Since you will normally pay at least $6,750 for these same 3 users that is quite a bargain!  Microsoft just announced an amazing new “Three Users for $1” promotion.  Until June 25, 2010 new Microsoft Dynamics GP customers can get up to 3 user licenses of either the Business Essentials edition (normal price $2250 per user) or Advanced Management edition (normal price $3980 per user) for just $1.00 USD.  So essentially, if you need 1, 2, or 3 users you get the software for free;  (anything that costs less than a cup of coffee is basically free in my book.)  If you need extra users you pay for those, but you have still saved a big chunk of cash.

In all my years working with Microsoft I have never seen such an aggressive promotion;  so you may well ask: “Why would Microsoft do such a thing?” Here are a few thoughts:

• The economy is improving and companies need to be ready for the upswing but many companies that really need new ERP software have delayed making the purchase because spending is still frozen.  With signs of economic improvement, coupled with the number of companies that have been waiting on the sidelines to make a purchasing decision, now is the time for Microsoft to “do something significant.”  These companies are ready, they just need a good reason to act now.  And 3 users for $1 is certainly a compelling reason.
• With the release of Dynamics GP 2010, which is sure to be a crowd pleaser, this is the perfect time to add as many new Dynamics GP users as possible, so they can be awed by the cool features of the new product.

Considering  how unusual this offer is, there are relatively few restrictions in the fine print:

• You must commit to pay the Business Ready Enhancement Plan (Microsoft maintenance plan) for 3 years.  The Enhancement Plan fees will be calculated based on the System List Price (“SLP”) of all users and components.
• Offer does not apply to Microsoft Dynamics Client for Microsoft Office and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (DCO MOSS),  SQL Runtime Edition and Database licenses, A la carte functionality, Third Party (ISV) software and functionality, Microsoft Dynamics CRM and CRM related Services or Components, Microsoft Dynamics® AX, Microsoft Dynamics® NAV, Microsoft Dynamics® SL, or Microsoft Dynamics® RMS.
• Customers taking this offer may not switch Microsoft Dynamics® ERP product lines for at least two years from the date of purchase.
• Offer cannot be combined with other offers and promotions (such as the Peachtree, NetSuite, and QuickBooks Replacer offers).

This fine print is standard for almost all Microsoft Dynamics GP promotions, so really is nothing that takes away from the value of this deal.  I do think the other Microsoft Dynamics ERP products will be jealous though!

If you have been considering Microsoft Dynamics GP, now is the time to make the investment, for a lot less cash that you would have paid yesterday. And if you have a Microsoft Dynamics GP quote already, ask your partner to update it based on this promotion; (Just be sure to factor in the cost of the required 3 years of maintenance.)

But do keep in mind, there is more to the cost of a Microsoft Dynamics GP system than just the price of the software.   To learn more about how to budget the cost of implementation services and hardware request our free white paper: “30 Questions Every CFO Must Ask About the Cost of Accounting Software”.

by CAL Business Solutions, Connecticut Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

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Microsoft just announced they will discontinue the Microsoft Office Accounting product as of Nov 16, 2009.  Honestly, this product never really took off the way Microsoft hoped it would and this is not a surprise announcement.   At a session at the Connecticut CPA Society last year I saw an industry expert compare the strengths and weaknesses of Office Accounting vs. the entry level QuickBooks product and even I was surprised that Office Accounting held its own and was a nice little package! But he correctly predicted that even if it is a better product, QuickBooks is so entrenched with small businesses and their CPAs that Microsoft just wouldn’t be able to shake it. But in my opinion that is ok, because when companies outgrown QuickBooks, they will come back to Microsoft anyway since the Microsoft Dynamics ERP products are far superior to Quickbooks Enterprise. (Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 and QuickBooks Enterprise 7.0 Comparison Report)

If you want to know more about the Office Accounting announcement read the Office Accounting Discontinuation FAQs on the Microsoft website.  (don’t worry, if you own Microsoft Office Accounting you’ll still get support for the next 5 years and by that time the economy will be booming and you will be ready for Microsoft Dynamics GP).  Plus, something tells me that Microsoft may just offer some kind of incentive to get you to trade up, like they did when Microsoft Small Business Manager was discontinued last year. But don’t quote me on it.

By CAL Business Solutions, Connecticut Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) Partner

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2. Why Mid-Market Companies Continue to Make the Smart Move to Microsoft Dynamics GP…
3. 263% More Companies Choose Microsoft Dynamics GP Accounting Software

Every industry has its own unique needs and industry specific software.  Over the past few years CAL Business Solutions has developed expertise around the needs of staffing and recruiting companies.  Thousands of staffing industry users rely on Bullhorn for their front office/applicant tracking software. And every front office package needs to connect to the back office, right?  Welcome StaffLinx GP!  StaffLinx GP is an integration tool created by CAL Business Solutions that allows Microsoft Dynamics GP to connect to Bullhorn.

Bullhorn collects critical data the accounting department needs to create customer invoices and employee paychecks. StaffLinx GP allows companies to easily share this information with Microsoft Dynamics GP to eliminate double entry and make every department more efficient.

With the custom web views in StaffLinx GP Bullhorn users can access key financial information – such as payroll, invoices and balances – without ever leaving Bullhorn!

• Staffing Managers will be happy when they can serve their clients faster by tracking an invoice or checking a balance from Bullhorn without having to wait for a response from the finance department.
• Finance will be happy when they can eliminate double entry between Bullhorn and your accounting system. (and take less calls from the staffing managers).
• Owners will be ecstatic when they see detailed financial reports showing the increased productivity as a result of eliminating costly data entry, automating time entry and expediting invoicing.

One happy StaffLinx GP user is Pridestaff. By using the StaffLinx GP tool to tightly integrate Bullhorn and Microsoft Dynamics GP, PrideStaff avoids the time-consuming and potentially error-prone task of manually double entering payroll and invoice data.  Pridestaff estimates they save approximately 1,000 hours a month across 36 offices using Microsoft Dynamics GP with StaffLinx GP.

“There’s so much integration and flexibility in the system. It’s not complex to process an invoice or generate payroll. All screens have a common look and feel, so it’s very user-friendly, easy to understand and easy to learn, which is important to us. The staff at CAL has been fabulous to work with and has provided some very innovative solutions for us.  I was originally concerned that the CAL office was located so far from us, but using online tools, it’s never been an impediment.”- Christine Huebert, Controller, PrideStaff Inc.  (Read the Full Case Study)

Is your staffing firm still using entry level accounting software such as QuickBooks?

Upgrading from QuickBooks to Microsoft Dynamics GP is the smart choice!  Microsoft Dynamics GP is full featured accounting software that grows with your business, is integrated with your other systems, gives you the detailed reporting you need, and is easy to set up, customize and use. 

Upgrading to a robust accounting software package like Microsoft Dynamics GP with StaffLinx GP allows staffing companies to:  

•  Review better data with consolidated financial statements.
• Get money faster with cash collections management.
• Feel confident with advanced financial system security.
• Recognize substantial savings by moving payroll back in house.
• Make better decisions with the ability to create custom margin analysis and profitability reports.

StaffLinx GP was developed by CAL Business Solutions in cooperation with Bullhorn, for the closest integration possible.  It can be purchased as an affordable add-on to an existing Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) install or as part of a new Microsoft Dynamics GP system purchased from CAL Business Solutions.

The experienced team at CAL Business Solutions has implemented Microsoft Dynamics GP at over 200 companies since 1982 – with a special focus on the needs of the staffing industry.  Contact us today to review your current system and determine if Microsoft Dynamics GP with StaffLinx GP is the right fit for your business. 860-485-0910 x3002

 By CAL Business Solutions, Connecticut Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner serving the staffing industry.

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I contribute regularly to a blog site run by one of our partners called the Bullhorn Blogger.  (Bullhorn in an on-demand front office system for staffing and recruiting firms).  Because we have many Microsoft Dynamics GP clients in the staffing industry (and our own custom GP add for them called StaffLinx) we like to keep informed on the issues that interest this community.  I read an interesting article in a Connecticut Business Journal that attempted to prove the point that when companies start to hire more temporary workers, it is an indicator that the economy is recovering.  (Read My Post Here: Staffing Companies Can Be Canaries for Economic Boom!).  This led me to start questioning what I consider as a sign that the economy is recovering.

We recently wrote a white paper about the cost of accounting software - and I had over 200 downloads in a little over a month! (trust me, this is a huge # in my world)  This is a sign to me that people are researching and planning and preparing for new accounting software purchases.  This is important because they say that the life span of accounting software is about 7-10 years and many companies upgraded to their current system to prepare for Y2K. So right now many people are overdue for a change and limping along on old technology, just waiting for their own “sign” that the economy is getting better.  I hope that time has come!

While we have added more new new clients this year than last year at CAL Business Solutions, I personally believe that when the economy does show concrete signs of stabilizing there will be a flood of activity for accounting software buyers.  And we are ready for the flood!

What does your business consider as a sign that the economy is recovering?  Leave a comment and let me know.

by CAL Business Solutions – Connecticut/Massachusetts Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

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1. How Staffing Companies Can Connect Microsoft Dynamics GP Back Office to Bullhorn Front Office to Eliminate Double Entry, Expedite Invoicing and Enhance Payroll
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