online accounting for bureau services accounting for... · software should support your business,...

Online AccountingFor Bureau Services

© Online50 Limited 2017 Registered in England number 31442768

For more information call the Online50 team on: 0800 195 0835 (or for international and mobiles call: +44 207 536 7736)

http://www.online50.net

About Online50

Online50 Have been providing Cloud services since 2001 — well before anyone called it the Cloud.

The Online50 service was originally conceived as a platform to allow accountants and their clients to work together, sharing access to accounting software and data so that the accounting workload can be divided between them.

More than a decade later we provide a range of managed hosting services allowing our users to scale from a single application for a single user to a fully cloudsourced IT deployment, moving IT into the Cloud for one or more offices.

Today we offer a range of software applications and services, including both Sage 50 Accounts and SAP Business One so that with the same service you can service a broader range of clients.

Our Difference

We are a Service Provider. Our business model is based on monthly subscription revenue, and we operate on short term contracts. This means we are incentivised to give you great services so that you continue to use us.

We’re not a software vendor, we have no interest in selling you upgrades or new software that you may not need. Software should support your business, not shape your business.

We benefit from ongoing revenue when you choose to carry on using our services.

In the same way that an accountancy service provider is interested in the ongoing revenue over the lifetime of a client.

We think it’s simply good business when our interests and yours are aligned.

For an electronic copy of this document (PDF), scan the code with a QR reader app, or go to http://l.tt/HGWZ6

2 7Online Accounting for Bureau Services © Copyright Online50 Limited 2017 http://www.online50.net Call: 0800 195 0835 (or +44 207 536 7736)

“Online Accounting isn’t just a different way to buy and operate accounting software — it enables a

completely different way of working that empowers both the client and their accountant.”

When you can share access to the same accounting system, you can divide the workload. This means that you can decide who is carrying out which tasks to share the workload according to the experience, skill and availability of the different parties. And as your client evolves you can decide to change how that workload is shared.

We call this model Partial Outsourcing and it’s why the Online50 service was first conceived back in 2001.

Since then we have added a range of tools specifically aimed at helping you to work with your clients. You will find the details of some of these on the inside back cover of this brochure.

Online50 is the orginal “Sage in the Cloud” service for accountants and their clients. Often copied, never bettered. Watch the Video! at http://l.tt/HGY14

Unique Data Tools

Data Lifecycle

Making it easy and safe to create, upgrade, suspend and delete Sage 50 Accounts datasets.

Dataset Properties

Without opening the dataset, users can view the last backup date, last restore date, current lock date and others. Ideal as your bureau increases the number of clients you support.

Backup & Restore

Take a backup of a dataset quickly and without opening the dataset first. Backup a Sage dataset by dragging it into a folder. Restore a dataset by dragging the backup onto a Sage dataset or onto a Registered Datasets window. A fantastic tool if you need to regularly backup all your client datasets.

Version Protection

When you open a new company within Sage only the companies for your version are shown. This prevents accidental upgrades.

Upgrade Roll Back

If an upgrade doesn’t complete as expected, users can roll back to the earlier version. Using the tool, easily upgrade datasets to the version you need them in.

Locking Datasets

Datasets can be locked when the dataset is with clients that don’t use the system. This prevents it from being accidentally updated.

Accountant Benefits

Unique Bureau License

The only Sage 50 license that provides unlimited datasets, in any version, with simultaneous client access.

Multiple Versions

You can work with clients in different versions of Sage. Each Bureau user has access to all versions of Sage 50 from Line 50 v8 to the most recent. Clients only see the version they are using. Special tools ensure datasets cannot be accidentally upgraded.

Portable Data

Load an existing Sage 50 dataset into our system. Take a backup from our system and load it into an offline copy of Sage on your computer. You can even work with Sage Instant data.

Source Documents

Using DocLink, you can attach source documents directly to Sage accounting transactions. Wherever you open Sage, you can see electronic copies of the source documents. Staff working remotely, staff in your practice office and staff in your client’s office can all see the source documents irrespective of where the originals are located.

Client Benefits

Flexible Terms

Users are only tied in for one calendar month at a time. They can quickly and easily increase or decrease their users and licenses according to their changing operational needs.

Wide Range Of Add-Ons

Expand the capabilities of Sage 50 or reduce the time required to carry out a procedure using a wide range of add-ons available on Online50. For example: import ecommerce information directly into Sage 50 rather than capturing it manually.

Familiar Software

Enjoy the benefits of hosting and continue to use Sage 50, the UK’s most widely used accounting software. This makes it easier to recruit experienced staff. Why retrain staff when you can continue with the software you trust?

High Performance

Experience Sage at maximum speed. Sage with large numbers of transactions runs more quickly with Online50 than on internal networks. Enjoy Sage 50 over the Internet working almost as quickly as on a stand alone desktop.

Improved Efficiency

Because clients can access the system at the same time as their accountant in different places, there’s no need to send backups and everyone can work with fewer interruptions.

“The service is far more cost

effective than us doing it in-house”

Peter Guinn,Alliotts Chartered Accountants

and Business Advisors

Partial Outsourcing

Way back in the old days before the Online50 service began the revolution in how accounting services are delivered businesses had two choices. They could have their own accounts department, or they could outsource. Both of these choices have benefits and pitfalls.

But an online accounting bureau allows the best of both worlds. The client can raise invoices and post the cash, their accountant can post journals and prepare management accounts.

All without downtime or exchanging backup files.

From the client’s perspective this provides a tailor made accounting service that delivers value where they need it.

And when the online accounting bureau uses Online50, both the client and the accountant have the highest levels of flexibility. We work with different software vendors to provide a choice of software — software which you can choose to run either online or offline.

We are a service provider, not a software vendor, so we don’t try and sell you upgrades that you don’t need that break your systems, or new software that traps you to an online service. Since we work with different software vendors you can change software when you need to in a controlled way within our managed environment. Software change is a disruptive process so you should choose software for clients carefully as making the wrong choice could damage the business.

For many years the accountancy press (and websites!) have been urging accountants to move away from a traditional business model. Using an online system to collaborate with clients allows you to provide different types of services to your clients where they need them. Of course as all clients are different, different services suit different clients.

A flexible platform like Online50 allows you to use the platform in different ways with different clients. Some of our Bureau partners process all their Sage clients on the Online50 service whether or not the client needs access. Others only use it with those clients that have a specific need for the service themselves.

You can choose to construct the services you provide to suit the clients you want to have. For example:

Management Reporting

Budgeting (and Budget Reporting)

Interpretation of Data

Outsourced Processing

If you just use online software you run the risk of being the same as all the other accountants that use that same software. But when you use Online50 as a bureau platform to work with your clients, you can still be individually unique.

Online Accounting for Bureau Services © Copyright Online50 Limited 2017 http://www.online50.net Call: 0800 195 0835 (or +44 207 536 7736)6 3

Smarter Clients Want Smarter Services

The home of

softwareonline

Now with addedBusiness One-ness!

50 200 X3

Choosing Software To Empower Clients

At Online50 we have always been known for hosting Sage 50 Accounts, and for many businesses this is still a great choice. While it is a good thing to stay with software that you know and trust, and that’s working for you, if clients outgrow their software they need to consider other options. After extensive research we’ve adopted SAP Business One as a core product, and it’s a very capable, great value alternative to Sage 50 Accounts.

If your client broadly fits the above profile then Sage 50 Accounts is likely to be a good fit for the client.

Reasons to Choose Sage 50 Accounts:

The client already has the software and it does everything that’s needed.

The client knows how to use the software.

The client trades only in the UK.

The client has only limited requirements for capabilites where Sage 50 is weak, including: Foreign Currency; stock control; production; analysis; forecasting; service contracts.

The client does not need a high volume of transactions and is not expected to grow.

The client’s business is unlikely to change in the near future.

If clients have outgrown Sage 50, or if they may do so in the near future, then you should consider whether SAP Business One could be a suitable alternative.

Reasons to Choose SAP Business One:

The client wants a platform that can support growth in their business .

Foreign currency transactions are an important part of the clients business.

Reporting the financial statements in an alternate currency is a requirement.

The client needs to control stock, track batch or serial numbers, or uses multiple stock locations or pack sizes.

The client wants a single joined up system to control their business.

The client wants more flexibility and/or control in their business processes.

The client needs more analysis, including real time interpretation of their data.

The client is trading outside the UK.

The client is (or expects to be) registered for VAT in more than one jurisdiction.

The client has staff that would prefer to use software in a language other than English.

For more help choosing between Sage 50 and SAP Business One, scan the code with a QR Code reader app, or go to http://l.tt/HGIyR

Online50’s services are charged for on a calendar monthly basis and can be flexed up and down according to requirements. Hosting costs are broadly similar (although the latest versions of Sage 50 cost more to host than SAP Business One). Software license costs scale with use.

To make the comparison fair, we have the closest match by features, using Sage 50 Professional and ‘Ambition Accelerator’.

£58.49

£26.00

Software Feature Comparison

Hosting costs are broadly similar. (Newer versions of Sage require a Data Server.)

For a single user (per calendar month):

Sage 50 AccountsProfessional

SAP Business One

Prices exclude VAT.

There is not enough space in this document to compare all the features between the two products. We prepared the info-graphic above to illustrate how SAP Business One compares to different products in the Sage product range. As

Sage have different products at this level you can see that SAP Business One overlaps with each of them. Many users choose SAP Business One because the same product can scale so well as the company grows.

Software License Cost Comparison


Partial Outsourcing

Way back in the old days before the Online50 service began the revolution in how accounting services are delivered businesses had two choices. They could have their own accounts department, or they could outsource. Both of these choices have benefits and pitfalls.

But an online accounting bureau allows the best of both worlds. The client can raise invoices and post the cash, their accountant can post journals and prepare management accounts.

All without downtime or exchanging backup files.

From the client’s perspective this provides a tailor made accounting service that delivers value where they need it.

And when the online accounting bureau uses Online50, both the client and the accountant have the highest levels of flexibility. We work with different software vendors to provide a choice of software — software which you can choose to run either online or offline.

We are a service provider, not a software vendor, so we don’t try and sell you upgrades that you don’t need that break your systems, or new software that traps you to an online service. Since we work with different software vendors you can change software when you need to in a controlled way within our managed environment. Software change is a disruptive process so you should choose software for clients carefully as making the wrong choice could damage the business.

For many years the accountancy press (and websites!) have been urging accountants to move away from a traditional business model. Using an online system to collaborate with clients allows you to provide different types of services to your clients where they need them. Of course as all clients are different, different services suit different clients.

A flexible platform like Online50 allows you to use the platform in different ways with different clients. Some of our Bureau partners process all their Sage clients on the Online50 service whether or not the client needs access. Others only use it with those clients that have a specific need for the service themselves.

You can choose to construct the services you provide to suit the clients you want to have. For example:

Management Reporting

Budgeting (and Budget Reporting)

Interpretation of Data

Outsourced Processing

If you just use online software you run the risk of being the same as all the other accountants that use that same software. But when you use Online50 as a bureau platform to work with your clients, you can still be individually unique.


Smarter Clients Want Smarter Services

The home of

softwareonline

Now with addedBusiness One-ness!

2 7Online Accounting for Bureau Services © Copyright Online50 Limited 2017 http://www.online50.net Call: 0800 195 0835 (or +44 207 536 7736)

“Online Accounting isn’t just a different way to buy and operate accounting software — it enables a

completely different way of working that empowers both the client and their accountant.”

When you can share access to the same accounting system, you can divide the workload. This means that you can decide who is carrying out which tasks to share the workload according to the experience, skill and availability of the different parties. And as your client evolves you can decide to change how that workload is shared.

We call this model Partial Outsourcing and it’s why the Online50 service was first conceived back in 2001.

Since then we have added a range of tools specifically aimed at helping you to work with your clients. You will find the details of some of these on the inside back cover of this brochure.

Online50 is the orginal “Sage in the Cloud” service for accountants and their clients. Often copied, never bettered. Watch the Video! at http://l.tt/HGY14

Unique Data Tools

Data Lifecycle

Making it easy and safe to create, upgrade, suspend and delete Sage 50 Accounts datasets.

Dataset Properties

Without opening the dataset, users can view the last backup date, last restore date, current lock date and others. Ideal as your bureau increases the number of clients you support.

Backup & Restore

Take a backup of a dataset quickly and without opening the dataset first. Backup a Sage dataset by dragging it into a folder. Restore a dataset by dragging the backup onto a Sage dataset or onto a Registered Datasets window. A fantastic tool if you need to regularly backup all your client datasets.

Version Protection

When you open a new company within Sage only the companies for your version are shown. This prevents accidental upgrades.

Upgrade Roll Back

If an upgrade doesn’t complete as expected, users can roll back to the earlier version. Using the tool, easily upgrade datasets to the version you need them in.

Locking Datasets

Datasets can be locked when the dataset is with clients that don’t use the system. This prevents it from being accidentally updated.

Accountant Benefits

Unique Bureau License

The only Sage 50 license that provides unlimited datasets, in any version, with simultaneous client access.

Multiple Versions

You can work with clients in different versions of Sage. Each Bureau user has access to all versions of Sage 50 from Line 50 v8 to the most recent. Clients only see the version they are using. Special tools ensure datasets cannot be accidentally upgraded.

Portable Data

Load an existing Sage 50 dataset into our system. Take a backup from our system and load it into an offline copy of Sage on your computer. You can even work with Sage Instant data.

Source Documents

Using DocLink, you can attach source documents directly to Sage accounting transactions. Wherever you open Sage, you can see electronic copies of the source documents. Staff working remotely, staff in your practice office and staff in your client’s office can all see the source documents irrespective of where the originals are located.

Client Benefits

Flexible Terms

Users are only tied in for one calendar month at a time. They can quickly and easily increase or decrease their users and licenses according to their changing operational needs.

Wide Range Of Add-Ons

Expand the capabilities of Sage 50 or reduce the time required to carry out a procedure using a wide range of add-ons available on Online50. For example: import ecommerce information directly into Sage 50 rather than capturing it manually.

Familiar Software

Enjoy the benefits of hosting and continue to use Sage 50, the UK’s most widely used accounting software. This makes it easier to recruit experienced staff. Why retrain staff when you can continue with the software you trust?

High Performance

Experience Sage at maximum speed. Sage with large numbers of transactions runs more quickly with Online50 than on internal networks. Enjoy Sage 50 over the Internet working almost as quickly as on a stand alone desktop.

Improved Efficiency

Because clients can access the system at the same time as their accountant in different places, there’s no need to send backups and everyone can work with fewer interruptions.

“The service is far more cost

effective than us doing it in-house”

Peter Guinn,Alliotts Chartered Accountants

and Business Advisors

Online AccountingFor Bureau Services

© Online50 Limited 2017 Registered in England number 31442768

For more information call the Online50 team on: 0800 195 0835 (or for international and mobiles call: +44 207 536 7736)

http://www.online50.net

About Online50

Online50 Have been providing Cloud services since 2001 — well before anyone called it the Cloud.

The Online50 service was originally conceived as a platform to allow accountants and their clients to work together, sharing access to accounting software and data so that the accounting workload can be divided between them.

More than a decade later we provide a range of managed hosting services allowing our users to scale from a single application for a single user to a fully cloudsourced IT deployment, moving IT into the Cloud for one or more offices.

Today we offer a range of software applications and services, including both Sage 50 Accounts and SAP Business One so that with the same service you can service a broader range of clients.

Our Difference

We are a Service Provider. Our business model is based on monthly subscription revenue, and we operate on short term contracts. This means we are incentivised to give you great services so that you continue to use us.

We’re not a software vendor, we have no interest in selling you upgrades or new software that you may not need. Software should support your business, not shape your business.

We benefit from ongoing revenue when you choose to carry on using our services.

In the same way that an accountancy service provider is interested in the ongoing revenue over the lifetime of a client.

We think it’s simply good business when our interests and yours are aligned.

For an electronic copy of this document (PDF), scan the code with a QR reader app, or go to http://l.tt/HGWZ6