Gilert - Sage 50 Accounts 2013 in easy steps

Sage 50

Accounts 2013

For users of Sage 50 Accounts, Accounts Plus, Accounts Professional and the Sage Instant Accounts range

Gillian Gilert

In easy steps is an imprint of In Easy Steps Limited

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Copyright 2013 by In Easy Steps Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.

Notice of Liability

Every effort has been made to ensure that this book contains accurate and current information. However, In Easy Steps Limited and the author shall not be liable for any loss or damage suffered by readers as a result of any information contained herein.

Trademarks

Sage 50 is a registered trademark of The Sage Group plc.
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks are acknowledged as belonging to their respective companies.

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Printed and bound in the United Kingdom

ISBN 978-1-84078-597-5

Contents

Contents

This chapter takes you through the stages of preparing Sage 50 for use. It explains initial procedures for setting up Company details and various defaults required by the program.

Getting Started

Introduction

Starting Sage 50 Accounts

Sage 50 Desktop Views

Settings

Company Preferences

Currency & the Euro

Customer & Supplier Defaults

Finance Rates

Use the demo data provided to fully familiarise yourself with the program before getting started. To do this simply click File, Open from the main menu and select Open Demo Data.

Some things, once entered, cannot be easily changed. Therefore, make sure you have all the relevant information to hand before using Sage 50 Accounts for the first time.

You can have a go at setting up a company without affecting your actual accounts data by selecting Open Practice Data from the File, Open menu option.

Introduction

All businesses need to keep accurate accounts. If information is not entered correctly, especially when using a computer program, then the accounts will be wrong you cant blame the computer!

Working through Sage 50 Accounts 2013

in easy steps

This book explains in simple, easy stages how to perform the main tasks required for keeping computerised business accounts. The following chapters show how to:

Set defaults and Company preferences

Create customer and supplier records and set up price lists

Set up opening balances, maintain Bank accounts

Maintain the Nominal Ledger and run an audit trail

Generate sales orders and control stock

Print invoices, credit notes and statements

Produce history and financial reports

Note: the actual functions available to you will depend on whether you have Sage 50 Accounts, Accounts Plus or Professional. You can even use this book if you work with Sage Instant Accounts.

Preparing to start checklist

Before getting started with Sage 50 Accounts 2013, work through the checklist below.

Check the start date of your companys financial year

Check with an accountant which VAT scheme is used

Draw up a list of defaults to use

Decide on users and passwords

Back-up the data if updating Sage

Have customer, supplier and bank details to hand

Product details, recommend a stock take

A list of all opening balances

Starting Sage 50 Accounts

Turn on your computer and wait for the Windows Desktop to appear. To start your Sage 50 Accounts program do the following:

l Click on the Windows Start button

l Click on All Programs a selection appears

l Click on the
Sage Accounts folder

l Click on
Sage 50 Accounts 2013

l The Sage 50 desktop appears

Alternatively, if a shortcut has been set up on the Windows desktop, you can open Sage 50 by double-clicking on the shortcut icon:

Remember that your reporting will not be accurate until all your opening balances have been entered. Ask your accountant for these, if possible, before you start using Sage 50 Accounts.

You can create multiple delivery addresses so that you can have goods delivered to a number of customer sites whilst specifying a different invoice address.

For instant help in any Sage window, simply press the F1 help key.

The Process Map shows the workflow associated with the selected group and is a quick and convenient way of switching between related modules.

Regularly use the Dashboard views to keep track of how your business is progressing. For example, you can quickly view your aged debtors or creditors without having to run separate reports, see which are your top customers, which items of stock are selling fast or running low.

Sage 50 Desktop Views

In Sage 50 Accounts, the View selector lets you change the display in the Sage desktop work area. Although the options vary from module to module, typically the views may include a List Display, a Process Map and a Dashboard.