software manufacturers always provide requisite training for the software that they produce?

Unfortunately, the answer is in fact an emphatic no. Even if software companies do provide suitable help files and tutorials that accompany all software that is shipped out, unfortunately the same does prove to be rather inadequate.

This aspect is especially true in the case of more complex or intricate software, such as business accounting software. This is also because the software in question is being deployed for managing business finances; any major goof up could eventually prove to be a very costly mistake.

Given this backdrop, it is in fact appropriate that a large number of entities have emerged that specializes in the deployment of software as well as training for the same. These visionary enterprises realized well in time that if software had to be used to its fullest potential, then requisite and adequate training had to be provided for it as well. This aspect came to the fore all the more, when businesses saw that the much needed support was simply not there from the software companies themselves; it is as though these companies had taken on the role and responsibility of software creation alone and nothing beyond that.

Thus, if you are looking to get accounting software such as Peachtree Quantum, suitably deployed, so all employees obtain the requisite training on that software, you can easily rely on the external entities mentioned above, for the same. Even if you are located far and wide, or perhaps have multiple networks and branches of your business spread widely across the country, even then you can be assured of receiving support and training. As a matter of fact, talking about Peachtree software and Peachtree support in particular, you can easily expect Peachtree Illinois training, Peachtree Kansas training or perhaps even Peachtree Missouri training, if you happen to be located in any of these states. Likewise for all the other states across the country.

Thus, as you can clearly see, it is this kind of Sage accounting software or MAS 200 software deployment and training that eventually proves invaluable in the long run. Finally, if it wasn’t for this software training, it would have been a challenge of epic proportions to get all staff on the same page, as far as the suitable usage of this software is concerned.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Why is accounting software so critical to small businesses?

With small businesses being the fundamental building block of the entire American economy, it should actually come as no surprise that all small businesses in particular, depend on accounting software for keeping track of revenues and expenses.

Let us explain this aspect in greater detail. One of the most fundamental aspect of a small business is the relatively lesser number of personnel manning the venture; while there are many businesses that are actually nothing but a one-person show, there are other businesses, which even if bigger in scale and scope, may not have more than a 100 employees working for them in all.

In all such cases, it is imperative that the employee costs are kept to the minimum, as wages often end up being the primary driver of costs, as far as business expenses are concerned. That is the reason, with automation being foremost on the minds of all small business owners; it is no surprise that they increasingly rely on accounting software to get their work done. In fact, in many cases, it is the owners themselves who do all the accounting work, with the help of the aforementioned software.

Talking about accounting software in particular, you can be assured that there are various kinds that are available with absolute ease in the market; for instance, you will find Peachtree Quantum, MAS 90 accounting software, as well as sage accounting software to be just some of the various options at hand. Rest assured that there are many other accounting and CRM software, all available with absolute ease.

Talking specifically about Peachtree software, you will also find Peach tree support to be par excellence; that too, not just in specific portions of the country but rather, pretty much all over, whether we are referring to Peachtree Michigan, Peachtree Illinois, Peachtree Missouri, or Peachtree Kansas. While on the lookout for Peachtree support, you can also very well take up Peachtree classes wherein you will be provided with specialized training and instructions on how best to go about with your Peachtree learning endeavors. Eventually, at the end of all this training, you should be very well equipped to handle every aspect of Peachtree accounting software, with complete aplomb. This will in turn help you in managing the accounts of your business with absolute panache, even if you need to do the same yourself.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

The Policy Side of Peachtree - Where Management and Accounting Coincide

Whether you're using Peachtree Accounting or Sage Accounting Software to check up on the myriad of factors that go into creating that magical profit figure at the end of the fiscal year, there is little that you can do from within your small business accounting software to either improve or worsen your company's results. Today we look at where management and accounting have to coincide, to create figures that are not only accurate but also pleasing!
Creating tracking systems for overdue accounts
You can’t risk having overdue accounts simply sit there, eventually becoming so aged that you look silly trying to collect on them. There are options within Peachtree that you can use to track aged debts quite easily; however you need to make a habit of printing these reports and more importantly, following up on the information that they provide.
Create a protocol for missed payments
You'll need to set down a policy regarding what should be done once you have the late payment list from Peachtree or ACT sales software in your hands. This usually entails:
  • Creating a payment contract for customers to sign before getting credit
  • Having a standard letter ready to mail as the intial step
  • Determining how many days it will be before extra action is taken
  • Deciding when it will be time for a phone call, and who will make it
  • Deciding what will be said in that phone call!
Offer discounts for fast payment
Collections costs a lot of money. Consider setting up your small business accounting software - Peachtree, Sage and ACT are all capable of this - to apply a discount to payments that are received within a specified time frame. No more than 5% is standard.
Offer multiple payment options
It is the simplest thing in the world to create new payment options within your accounting software, and almost as easy to set up the methods themselves with the help of an accountant. Ensure you have options for people that don't have the internet, may be hearing impaired so have trouble using phones, don't have credit cards or work during most normal bank hours.


Tuesday, August 10, 2010

5 Ways to Customize the Way You Work in Peachtree

Having the ability to do things your own way can make just about anything worthwhile. If you can set up your workflow the way you want, even the most difficult tasks become easy over time - and high level small business accounting and payroll software programs have quite a few ways to customize your workflow to suit yourself! Today we look at 5 of those personalization strategies in Peachtree Accounting.
Setting the Global Options
In Peachtree Accounting the Global Options allow you to control the way the program behaves, looks and feels. Go to Options>Global to get the Maintain Global Options dialog box, and each user of the programs can set their own preferences. After all, it would hardly be personalizable if everyone simply had to work to the boss's preferred setup!
Point out your preferences
The first section on the left hand side of the Accounting Tab within Global Options is the Deciaml Entry screen, which determines how Peachtree inserts decimal points. This can be very handy if you have a narrow taskset and find that your thumb is getting Repetitive Strain Injury from reaching down to the period on the number pad all the time!
Get warned about potential mistakes
If you're like me, then you're fine with the process of doing things ... but occasionally miss a critical step such as saving a record! In the Accounting tab of the Global Options you can set Peachtree to warn you if a record was changed but not saved, to help avert any disasters while you re-train your brain.
Choose to Update reports automatically when records are saved
Depending on whether you want good performance from your Peachtree Accounting product, or up-to-the-minute accuracy in the recording, you can choose to either uncheck or check the General option to 'Update reports automatically when records are saved'.
Spellchecking
Many of us rejoiced on the day that Firefox began to check our spelling for us ... and Peachtree Accounting can too. Use the Spelling Tab in Global Options to set up the program to do a spellcheck when you save or close a transaction, and help with maintaining a professional image.


Thursday, July 22, 2010

More Peachtree User Problems Solved

Peachtree Complete and Peachtree Accounting are wonderful programs ... however they are quite complex structures, and do interact in strange ways with different tasks, operating systems and users sometimes! Today we check out some of the niggles that customers have had with Peachtree support, checking out possible solutions and guidance for using the products properly.
Check stub formatting
Some users have expressed interest in being able to format check stubs to show various invoice details. In some cases it is possible, but some it is not - for instance, the GL distribution line is not available for printing on a check stub. Manually typing the numbers in the description field is the most automated ay to do this, unfortunately!
Clients are interested in running Peachtree on Parallels on a Mac
Peachtree can be run for a Mac using Parallels, however there are a couple of known issues with it. Performance is noticeably less than on Windows-based PCs - it seems there just aren’t enough people out there using Peachtree on a Mac to do the comprehensive programming work necessary to fine tune the performance. Email also doesn't work for some clients using Parallels.
Users experience issues with several Microsoft Office 2010 programs, especially on computers running Windows 7
Every time a software vendor brings out a new version of something (especially when it is Microsoft!) everybody else has to scramble to catch up. Some users are requiring peach tree support for issues with emailing through Microsoft Outlook 2010, and sending documents to Microsoft Excel 2010, for example. In many cases this is due to the 64-bit version of Windows 7 running, causing odd issues. In most cases an expert visit is required to sort out workarounds and potential improvements to the situation.
Invoice numbers are being assigned in non-consecutive order
This is a fairly simple problem with a fairly simple reason, and an equally simple fix! If you have manually used an invoice number out of sequence, Peachtree will assume that you want to keep numbering from that point, and increment invoice numbers by one from the new set point. Simply manually set it back.
Users are required to re-register Peachtree every time it is opened
This seems like a major issue, but in fact is not. A corrupt entry is the most likely cause, and if the program worked correctly upon installation you should be able to fix the issue by simply re-installing it.


Friday, July 9, 2010

Peachtree User Problems Solved: June 2010

Peachtree Quantum and the other Accounting versions of the program are quite involved pieces of software. They interact with different data, different operating systems, different task sets and user styles in different ways ... sometimes unexpected ways! Sometimes the manual just isn’t enough - but luckily there is quite an assortment of excellent Peachtree Support available online. Today we offer some solutions to common problems that have been bugging Peachtree users this month.
Users cannot customize checks and forms without an application error message. In some cases the entire system shuts down.
This is not a widespread Peachtree problem, but has affected more than one user in the recent past. On attempting to customize a check or form, users get a 'peachtree.exe application error / The unknown software exception occurred in the application at location [location]' message.
The culprit in all cases has been a corrupt file. If users could customize forms at some time in the past, uninstalling and re-installing the software fixes the problem.
Users need guidance on moving Peachtree 2010 to an upgraded server
Peachtree support experts advise that you should keep the drive letter and directory structure the same on the new server as the old. If this isn’t possible, you'll need to redefine the DATAPATH on each workstation to avoid losing custom forms, due to the way that Peachtree looks for forms.
Saving selected invoices to pay
Old Peachtree Classic users have mentioned that they found the ability to save selected invoices to a 'To Pay' list, and have someone review it over the following couple of days, is one of the features they miss most in the Sage Accounting Software version of Peachtree. One workaround, though it is a slower process, is to go through Tasks - Payments, rather than Tasks - Select for Payment. You will need to manually enter each check, but it does enable you to save them without printing.
We often recommend that you call in a certified Peachtree support consultant, even for some small issues. You'll get plenty of tricks and tips that can later be used to self-solve issues with your Sage Accounting software products.


Monday, June 21, 2010

Don’t Get Overwhelmed

A friend of mine began running a small business from her home last year and was doing really well. She was baking pies, cakes, and cookies for local restaurants and it really became a big success. Unfortunately she neglected to have any kind of accounting software programmed into her computer and the paperwork got really out of hand. That’s when she begged me to help her make sense of all of it.

I have an accounting business myself and have a degree so it really wasn’t difficult to explain to her what type of program she needed for her business. She needed small business accounting software that is easy to use and understand so that she could keep up with it herself and not have to hire somebody to do her books. She didn’t think she would be able to handle it but once I showed her the different programs there were and helped her pick the right one, she quickly learned how to use it.

This is the mistake many small business owners make when they start their business; they think that because they are running a very small business from their home that they don’t need any kind of professional accounting software. They think they can keep up with the billing and invoicing and orders on a pad of paper and use hand written receipts. The problem with that is you lose track very quickly and you don’t have any saved data to predict profit and loss. When you run a business you need to see what is working best for you and what isn’t. In my friend’s case, she knew her cherry pie was her best seller but she didn’t know by how much. She also didn’t know by how much her apple pie was not a big winner. I showed her how she can use the software to make charts and graphs to show which of her items is selling best and to show how much each item has profited her.

This type of information is very important in a small business because every penny counts and if you have a product that isn’t selling well and have a product that is very popular, you should invest more in the most popular product and drop the other. By using these simple business tools her business doubled in profit in just six months. She has almost outgrown her home bakery and is in the process of building a larger kitchen in her basement.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Business Tips for Self Employment

When I started my own catering business I didn’t consider the business end of it; I was just thinking about getting clients and cooking the food. I never considered the work it would be keeping up with the bills, payroll, ordering, and all the other fine details that go along with owning a business. It didn’t take long before I knew I needed some help and that’s when I started looking into the Peachtree Complete software for accounting. It seemed to have everything I needed to run my business and seemed quite easy to use.

I needed one program that would keep track of billings, payroll, would print checks and invoices, and wash dished. I’ve gotten it to do all those things and more, except wash the dishes; nothing is perfect I guess. I was spending so much time chasing down invoices and wondering if I paid certain bills that it was taking away from doing my work in the kitchen. Once I started using the business accounting software my life got a whole lot easier.

Once my business took off and I started getting a lot of clients I hired somebody to do all my accounting and payroll. The great thing about the software I’m using is that it’s so easy to learn and use I was able to train the girl in just a few days. Most of the applications are self explanatory and require no real accounting knowledge. It does all the work for you; all you have to do is type in the numbers. It comes with payroll and inventory software; I didn’t have to buy separate programs to get all the tools I needed to run my business.

I really enjoy having my own business and I like the fact that there is little paperwork involved in using the software I have for my accounting needs. I give my clients the option of paperless invoices and just send reminders to their email addresses. I am able to link my online banking up to my software to make bill payments a breeze. I had no idea there would be so much involved in running a business and I’m very lucky that I found all the great business tools all wrapped up nicely in one complete program. I don’t think I would have been as successful as I am now had I not found a way to keep all my accounting business under control.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Your Small Business is Our Top Priority

One thing that up and coming small businesses absolutely cannot compromise on is the company’s accounting. It is simply too crucial to short change. That is definitely one of the major problems with businesses these days. They do not put enough of their resources into their company’s bookkeeping. Another problem that managers have is the lack of ability to properly keep up with the company’s financials. With a good software program, you will no longer have to worry about the bookkeeping or organization of your company. There are programs that have all of the benefits you need to keep your small business running smoothly and efficiently.

Some of the software that's useful includes MAS90 accounting, MAS200, ACT, Timeslips, and Sage. It's important to stay informed of possible updates, too. Not a computer wizard? No problem! Certified trainers are ready to teach you everything you need to know when it comes to software. Often there are locations all over the country that allow you to have a few days of uninterrupted accounting training. This ensures your employees that they will have a secure knowledge of the programs your company is integrating into its system. With a good training system, your employees can receive one-on-one attention from trained professionals, anytime your employees have questions or need help on anything when it comes to Peachtree software.

One of the major problems with accounting is inaccuracy. It should not be that way. When it comes to accounting a small mistake can balloon out of control before anyone catches it. That's why a strong accounting software system is so key when it comes to running your small business. Find a company that specializes in system integration and that makes the learning process as easy and efficient as possible -- they're out there! A good company will be eager to answer your questions and provide you with the software training from Peachtree support to Act software training.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Accounting Software with the Training you Deserve

When it comes to accounting couldn’t we all use a little help? All of those numbers and figures can be quite confusing. If you are a business owner then you know exactly what we are talking about. Handling the numbers and figures for a small or large company can be a little overwhelming. The answer is not hiring from outside the company. The answer is to train from inside the company. You do not need someone coming in and taking over what is rightfully yours. It will be better for the company if you could train your own members to be well rounded. JCS Computers has just the solution for you when it comes to Sage accounting software!

JCS Computers has been around since 1989. We cater to over 10,000 customers all over this nation and would love to make you a part of the fun! We know what we are doing and would love to train you on the same information. A few of the products we offer are: MAS90 accounting software, MAS200 software, Sage accounting software, and ACT. These are just a few of the programs you are offered through our growing company. We choose business efficiency over decline. Your business’ success is our priority and all of our programs make that success all the more attainable.
You may be wondering how it is exactly that we are going to train your employees in accounting. They do not need to go to a twelve week course or a semester of college. We can teach them everything they need to know in one of our ACT software training classes. JCS Computers offers training classes for all of our software so that you are never left in the dark. We offer classes in California, Illinois, Michigan, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Missouri. It may be a trip to visit us but it will be well worth it in the long run. Your employees will be trained in any area you wish so that you do not need to keep bringing in people from the outside. If any problems arise after the training occurs then feel free to call us up. Our instructors are certified and ready to help you in any circumstance.
The dream of any small business is success and efficiency. JCS Computers would love to partner with you and make that dream a reality. We are only one phone call away. Do not hesitate to jump start your business into the fastest growing stage it will ever experience.


Thursday, April 22, 2010

Peachtree Software

Accounting software has always been one of those programs that all small businesses need to keep track of the money coming in and out of a business. One does not realize how important this can be until a business starts to grow and expand. I use to keep track of all of my accounts in my clothing store with the good ol’ standard ledgers and a pencil. This was fine for the first year that I was open for business. When my clothing store started to grow and became one of the hottest clothing stores in town, I knew I needed a better method of keeping track of all my accounts. The sage accounting software seemed to be just what I needed to keep my books organized.

At first I was not exactly sure which accounting program would be the right fit for my clothing business. After contacting the informative staff they knew just what I needed to keep my small business organized. The mas 90 accounting software was recommended along with the other peach tree software that they have to offer.

I was worried about the installation of the accounting software. The staff informed me that for a minimal fee that they would install the accounting software on my computers and that they offered peachtree support. This made me feel at ease with using this new accounting software in my business. I also found out that I could take the peachtree class at one of their many facilities. This was a big help to me because I am not the computer savvy type and my assistant manager could also take part in the classes to learn how to use the MAS90 accounting effectively.

Since computer software is becoming more complicated, it just made sense to me to take full advantage of the peachtree classes. My assistant manager was apprehensive at first until I explained that we would be taking classes on how to use the new accounting software. She was so thankful that I had chosen to use these products and that she would be taking the classes with me. Now I can keep track of accounts with ease.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Software for a Small Business

Running and managing your small business is no easy task. Many that own a small business put in long hours to make it a success. One problem that many small businesses face is keeping track of accounts. It can sometimes be a daunting task to keep accurate books on when and where money is going in and out of your business.

Peachtree is a company that can help many small businesses keep track of money. With its many different accounting software can make bookkeeping much simpler for the company as a whole. The innovative software that is offered is efficient and can help a small business run smoothly.

Peachtree is unique in the way that it not only sells accounting software, it also provides training for those that want to learn how to use the software to their full advantage. The training that is offered is comprehensive in all accounting applications of many of their products. One of the most popular products that Peachtree offers is the mas200 software. They have certified instructors that can help an owner or employees use this type of accounting software to their full advantage.

Once software has been purchased the great team at Peachtree can also help in the installation process. Many small businesses find this a great help when purchasing accounting software. They will also help one to decide on which type of accounting software would be the best software for each individual needs. These great features can be purchased for a minimal fee.

The certified Peachtree staff teaches classes on how to use the mas 90 accounting software for example. This type of software is very user friendly and is also popular among small business owners. The sage accounting software also has a very strong following for the ease of use in a small business. Many find that taking the classes that Peachtree offers helps them to use the software that is purchased more efficiently. The nice thing about both of these types of accounting software is that the classes can be taken at one of their facilities or online. Peachtree has training facilities located in the United States. Classes can be taken at peachtree Michigan, peachtree Illinois and peachtree Missouri. When one attends these classes, they can reap the full benefits of using these accounting software in their small business.


Saturday, March 20, 2010

Perfect Computer Software

JCS Computer is happy to announce their new add on! They have just released their Peachtree Quantum Manufacturing. We know that we are your favorite source for premium sage software and now with this new add on we bring so much more to the table. Along with our software training courses, phenomenal support services, and the sage software products and upgrades we now have the Peachtree Quantum Business Toolkit. It is multifunctional, just like every program that comes out of our stores, on top of being cheaply priced. Our website gives you a run down on what all this toolkit has to offer but here are just a few of these premium features: Evaluates inventory, up to 30 columns for MTD/YTD analysis, multi-tasking screens, enhanced Microsoft Office integration, and improved Excel integration. Anyone who is looking to upgrade from our previous products should check out our new add on.

Do not be ashamed if you are not the most computer-savvy business tech out there. Our programs come with training courses and help lines. We understand that tax season is upon us so organization is key. JCS computer wants to make the company software transition as easy and user friendly as possible. You will have no reason to not be a computer genius by the time we are done with you. JCS does not only want you to buy our product. We want you to excel at it. If your customers are happy then we are happy.
What if you are not ready for an upgrade yet? We have plenty of other programs that your company cannot live without. Our Sage software includes: Peachtree software, MAS 90, MAS 200, ACT!, Timeslips, Crystal Reports, and Fixed Assets. JCS computer offers virtually every type of program out there to get your business chugging along with the rest. We have locations all over America so finding a training center will not be hard to do. We cover the west coast, east coast, northern, and southern border. Our locations are not restricted to the borders though. We have training centers in Illinois, Missouri, and Tennessee. JCS Computer does not just leave you after the training classes end. We set your company up with your own personal representative so that future questions are easy and comfortable to solve. So the next time you are looking to upgrade that 1998 accounting software check with JCS computer. You never know what add ons we will have next!


Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Accounting software you can rely on

Computer software is everywhere on the market today and knowing which program is the best to purchase for your personal or business needs can be tricky. Running a business, whether big or small, requires dependable computer software when it comes to accounting and other areas of your business or personal life. Purchasing the software for your computer that is affordable and user friendly can seem almost impossible at times. Even when you shop the local computer stores in your area you find the search stressful and time consuming. When it comes to purchasing the software for your computer that will simplify your life you will also be in need of assistance in installing the programs as well as using the programs yourself.

Online assistance from professionals is just a few clicks away. You can take advantage of wonderful service when it comes to guidance in purchasing the software you need for your specific area of business as well as affordable prices and classes that will have your system up and running in no time. You can enjoy Peachtree Quantum, mas 200 software, Act software, Sage accounting software and a dependable and knowledgeable support system to accompany each software purchase. Put an end to the aggravation you and your employees have been experiencing when you install the Peachtree accounting program that will simplify your life even when it comes to home finances.
Keeping your records straight and organized is a vital part of running your home finances and your business finances. With the nationwide service in accounting software for over 20 years you can be sure you are working with a company that knows how important dependable and user friendly accounting software is to your life and your employees. Enjoy the fact that you are purchasing computer software for your home or business that offers a guaranteed training class and a full line of knowledgeable and friendly support team for the questions you have when installing or getting to know your new computer software. Put an end to the aggravation of spending hours trying to find the perfect accounting software for your home or business only to add the stress of learning how to install and use the program you purchase. Start purchasing your computer software needs from a company that offers you the top of the line computer software when it comes to account software and guarantees you and your staff training classes.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Accounting Software

Opening your own business is a very exciting and can be very rewarding. There is one task that can take up a lot of time when running a small business that is bookkeeping. This is important for keeping track of all the money that is flowing in and out of a business.

By using professional sage accounting software can help many business owners get a handle on the accounting aspect of any business. Not only is this necessary software to have, Peachtree software offers training. This is helpful in understanding how this software works in your business.

The training that Peachtree offers is comprehensive and shows how to use many of the products that they offer such as mas200 software. A certified instructor can help one in setting up the right software for your individual business needs. Once the software has been installed on your office computers, one can physically attend a class at one of their facilities or hire one of the many certified Peachtree specialists to set up the software at your business. These classes teach many business owners and employees how to install the software correctly.

Peachtree support can also help many when they have a question or a concern. The highly trained staff is there to help its customers. This is one of the many great features that peachtree support offers and why many choose to purchase software from this company. This is a great business tool that many small business owners really like.

Peachtree offers many accounting products to its customers. These products are a comprehensive choice of software when it comes to accounting and basic bookkeeping that many business owners need in order to keep track of finances. Many small business owners prefer to use mas 90 accounting software because of its ease of use. While others prefer the sage accounting software. No matter which is chosen, peach tree software has the right software for each individual accounting need to run a business.

Training in use of these products can be done online or one might want to consider taking one of there classes. These classes can be found in many areas in the United States such as peachtree Missouri, peachtree Illinois and peachtree Michigan. These classes will help many to run and operate the software properly.

By using one of the many products that Peachtree offers can help a business to run smoothly in the accounting and bookkeeping department of any business. The quality products and great customer support has helped many businesses.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Pairing Your Sage Accounting Software with the Right Support

No matter which Sage accounting software package you buy, it's essential to pair it with appropriate support. Buying an accounting software package with inadequate support is a lot like buying a luxury car and then failing to maintain it. Sooner or later, you're going to need an expert to help keep your program running smoothly. Here are three ways to know you're getting the right Sage accounting software support.

1. Insist on Sage Platinum Status: Vendors authorized to sell Sage accounting software may not always be the most qualified to support it. Sage Platinum support vendors have received the highest recognition by Sage, and are the best qualified to provide your support. Their support personnel upgrade their skills as each Sage accounting package is improved, so whether you need Peachtree support or MAS90 accounting software support, they're able to answer your questions.

2. Look for Expanded Services: A good support consultant can teach you how to keep your new accounting software running smoothly, but a great support vendor can also help with extras like data conversion. If you're not staffed to convert your data from your old accounting package to one of the Sage accounting software packages, find a support consultant who offers that service, rather than risking critical company data.

Another important difference in software support vendors is their accessibility. Are they limited to telephone support, or is the company large enough to have regional locations and offer on-site support?

3. Ask for a Test Drive: When you purchase your Sage accounting software, whether that's MAS200 accounting software or Peachtree Quantum, your vendor should offer a free trial of their support services. They may allow you a specific number of free calls before purchasing a support plan, or extend a time-limited offer such as 30 days free support. Be sure to ask questions and get to know their support staff during that "test drive." Doing so will give you a feel for how well their support services will match your firm's needs.

Accounting software packages marketed by the Sage company are, without a doubt, superior business applications. Consider them the luxury car line of business accounting packages. Maintain the reliability of your Sage software by purchasing a support plan that meets your company's needs. You'll not only be assured of support in the event of a crisis, but will also learn just how powerful these applications can be.

Monday, February 1, 2010

System Requirements for Peachtree Quantum

Peachtree Quantum is one of the most advanced pieces of software available … it may only be a number cruncher, but it can do more crunching in a single minute than most people could do in ten years! As a comprehensive and multipurpose program, Peachtree Quantum also has some of the more stringent hardware requirements among the Sage Accounting software family. If you've decided you need the enormous range of functions that Peachtree Quantum provides, today we run through how you'll need to set up your computing system in advance.
System Requirements
The recommended processor speed to run Peachtree Quantum efficiently is a 2.8GHz Pentium 4 processor (or equivalent) for a single user workstation, or 3.4GHz Pentium 4 for a Quantum Server, to allow for multiple users. Remember that the recommended requirements aren't just there for looks ... if you want to minimize the chance of experiencing data loss when your computer gets stressed or when doing a large run of calculations, the recommended requirements become the required ones!
At an absolute minimum, though, Peachtree Quantum Sage accounting software will need:
  • 1GHz Pentium 3 or equiva;ent -- although you'll notice a big difference in performance when running at the minimum
  • 256 MB of RAM for a single user, 512MB for multiple users
  • Windows XP or later versions. XP needs Service Pack 2
  • 1GB of disk space
  • Internet Explorer 6 or above
  • 16 Bit SVGA video card
  • CD ROM
  • Internet access for online features -- and if you don’t plan to use the online features, you are definitely missing out! You can easily findaccounting software training on how to incorporate them into your accounting function.
Integration with existing data sources
If you have Microsoft Exchange server 2000 SP2, 2003 or 2007, you can sync with Outlook. You'll need Office 2002, 2003 or 2007 to integrate with Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook generally.
Software on computer
Flash Player and Adobe Reader, both free downloads, are needed to make the most of this Peachtree software. Get them at the Adobe website.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

More Peachtree User Problems Solved: January

Much as your teachers in high school or university probably made accounting sound insanely simple ("just double check your work and make sure the two balances on either side are the same"), life is not always so simple. When you are using a comprehensive, complete business solution-type product like Peachtree Quantum as your Sage accounting software, it can help. It seems that many people often encounter the same problems at around the same time, so today we are looking at some of the issues in the Peachtree software user community that have cropped over the month of January.
Problem: Dynazip Error #18 shows up when a user tries to perform the year end backup.
As frustrating as an error on this sort of critical task can be, there is usually a simple solution. In most cases it is a file permission problem. The user often doesn’t have the correct permissions to edit the protected backup document. Alternatively, you can run the inbuilt data checker in Peachtree, and fixing any existing data corruption that has occurred may correct the problem.
Remember that always running Peachtree software with the recommended system requirements (rather than the minimum ones) will help stop data corruption an the need for Peachtree support.
Problem: After upgrading to a wireless network, Peachtree data is inaccessible.
Peachtree software can be installed on the server, and installed on the laptop, but the computer will freeze when you try to access either the sample company data (during setup), or your own data after setup via a wired connection. This is usually a problem with the speed or quality of the wireless connection. Peachtree needs quite a modern system to run, and processes are stored on the wireless network. If it is not fast enough, freezing will occur.
Problem: Delinquent local taxes sometimes have garnishment orders applied. Setting these up in Peachtree software has required some users to edit every employee so that the Default box is unchecked when they calculated the garnishment, though the Calculate box wasn't checked.
This frustrating problem has a simple answer -- the default is set to Calculate, so only un-defaulted users are not calculated!
Problem: Remote Desktop does not work when upgrading to Peachtree 2006
Yes, there are still plenty of people upgrading only to version 2006 nowadays. This is not a program-wide issue -- some users are able to use Remote Desktop. You can either use third party tools like GoToMyPC or LogMeIn, or simply try the following in Windows. In the Remote Desktop management, disable Fast User Switching. Every user must completely log off for this to work. You can access this through Control Panel > User Accounts.


Monday, January 25, 2010

Should I Use a Bookeeping Service or Do My Books In-House?

This is one of the questions that almost all small businesses face. Large businesses have a much easier time deciding -- when there is plenty of work to do and the cash flow to keep somebody employed, it is always cheaper to do your books in house. The issue is not usually about retaining control over your information -- in most cases you can have your Sage accounting software installed on your own computers and have somebody come into your office and do your bookkeeping. The solution is much more dependent on your individual business setup. We look at the advantages and disadvantages on either side.
Cost difference
While bookkeeping services are fairly turnkey for most outsourcing companies, and therefore quite reasonable priced, it will still cost more to have a bookkeeping service take care of you in the long term than hiring an employee. Cost wise, here are some things to consider:
  • If you are a sole trader and bookkeeping would detract greatly from your earning time, having a bookkeeping service do the inputs for your Sage accounting software is a wise choice.
  • In fact, if you earn more in an hour than you would pay a bookkeeper, you should hire one!
  • If your company may not be in existence for very long, you should hire a bookkeeper rather than making the investment in training etc.
  • If you are going to run the same accounting software and expect to have a steady client base and income for years, it will be more cost effective to train somebody and have them do the books in-house.
Expertise difference
Unless you are fairly familiar with tax law, you might actually get a few more deductions than otherwise by using a bookkeeping service. They may be able to point out areas where, if you keep financial records, it may have tax implications at the end of the fiscal year.
The in-depth knowledge of what is happening with your money week-to-week can also be very powerful in your business. Knowing where you are at financially empowers you to make decisions in light of what is really happening with your business … no assumptions or guesses.
Peace of mind and reduced stress
If you aren't of the financial persuasion (and there is only a small segment of the population that are!), you probably find doing the books very stressful. There is quite a lot to know; if everything is going well, you'll be right. If a small error in your Sage accounting software crops up, there could be major time lost in trying to fix it. Nobody needs extra stress!

Peachtree User Problems Solved: January

We usually find that as certain times of year roll around, or as software upgrades (including those outside the Peachtree software family, like MS Office and Windows updates) are released, many people start experiencing the same problems concurrently. It's sort of like an epidemic of Peachtree illnesses! Today we explore some of the most popular problems experienced with Peachtree software products over the past month.
Problem: Around Christmas time, a lot of employee loans go out. These are relatively easy to administer, but not everybody knows how to set up a repayment in Peachtree products.
There are a couple of approaches to this problem. You could either set up a unique account and simply withhold to that account (called Employee Advances, and the type should be Other Current Assets). Or you could set up a receivable named rcvbl/employeeloan -- as the employee repays the receivable, the amount would be reduced to zero. Just remember to take the deduction from her net pay, not the gross.
Problem: Users upgrading to Peachtree 2008 in conjuction with the start of the calendar year have sometimes found that the purged records from Peachtree 2005 or 2007 are still in the Select for Deposit area.
This is a normal issue. You should select all the lines that are labelled with Purged Transaction, and enter a reference such as Purge and Save. You can also check the Deposit box. Before doing any of this, make sure you have a current backup of the data in your Peachtree software.
Problem: With a new year, many people are cleaning out old records. Users might need to delete invoices from 2005 to 2007, but are currently running either 2008 or 2010 version of their Peachtree software.
You can only delete an invoice of that year is open. You can restore the backup of that year to a new location and delete the invoice, then print the financials after voiding it. Use the new financials to compare to the beginning balances for that period in your current company, making changes as necessary.