121 Business Blog
What is the Sage Peachtree Internal Accounting Review?
From: “What is the Internal Accounting Review?” at Peachtree.com
The Internal Accounting Review is a tool that allows you to run an internal audit on your Sage Peachtree company data. It looks for common transaction mistakes and potentially fraudulent activity by running a series of up to 15 checks against your company data. If transactions are found, they are listed under the appropriate Internal Accounting Review check name for your review. You then have the opportunity to take the appropriate action on each transaction.
These checks represent common transaction mistakes and/or conditions that might be revealed in an external audit. While this review is not exhaustive, it is intended to help you identify, investigate, and if necessary, correct issues that may be problems. Here’s what we look for:
1. Purchases or bills that don’t credit an accounts payable account
2. Sales or invoices that don’t debit an accounts receivable account
3. Payments or checks that don’t credit a cash account
4. Receipts or money received that doesn’t debit a cash account
5. Transactions that debit and credit the same general ledger account
6. Possible duplicate transactions of the same type
7. Vendor invoices or bills from prior periods that have not been received
8. Transactions entered in the future
9. Transactions posted to inactive records
10. Un-reconciled cash accounts
11. Inventory items that default to duplicate general ledger accounts
12. Out of sequence checks
13. Accounts receivable accounts that are out of balance with the aged receivables report
14. Accounts payable accounts that are out of balance with the aged payables report
15. Possible duplicate paychecks for an employee within a pay period
From: “What is the Internal Accounting Review?” at Peachtree.com
Suzy Payne Rabb
Sage Peachtree Certified Consultant
Sage Solution Provider
Passionate about Small Business
Send email to suzy@121-business.com
Website: www.121-business.com
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Build a Killer Website
From: Build a Killer Website: 19 Dos and Don’ts and Inc.com
If you do it right, your website can be the best marketing tool you have. Ilya Pozin, founder of the Web design firm Ciplex, on how not to screw it up.
Important Dos
Set smart goals. And make sure they’re measurable. Here are a few great ones a Web designer wants to hear: increase conversion rates, increase sales, generate more leads, reduce overhead, and improve brand awareness.
Plan on becoming an SEO wizard. Sure, you’re going to want help from the pros and eventually you might even need your own in-house SEO expert, but search engine optimization is something you need to know about too. It has one of the highest ROIs in marketing. Plus, do it right and SEO can literally put your marketing on autopilot, allowing you to focus on improving the quality of your business, instead of figuring out how to bring in customers to your site. Start reading SEOmoz and stay up to date with SEO changes by reading sites like searchengineland.com.
Use open source tools. You could go with a proprietary content management system (CMS) but that means you’re typically stuck with one company and paying hefty license fees to boot. Do yourself a favor and go with an open-source system—I like WordPress and Magento—that any developer can access.
Think about your mobile strategy simultaneously. Research the percentage of your visitors that are likely to use mobile devices to access your site. If it’s high, you may want to consider building a separate mobile version of your site, or even an app. If it’s relatively low, just make sure your website works on smart phones, but don’t invest into a mobile version.
Steal from your competitors. Before you build your site, check out your competitors and write down the things they do well. If you like the look and feel of another site, there’s no reason not to start with something you like and then make it your own.
Develop your content. The biggest slow-down in the Web design process is content. If you’re going to sell products on your site, get product photos and product descriptions ready. If you sell services, you’ll need a description of each service. Get as much of your content together before you start building your site—it will save you weeks. And while you’re at it…
Write with calls to action in mind. Good calls to action allow visitors to quickly decide what they want to do next. Having a big sale? Don’t just write a banner that says “50% off all products.” Write one that says “50% off all products, CLICK HERE to view them.”
Always answer the question “why?”. Have you ever walked up to someone you’ve never met, handed them a business card, and walked away without saying a word? Likely not. If you want people to do something on your website, such as sign up for your newsletter, don’t just put up a box that says “enter email” or even “sign up for newsletter”—you’ll get a very weak conversion rate. Tell them why they should do it: “Sign up for our newsletter to receive weekly specials.” Same thing goes for Twitter and Facebook logos. Just putting them up isn’t smart. Tell people why they should follow you on Twitter or friend you on Facebook. What will they get out of it?
Trust your Web designer. I tend to see the worst end results with customers who come in with a “I know what I want, just do what I tell you” attitude. You hired an expert because they know more than you, right? Let them do what they do best and they’re more likely to meet and often exceed your goals.
More From: Build a Killer Website: 19 Dos and Don’ts and Inc.com
Suzy Payne RabbSage Peachtree Certified Consultant
Sage Solution Provider
Passionate about Small Business
Send email to suzy@121-business.com
Website: www.121-business.com
Join my professional network at Linkedin and follow me on Twitter.
Happy Thanksgiving to You!
Get in the spirit and enjoy this zany Thanksgiving greeting as your prepare for your own special holiday celebration.
We hope you have a very warm and cozy Thanksgiving filled with family, friends and fun!
Please note our office will be closed from November 21 through November 24.
Suzy Rabb
Sage Peachtree Certified Consultant
Sage Solution Provider
Passionate about Small Business
Send email to suzy@121-business.com
Website: www.121-business.com
Join my professional network at Linkedin and follow me on Twitter.
QR Codes for Your Business
From: “Go Mobile! QR Codes for Your Business” and The Sage Peachtree Insider
(Scan this QR Code for a Free Offer from 121 Business Software Consulting)
You see them everywhere these days, those funny little black-and-white squares filled with squiggles. They’re showing up on brochures, magazine ads, store shelves, and on the web. But exactly what are they and what are they for? Initially used to electronically track inventory, QR codes, short for Quick Response Codes, are fast growing marketing tool that links smartphone users to additional product information, special offers or videos on the web.
One of the best examples of a successful QR marketing campaign is at GNC stores. There’s a QR code in their front window with a sign that says “The most phenomenal thing you’ll do all day.” Smartphone users can scan the code and immediately download a message rewarding them with a free drink inside the store. It’s a very smart and fun way to drive more store traffic.
Want to try it for your business? It’s easier than you think. There are several sites that help you quickly and easily genrate your own QR code. You’ll need a most important thing to remember is to build in a compelling offer. If consumers go to the trouble to scan your QR code, they should receive something good in return.
Use a “barcode scanner” app on your mobile phone to test out the QR Code shown above.
More from: ”Go Mobile! QR Codes for Your Business” and The Sage Peachtree Insider
Suzy RabbSage Peachtree Certified Consultant
Sage Solution Provider
Passionate about Small Business
Send email to suzy@121-business.com
Website: www.121-business.com
Join my professional network at Linkedin and follow me on Twitter.
Why Pick Sage Peachtree?
By Suzy Payne Rabb
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked to discuss the differences between Sage Peachtree and Quickbooks or other small business entry-level accounting solution. It’s also a topic I see discussed over and over in various forums. Needs vary business to business, industry to industry. What you pick should be determined by your needs. Here are a few reasons why I picked Sage Peachtree:
Inventory
Sage Peachtree has a more sophisticated inventory system than most other entry level solutions. It provides true and accurate FIFO costing and also provides serialized inventory features at the Premium and Quantum levels. Set-up of assemblies is easy and revisions are allowed. When set-up correctly, the automatic costing is flawless.
Built-in Financial Statement Designer
A lot of users don’t use or even know about one of my favorite features–the Financial Statement Designer. This designer is built right into the core product and can deliver practically any format desired. We’ve been able to emulate some very high-end financial reporting systems, even adding some key performance indicator stats to customized formats.
Flexible Controls
You can setup Sage Peachtree to allow changes in prior periods or you can set it up to block any change to a prior period transaction by user. I work with all kinds of users. There are some users who definitely need and want this level of control. But, there are others who don’t. If you are the owner, the accountant and the only user, sometimes too much control can cause more problems than it solves. With Sage Peachtree, I can deliver either.
Incredible Cash Flow Analysis Tool
This feature was significantly enhanced several versions ago and now it is awesome. You can forecast cash flow from actual due dates or historical average days to pay on outstanding AR, AP. But, what you may not know is that you can optionally add or remove anticipated cash flows from recorded sales orders and purchase orders. At last look at the competition, Sage Peachtree’s Cash Flow Analysis was head and shoulders ahead of competing solutions.
Voiding Checks
All companies have to void checks from time to time. Voiding a check should not change a prior period’s financials and with Sage Peachtree, it doesn’t. Sage Peachtree does not touch the original check transaction, but instead prompts for a “void date” and creates a new reversing transaction on the date specified. Why would you want it to work any other way? At last check, voiding a check in Quickbooks changed the prior period financials. While you may think check voiding is a minor feature, you should avoid use of any feature that changes prior period financials.
These are some of the reasons I picked Sage Peachtree several years ago and stay with it today. In the coming months I will share more.
Sage Peachtree Certified Consultant
Sage Solution Provider
Your Live, Online Guide to Sage Peachtree Success Send email to suzy@121-business.com
Website: www.121-business.com
Join my professional network at Linkedin and follow me on Twitter.
Building Your Business-5 Things You Must Do Every Day
1. Plan for the future a few minutes each day. Assume that your product has stopped selling all of a sudden. What direction will you take your company next? What new income stream can you add? This is a time for day dreaming and recording notes in preparation for the future. You don’t necessarily have to take action on these items, but you need to think about them daily in order to bring out the golden ideas.
2. Work on your marketing in some aspect every day to get new customers. If your prospective customers don’t know about you they won’t buy from you. Work on getting your message out every day even if it is just for a few minutes.
3. Work on closing a sale every single day. whether you are doing this on-line, on the phone, through the mail, or face-to-face you need to be selling every day. Without the close of a sale there is no business. This is not something that you can delegate all the way. even if you have a sales force you need to be out there looking for deals.
4. Develop or strengthen your business network. You need to join or create a business network where you can help others and they can help you back. This is a great place to get free customers through referrals and an excellent mentoring opportunity using the mastermind principle.
5. Contact your current customers. Don’t ever forget about the people that have already purchased from you. These are your best customers. They already like what you have to sell and they don’t cost anything to acquire. Contact your current customers frequently, even if you are just saying hello. They need to know what you have to offer and they need to know you are still breathing. They won’t seek you out. You must go to them.
Sage Peachtree Certified Consultant
Sage Solution Provider
Passionate about Small Business
Send email to suzy@121-business.com
Website: www.121-business.com
Join my professional network at Linkedin and follow me on Twitter.
Learning Resources for Sage Peachtree Users
Take advantage of our Free Online Peachtree Help Session to help you take the next step with your Peachtree system. It’s free, easy and the best way to see how much you can accomplish with your own personal online guide to success.
Top 10 Things to Know about Peachtree
If you are a full charge bookkeeper or accountant with advanced skills in another accounting package, but not yet acquainted with Sage Peachtree—this live, online, interactive session is the best first step to mastering Peachtree. Email me for more information on this online, interactive session.
Sage Peachtree 3-Day Intensive in Austin, Texas
Need more intensive training or help with Peachtree? Please consider getting out of the office and coming to one of the most interesting cities in the country for a private 3-Day Intensive with a Peachtree Certified Consultant. Your time in Austin will be spent working on whatever goal you’d like to accomplish with Peachtree. Email me for more information on this fast track path to meeting your goals with Peachtree.
Anytime and Realtime Online Peachtree Classes at Sage University
Browse through Sage online classes that include Anytime Online and Instructor Led classes. Business Care customers get free access to Anytime Online Classes.
Hundreds of activities, exercises, tips and pointers take you through basic to advanced and specialized features in Sage Peachtree. Each guide contains exercises to help you practice newly acquired skills on sample companies rather than your live company data.
The Sage Peachtree Accounting User Community is a place where you can meet and learn from new and experienced Sage Peachtree users and Certified Consultants.
Check out this database of FAQs regarding Sage Peachtree and other small business division software.
Hope you find these resources useful.
Please Click Here to Request More Information Regarding Sage Peachtree Services
Sage Peachtree Certified Consultant
Sage Solution Provider
Passionate about Small Business
Send email to suzy@121-business.com
Website: www.121-business.com
Join my professional network at Linkedin and follow me on Twitter.
Groupon, LivingSocial, and Scoutmob
“Groupon, LivingSocial, and Scoutmob” from Kim Dixon and The Sage Peachtree Insider
These services can be a great way to bring new customers to your business. But before you go offering up one of these deals, you need to understand how they work and make sure you can handle the increase in business.
These three services are very similar. All of them allow you to sign up to receive email alerts, or you can go directly to their web sites to see the latest offer. Usually the offer is good for 24 hours, with a different offer each day. And all three have free mobile apps for SmartPhones and the iPad. That’s where the similarities end.
With Groupon and LivingSocial, the customer purchases your coupon upfront and the service pays your portion to you (typically half of the total price of the offer). A good example is a coupon for half off the price of a product or service, good for 6 months up to one year.
Scoutmob has a different approach. Customers request the coupon and receive it for free. As a merchant, you pay Scoutmob a small fee for each customer who redeems a coupon at your business. Scoutmob is available in many cities already, and they have plans to add a new city each month.
In most cases, you won’t be making money on the coupon; it’s really just another form of marketing. Your goal is to make the shopping experience so great that customers want to return, and they’ll want to tell their friends about it…………
More from: “Groupon, LivingSocial, and Scoutmob” from Kim Dixon and The Sage Peachtree Insider
Suzy Rabb
Sage Peachtree Certified Consultant
Sage Solution Provider
Passionate about Small Business
Send email to suzy@121-business.com
Website: www.121-business.com
Join my professional network at Linkedin and follow me on Twitter.
Getting Started with Sage Peachtree 2012
So you’ve made the plunge! You have acquired and installed Sage Peachtree 2012 or considering doing so.
Either way, here’s a great video to get you started on the path to success.
Getting Around in Peachtree 2012 from The Sage Advisor
Sage Peachtree Certified Consultant
Sage Solution Provider
Your Live, Online Guide to Sage Peachtree Success
512.892.8990 Send email to suzy@121-business.com
Website: www.121-business.com
Join my professional network at Linkedin and follow me on Twitter.
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