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The CBA Blog brings you tips, tricks, updates and general information for users of Peachtree & Sage 50 Accounting Software.

What's New in the Sage 50 2015 Release Update?

3/23/2015

Sage50 Accounting

On March 31, 2015, the Sage 50 2015 Service Release 3 (Sage 50 2015 SR-3) will be available as a download through your program (Go to HELP � SAGE 50 SUBSCRIPTION UPDATES). This update will be available for Sage 50 2015 Pro, Sage 50 2015 Premium, and Sage 50 2015 Quantum.

In the past we have seen issues with the initial download so we do not recommend you access the update for at least a week to ensure any technical difficulties have been worked out. (IF THERE IS AN ISSUE WE WILL LET YOU KNOW VIA EMAIL!)

There are some great time-saving features in Sage 50 2015 SR-3!

� One click support chat

Just one click inside the software lets you chat with a technical support advisor when you have a question. No ID's or passwords to remember; a single click launches a chat session with an expert. Plus, you get a record of the conversation, so you can check it later if you have a question.

� Easy order-to-invoice conversion

Cut invoicing time in half and get paid faster. Now you can create an invoice directly from the sales order. It�s much faster, and you won�t forget a thing.

� Receive inventory from the purchase order

More quickly and accurately process incoming inventory. You can receive inventory directly from the purchase order. You�ll save time with every transaction.

� More powerful Maintenance Records

Quickly create a purchase order and record a purchase or vendor payment right from the Maintain Vendors screen. Or create a new task�Quote, Sales Order, Invoice, or Receipt�from the Maintain Customers screen. And easily set up new customers, vendors, and inventory items by copying information from a similar record and then editing it.

� Customizable Lists

Lists have more flexibility and functionality with custom date ranges that you select and totals on amount columns. Plus, you can drill down to the details right from the List.

� Expanded Add Attachments

This popular feature allows you to attach critical files and documents to more records: purchase orders, quotes, and sales orders. It works for any type and size of file you have for a complete record of every transaction right inside your software.

� Personalized text on emails

There�s a new tab on the Customer Defaults screen that allows you to create custom messages when sending sales invoices and quotes. When you�re ready, simply select the customer and the transaction, click Send, and you�re done!

� Sage 50 Intelligence Reporting enhancements

Intelligence Reporting is more powerful than ever with usability and performance enhancements including easier access to commonly used features, simplified right-click menu, and modernized ribbon and background displays.

� Streamlined payment processing

Now it�s easier than ever to offer your customers more ways to pay: in the office, in your store, or on the go. The streamlined application process makes it easy to connect Sage 50 with Sage Payment Solutions.

If you need to purchase Sage 50 2015 this will explain your purchasing and support options!

If you are not currently on the Sage 50 2015 product please consider purchasing now for the following reasons:

�With the purchase of the Sage 50 2015, you will automatically receive the 2016 product upgrade (scheduled to be released in July.)

�If you want to own your Sage 50 software vs. leasing it, this could be your last chance. (See Sage 50 purchasing and support options.)

�On April 1, 2015 there will be a price increase.

PURCHASE SAGE 50 NOW or contact us at 1.800.339.8224 or EMAIL.

By Tim Hambsch

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Sage 50 2015 updates

Peachree accounting updates for 2015

Problems with Sage 50 service update

Issues with Sage 50 update release

The 1,2,3's of Running your Business ... Backwards!!

3/16/2015

Running your business by the numbers should make sense to everyone but you might ask "why backwards?" The reason is you need to work with your end goal in mind and this will drive the steps you need to achieve that goal. No matter what anyone else has ever told you unless you�re running a non-profit there is only ONE reason you are in business and that�s to make money! It�s not to provide great products or services or to keep your customers happy � those are means used to ensure your business does make money.

Let�s walk through a simple example of starting at the end. The goal is for your business to make $1,000,000 this year. To try and stick with nice, round numbers we�ll say Uncle Sam is only going to take a 20% cut so now you need to generate $1,250,000 in profit before taxes. Let�s keep working our way back and say your fixed expenses (rent, insurance, admin labor, etc.) are $750,000 � you now know you need a gross margin of $2,000,000. Again to keep the numbers easy to follow we'll assume you only sell 2 different groups of products (or services) and 1 of them has a 40% gross margin and the other 1 has a 50% gross margin � and yes, you better know what these numbers are!! We�ll expect each product group to contribute equally to the $2,000,000 gross margin so they each need to contribute $1,000,000 in gross profits. With the 2 different margins you�ll need to sell $2,500,000 of product 1 and $2,000,000 of product 2 in order to achieve the established goals. You can assess how those sales goals will be met and we�ll work backwards again to figure out a plan of action � last year product 1 sales were $1,750,000 and product 2 sales were $1,500,000. We�re going to make the simple assumption that after reviewing all your customer accounts that with the loss of some, the growth of some, some price reductions and price increases that it all balances out and you can expect the same revenue from the existing customer base. This means you�ll need to generate $750,000 and $500,000 of new sales for products 1 and 2 respectively � what needs to be done to achieve this? You�ll need to glean some additional 1,2,3�s from your marketing data � again, yes you need to know these numbers! We�ll use the following numbers for product 1 � average new customer account value of $25,000 which equates to 30 new customers needed; quote success rate of 15% which equates to the need to receive 200 requests for quotes (RFQ�s) and with a 5% marketing hit success rate you�ll need contact 4,000 prospects and these for product 2 � average new customer account value of $20,000 which equates to 25 new customers needed; quote success rate of 25% which equates to the need to receive 100 requests for quotes (RFQ�s) and with a 4% marketing hit success rate you�ll need to contact 2,500 prospects. This is a simple example but by working backwards from your goal of a $1,000,000 after-tax-profit you now know you�ll need to start calling, mailing, emailing, trade showing, SEO�ing, advertsing, etc. to contact 6,500 prospects as soon as possible. The numbers below are a little easier to follow in a finished product format:

FINANCIAL TARGETS	AMOUNTS
Goal for After Tax PROFIT	1,000,000.00
Tax Rate	20.00%
Before Tax Goal	1,250,000.00
Fixed Expenses	750,000.00
Gross Margin	2,000,000.00
Product 1 Margin	40.00%
Product 2 Margin	50.00%
Product 1 Contribution % to Gross Margin	50.00%
Product 2 Contribution % to Gross Margin	50.00%
Product 1 Contribution $$ to Gross Margin	1,000,000.00
Product 2 Contribution $$ to Gross Margin	1,000,000.00
Product 1 Sales Required	2,500,000.00
Product 2 Sales Required	2,000,000.00

MARKETING & SALES TARGETS	AMOUNTS
Product 1 Sales Last Year	1,750,000.00
Product 2 Sales Last Year	1,500,000.00
Product 1 Repeat Sales Expected	100.00%
Product 2 Repeat Sales Expected	100.00%
Product 1 Growth Required	750,000.00
Product 2 Growth Required	500,000.00
Average new customer account value product 1	25,000.00
Average new customer account value product 2	20,000.00
New product 1 customers needed	30
New product 2 customers needed	25
Quote or proposal success rate product 1	15.00%
Quote or proposal success rate product 2	25.00%
Request for Quote (RFQ's) required for product 1	200
Request for Quote (RFQ's) required for product 2	100
Marketing contacts success rate product 1	5.00%
Marketing contacts success rate product 2	4.00%
Number of product 1 prospects to contact	4,000
Number of product 2 prospects to contact	2,500

Once the plan is established you'll need to monitor your progress to make sure you�re on track and hitting your planned targets and if not make the necessary adjustments along the way.

By Tim Hambsch

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How to grow business

FREE Sage 50 Intelligence Training Webinar

3/12/2015

Attend this 1 hour webcast and see why you should use Sage 50 Business Intelligence Reporting to monitor how well your business is doing!

REGISTER HERE for this Sage 50 Intelligence webcast on Thursday, March 19, 2015 2:00pm EST. In this webinar you will learn (1) how to build a simple Sage 50 financial statement from scratch and (2) how to design your own custom layout.

If you are on a Sage Business Care Plan you already have access to the following Sage 50 Business Intelligence Reports: (Contact us if you have questions or if you don't have your activation key let us know and we'll obtain it for you!)

� Company Dashboard

� Inventory Analysis

� Top 10 Customers

� Purchasing Analysis

� Financial Reports

� Income Statement - Comparative Financial Report - Actual vs. Budget

� Income Statement - Comparative Financial Report - Actual vs. Prior

� Income Statement - Comparative Financial Report - Current Period vs. YTD vs. Prior Yr

� Balance Sheet - Comparative Financial Report - Actual vs. Prior

� Balance Sheet - Monthly, Quarterly and YTD Financial Report

Check out a few of the Sage 50 Custom Reports we've designed for other Sage 50 users!

By Tim Hambsch

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Sage 50 Intelligence Reports

Sage 50 reports

Analyze sage 50 data

Sage 50 2013 (Peachtree) Obsolescence Policy

3/11/2015

Obselescense on the Sage 50 2013 products have now been extended to November 30, 2015. Sage will no longer be supporting the Sage 50 2013 (Peachtree) Pro, Complete, Premium or Quantum accounting software.

Product support includes access to Sage Business Care, product updates, payroll solutions, and other add-on products or services. Sage will provide support for an obsolete product until a customer's support plan for that product expires. However, access to product and payroll updates, and other add-on products or services will not be available.

If you are currently using Sage 50 2013 Complete that product has been discontinued and is obsolete. Your data will convert and be compatible with the Sage 50 2015 Premium accounting software.

If you are currently on Sage 50 2013 Premium Manufacturing, Sage 50 2013 Premium Construction, or Sage 50 2013 Premium Distribution those industry specific products have been discontinued and are obsolete. Your data will convert and be compatible with the Sage 50 2015 Quantum accounting software. If you're on a Business Care subscription you'll receive the Sage 50 Quantum upgrade the month following your renewal at no additional cost. The following year your ongoing renewal fee will be based on the price of the Quantum product.

If you are currently on Sage 50 2013 Nonprofit and on a Business Care subscription you'll receive the Sage 50 Quantum upgrade the month following your renewal at no additional cost. The following year your ongoing renewal fee will be based on the price of the Quantum product OR we can assist you to switch to Sage 50 Premium if you contact us PRIOR to upgrading to Quantum.

To discuss your specific needs, licensing, Sage 50 support options and pricing related to the items above call us at 490.945.4455 or 1.800.339.8224 and we'll walk you through the details of the changes and provide you with the most cost effective option going forward.

CBA will provide technical support on Sage 50 (Peachtree) products past the Sage obsolescence dates. Please feel free to contact us for our support rates...and if we can't fix the issue there is no charge!

By Tim Hambsch

March Madness...Save on Sage 50 Software!

3/11/2015

Through 3/31/2015, CBA is offering March Madness software pricing for all obsolete Sage (Peachtree) users. We will beat any current Sage offer...contact us for current Sage 50 upgrade pricing and licensing options.

All March Madness software purchases will also include the Sage 50 2016 upgrade (tentatively scheduled to be released July).

If you are not currently on the Sage 50 2015 product please consider purchasing now for the following reasons:

�With the purchase of the Sage 50 2015, you will automatically receive the 2016 product upgrade (scheduled to be released in July.)

�If you want to own your Sage 50 software vs. leasing it, this could be your last chance to be grandfathered in and your only future options will be the Sage subscription plans. (See Sage 50 purchasing and support options.)

�On April 1, 2015 there will be a price increase.

PURCHASE SAGE 50 NOW or contact us at 1.800.339.8224 or EMAIL.

Sage 50 obsolete accounting versions:

Sage 50 2014 Complete
Sage 50 2014 Premium Manufacturing
Sage 50 2014 Premium Construction

Sage 50 2014 Premium Distribution

Sage 50 2014 Premium Non-Profit

Sage 50 2012 Complete

Sage 50 2012 Premium Manufacturing

Sage 50 2012 Premium Construction

Sage 50 2012 Premium Distribution

Sage 50 2012 Premium Non-Profit

Sage 50 2011 Complete

Sage 50 2011 Premium Manufacturing

Sage 50 2011 Premium Construction

Sage 50 2011 Premium Distribution

Sage 50 2011 Premium Non-Profit

Additionally, if you are currently on a Sage 50 2013 product, this release will become obsolete and unsupported on November 30, 2015.

If you are on a Sage Peachtree 2010 or older product, please contact us for special promotional pricing!

Click here to learn more about Sage 50 pricing and support options.

PURCHASE SAGE 50 NOW or contact us at 1.800.339.8224 or EMAIL.

By Tim Hambsch

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