Resources for Year End
One of the most helpful sites for end users of Sage products is the Year End Centers for the various products, including Sage Peachtree (www.peachtree.com/yearEnd) and Sage Simply Accounting (www.simplyaccounting.com/yearEnd). These sites have year-end checklists, detailed instructions on how to perform annual maintenance on databases, links to resources to assist with tax report preparation, and many other helpful tips and tricks that can make the year-end process go more smoothly.
Another often overlooked year-end resource is the Sage FAS fixed asset management tools or modules included with many products. For example, Sage Peachtree includes a bundled version of the Sage FAS fixed asset management application, which supports up to 200 assets. This tool makes it easy for any business to maintain their own fixed asset records and have the most up-to-date information in their internal financial statements. With 2011 rapidly coming to a close, companies will want to update their fixed asset records to include any 2011 transactions, and will also want to consider the impact of these transactions in year-end tax planning decisions.
SaaS by Sage
Many analysts have asked what Sage’s strategy is for providing on-demand applications. While some independent hosting companies such as InSynQ/CPAASP, Awensa, and Right Networks offer hosted versions of many Sage applications, Sage recently formalized its hosting programs. The company now refers users interested in hosted versions of many of its applications to authorized independent hosting companies through the related product websites. Some plans also offer end users the ability to access Sage applications without having to allocate a significant amount of capital for the purchase of licenses. For example, the licenses for the hosted version of Sage ERP MAS 90 are simply included as part of the monthly service charge.
Financial management products available in a hosted format include:
Sage ERP MAS 90
Sage ERP Accpac
Sage Fund Accounting, Sage Grant Management and Sage Fundraising Online
Sage Peachtree and Sage Peachtree Quantum
Sage Simply Accounting
The Sage Accountants Network (SAN) also includes a number of benefits for members, including:
Sage Assured Send, a privately labeled version of the popular LeapFile secure file transfer service
Access to marketing, training and support resources
Discounts on web-based seminars through CPE Link and training through Sage University
Webinars and other online educational events to help you keep up to date with the new features in the latest product offerings.
For more information on the Sage Accountants Network, visit www.sageaccountantsnetwork.com.
Specialization Programs for Construction and Real Estate Announced
Sage recently announced a specialization program in the Sage Accountants Network for members who are interested in construction accounting. The program provides a subscription option for Sage Accountants Network members who are interested in working with clients who use Sage Timberline or Sage Master Builder, and was announced in early October. Members receive marketing tools, training, applications, and support related to these popular mid-range products for businesses in the construction and real estate industries. More details about these membership programs are available at www.sageaccountantsnetwork.com.
Sage is also making its business intelligence tools available at a significant discount to SAN members who would like to use these new tools as part of their practices. For more information on the offerings and pricing, contact your firm’s accountant advocate or call SAN customer service at (866)565-2726.
Peachtree FUTA Calculation Change
The company recently released updates, which allow the use of an “effective date” for rate changes for federal unemployment calculations in Sage Peachtree. The change to the payroll calculator enables the Payroll Tax Report, Exception Report and Tax Liability Report to calculate FUTA based on an “effective date.” Additional changes were made to these reports in order to properly display payroll tax information. As this goes to press, these updates were available for download as part of the service releases for 2009 SR6, 2010 SR3, 2011 SR4 and 2012 SR1.
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