Creating new company in Sage, the following step-by-step procedures should be followed when you need to create a new company in the Sage accounting program.

1. Select File and from the pull-down menu select New Company.
2. Type the name (e.g., fjsbulimo), physical addresses and postal address, etc. then click on the next button.
3. Select the beginning of the financial date for all your transactions.
4. Confirm that the financial dates' beginning, and end are correct then click the next button.
5. You may accept the current data directory or type a new one e.g., C:\Sage\fjsbulimo

If you require password protection type the secret name to allow users to access the new company and click the next button. Accept the current Sage group icon where your new company (e.g., fjsbulimo) will be located else specify a new group window where it should be located.

• Type the text that should appear below the icon then click the next button.
• Check the following boxes: Use current defaults, Vat cash accounting, and Access rights then click the next button.
• Check the following boxes: Toolbar help, and Field help then click the next button.
• Check the Default Nominal structure radio button and click the next one.
• Confirm that all the information now displayed is what you desire else to make any changes click the back button and make your changes.
• Click the Finish button to complete making the new company.
• Click continue to complete the new company installation process.
• After the computer finishes creating the new company’s data files click o.k.

Defaults- Company Preferences

Entering Your Company Preferences (The Details Tab)

• Open the Defaults drop-down menu from the Sterling for Windows menu bar.
• Choose the Company Preferences option.
• Edit your company name and address, if necessary.
• You may also wish to enter or amend the following defaults from the Company Preference dialog box.
• To save any changes and exit, choose the Ok button, or to exit without saving, choose the Cancel button.

Entering the Details for Your Text Labels (The Labels Tab)Choose the Labels tab from the Company Preferences dialog box. You can edit any of the details shown as follows:Address Lines 15 -These are the text labels which appear on the Customer, Supplier and Bank Records. You can use up to 10 characters for each prompt.Customer Analysis 13 - These are the text labels which appear on the Customer Record Defaults tab dialog.Supplier Analysis 13 - These are the text labels which appear on the Supplier Record Defaults tab dialog.To save any changes and exit, choose the Ok button, or to exit without saving, choose the Cancel button.

Entering Your System Defaults (The System Tab)

• Choose the System tab from the Company Preferences dialog box.
• Use the following check boxes to indicate your system defaults:

Item VAT Amendable

Select this check box (a cross appears when it is selected) if you want to be able to amend the VAT amount figure calculated by Sterling when you create invoices or credit notes from within the Invoicing option, and when you create sales orders and purchase orders.

VAT Cash Accounting

Sterling for Windows handles VAT in two ways: Standard VAT Accounting and VAT Cash Accounting. Select this box (a cross appears when it is selected) if you require your VAT Return to be calculated on a VAT Cash Accounting basis, i.e., calculated from the input and output VAT amounts you actually receive and pay, rather than those amounts you have invoicesPage Throw - Select this check box, if you want each record to begin on a new page.Access Rights- Sterling's Access Rights option lets you set individual passwords for each person who has access to Sterling. You can even restrict which options and dialogs each user can use.

Copy Skeleton Journal Values

Select this check box (a cross appears when it is selected) to be able to save the values of your `skeleton' Nominal Ledger Journal Entries which you make regularly, e.g., for salaries, or to post opening and closing stock entries.

Print End of Report Banner

Select this check box (a cross appears when it is selected), to print an `End of Report' message at the end of all reports to indicate that the report is complete.

Exclude Deleted Transactions

Select this check box, to exclude any transactions from your reports and transaction activity list boxes, which have been amended using the Disk Doctor option.Toolbar Help- Select this check box (a cross appears when it is selected) to turn on Sage bubble help on the toolbars.Field Help- Select this check box (a cross appears when it is selected) to turn on Sage bubble help on fields. Every time you select a box, an explanation bubble for that box appears.To save any changes and exit, choose the Ok button, or to exit without saving, choose the Cancel button.

 Entering Your Environment Defaults (The Environment Tab)

Use the Environment tab to control the use of the F11 and F12 function keys, and to set up any communication devices if you are using Sterling's telephone option.

1. Choose the Environment tab from the Company Preferences dialog box to set your environment defaults.
2. In the boxes provided, enter the following.

Port- If you wish to use the telephone option in Sterling, you will need to have the appropriate communication devices available.Modem- If you are using the telephone option in Sterling, enter the name of your modem type here.Delay- If you are using the telephone option in Sterling, enter the delay time in seconds, required before any number is processed by the telephone system.Function Keys (F11 and F12)You can use function keys F11 and F12 to call up any program you need. Sterling automatically sets F11 to run CONTROL.EXE and F12 to run LAYDES.EXE.CONTROL.EXE is the Windows' Control Panel which lets you change your Windows system settings such as date and time, printer fonts, colors and so on. LAYDES.EXE is the layout editor designed specifically to edit your layout files. To save any changes and exit, choose the Ok button, or to exit without saving, choose the Cancel button.

Tax Codes

Adding or Editing Tax CodesOn installation, Sterling automatically sets up the following VAT Rates for you:

1. T0 - zero rated transactions
2. T1 - standard rate
3. T2 - exempt transactions
4. T4 - sales to customers in EC*
5. T7 - zero rated purchases from suppliers in EC*
6. T8 - standard rate purchases from vendors in EC*
7. T9 - transactions not involving VAT**

How to add or edit VAT rates

1. Open the Defaults menu from the Sterling for Windows menu bar and choose the Tax Codes option.
2. Select the code you want to change then choose the Edit button e.g., T2.
3. Enter the rate to be applied (as a percentage e.g.: 16) in the Rate text box provided. Note: you cannot change this rate if it is an EC Code, as this rate does not apply.
4. If you want to include this tax code in your Sterling VAT return, select the `Include in VAT Return' check box.
5. If the rate relates to transactions with EC countries, enter the following details in the EC Code area:

EC Code -If the rate relates to transactions with EC countries, select this check box.EC Sales/EC purchasesIf this rate relates to acquisitions from other EC countries, select the EC Purchases option button.Link- In accordance with VAT regulations, EC purchase tax codes have a `notional' rate and are linked to UK codes. From the drop-down list, select the tax code which this EC tax code is linked to.To save the details of this tax code and exit, choose the Ok button. Choose the Cancel button to exit without saving.To exit from the Tax Codes dialog box, choose the Close button.Additional reading: ERP as a Business Management Software