We recommend you start using the charity option at the start of a new financial year. 

We recommend creating a new set of nominal codes and a new chart of accounts. 

If you need to remove your existing data, you must rebuild your data and enter opening balances for the start of the new financial year.

If you have existing data in your company. You need to rebuild your data before enabling the charity option. 

Prepare your data for a rebuild

Before rebuilding your data, follow these steps:

1. Check your data.
2. Take a backup.
3. Run your financial year end. 
4. Archive your data. 

Rebuild your data

1. Go to File, then Maintenance, then Rebuild.
2. Clear the Keep my Nominal Account records checkbox.
3. From the Business Type area, select Charities or other non-profit making organisation.
4. Press OK then Yes.
5. Complete the Financial Year window as follows:
   

   Month	Use the dropdown list to choose the month in which your financial year starts.
   Year	Enter the year your financial year starts.

6. Press OK then Yes.
7. Press OK then Close.

Enable the charities option

1. Go to Settings then Company Preferences.
2. Select the Parameters tab.
3. From the Others area, tick Enable Charity\Non-Profit options and press OK.

Edit the default SOFA categories

1. Go to Settings then Nominal Defaults.
2. Select the category you want to edit and select Edit.
3. In the Name box, enter the required name.
4. Press OK then OK.