Lesson 2.1: Setting Up Company Data and Preferences

Your organization’s fiscal management begins with the proper configuration of Company Data. In FastFund Online, this information is the foundation for your reports, tax filings, and internal controls. This lesson covers how to enter your organization’s demographic details and configure critical accounting preferences, such as your fiscal year and posting ranges.

Accessing Company Administration

All company configuration is performed in the Administration section. To access this area, you must have Company Administration permissions.

1. Locate the Status Bar at the top of the screen.

2. Click the Gear icon on the right side.

3. From the Administration sub-menu, select Company Setup.

Section 1: Company Details and Contact Information

The Company Details window is where you define who you are. The data entered here automatically populates headers on reports, tax filings, and merge documents for client bills and donor receipts,.

• Business Name: Enter your organization’s official name. This appears on all reports.

• DBA Name: If you operate under a different name, enter it here. This can be used on client bills and donor receipts instead of the Business Name.

• Tax IDs: Enter your Federal Tax ID and State Tax ID. These are mandatory for payroll filings and 1099 processing.

• Primary Address: Click the <Click to edit> area to enter your mailing address. Fields marked with a red dot are required. This address is used for tax filings and is the default address for reports,.

Section 2: Accounting Preferences

The Preferences tab controls how FastFund handles dates, checks, and internal controls.

Setting the Fiscal Year

This is the most critical step in your setup.

• Fiscal Start Month: Select the first month of your fiscal year from the dropdown (e.g., if your year ends June 30, select July).

• Warning: Once you begin entering financial activity, you cannot change the fiscal year setting. If your fiscal year changes later, you would need to set up a entirely new company,.

Beginning Balance Date

This date determines when you start entering transactions in FastFund.

• Rule: The date must be the last day of a month (e.g., 12/31/2023). You cannot enter a date that is not a month-end.

• Function: This date acts as your “books closed” date for prior systems. You can begin entering transactions in FastFund the day after this date,.

Posting Range (Internal Control)

To prevent users from accidentally posting transactions to the wrong year or far into the future, set a Posting Range.

• This defines the valid window for transaction entry relative to the current system date.

• It can be set from 1 month to 24 months.

• Example: If set to 6 months, a user trying to post a transaction dated 7 months prior will receive a warning.

Check and Dashboard Settings

• Check Position: Select Top, Middle, or Bottom to match your pre-printed laser check stock.

• Project Tracking: Check this box to enable the tracking of revenue and expenses for grants, events, or short-term activities outside of your standard Chart of Accounts.

• Dashboard Preferences: Choose whether your dashboard Pie Charts summarize data by Fund or Primary Cost Center.