How to create a new company

1. Click File, New Company.
2. Click Next.
3. If you're using Sage 50 Accountant Edition, Choose a Sage 50 product.
   • This will determine which features are available in the company
   • If you're using Pro, Premium, or Quantum edition, skip to Step 5
4. Click Next.
5. Enter your company information.
    NOTE: You can change all information on this screen after company creation, if necessary. 
6. Click Next.
7. Select a method to create your company, then click Next.  Select the sections below for more information and the next steps for each option:
   • Use a sample business type that closely matches your company

     • You'll see a list of business types with predefined charts of accounts
     • Select a business type that most closely matches your business
     • Click Next and go to step 8
   • Copy settings from an existing Sage 50 Accounting company

     1. Choose a company from the list.
     2. Click Next.
     3. Select which parts of the company to copy.
        • If you'll be importing maintenance records from the company, check all options
        • To use a different fiscal year, uncheck Accounting Periods
     4. Click Next and go to step 8.
   • Convert a company from another accounting program

      

      

      

     This creates a blank chart of accounts that you can fill in later either manually or by importing

   • Build your own chart of accounts

     • We recommend this option for advanced users: you'll create all accounts manually
     • This creates a blank chart of accounts
     • You can Define Account Segments or skip that for now and define them later
     • Click Next to continue to step 8
   • Consolidate Existing Sage 50 Accounting companies

     • This option is only available in Premium and Quantum versions of Sage 50
     • This creates a parent company that pulls account balances from subsidiaries for financial reporting purposes
     • All subsidiary companies have the same:
       • general ledger account structure
       • retained earnings account number
       • fiscal year structure
     • On the next screen, select the company or companies to be consolidated
     • Click Add, then click Next
     • If a company has security enabled, you'll need to enter a User Name and Password for it
     • Click Next and go to step 8
8. Choose an accounting method:
    CAUTION: You can't change the accounting method after creating a company.  If you're not sure which to use, consult an accountant before continuing.  
   
   • Accrual: records income and expense when you create an invoice, regardless of when payment occurs
   • Cash: records income and expense only when an invoice gets paid 
9. Choose a posting method:
    NOTE: You can change the posting method at any time. 
   
   • Real Time:
     • Transactions post when you print or save them
     • We recommend this option for most companies
   • Batch:
     • The system adds transactions to a posting queue when you save or print them
     • Transactions in the posting queue don't effect the general ledger
     • You must manually post transactions as a separate task
   • SmartPosting:
     • Same as Batch posting, but the system will attempt to post transactions automatically during a lull in activity
     • SmartPosting is only in Quantum versions of Sage 50 Accounting
     • Only use SmartPosting if your company will have 10 or more simultaneous users 
10. Choose an accounting period structure, then click Next.
    • If you're copying accounting periods from another company, skip to Step 14.
11. Set the fiscal year structure:
     CAUTION: You can't change the fiscal year after company creation.   
    • If you select 12 monthly accounting periods:
      • Set the month and year for period 1
      • Periods 2-12 will follow from the selected month
      • For example, if January 2014 is period 1, February 2014 is period 2, and so on
    • If you select Accounting periods that do not match the calendar months:
      1. Set the number of periods per fiscal year (1): minimum of 1 and maximum of 13.
      2. Set the start date of period 1 (2).
      3. Set the date range of each period.
12. Click Next.
13. Click Finish.
14. When the creation process completes, the new company will open.

How can I change my company's posting method?
How to update or change company information

How do I set up account segments?