title | description | author | ms.author | ms.reviewer | ms.topic | ms.date | ms.custom | ms.search.keywords | ms.search.form | ms.service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Create new companies using an assisted setup guide |
It's easy to create a new, blank company in Business Central. An assisted setup guide helps you through the steps, and you can import your business data. |
brentholtorf |
bholtorf |
bholtorf |
conceptual |
03/08/2024 |
bap-template |
company, setup wizard |
1803, 9020, 9022, 9026, 9027, 9030, 9000, 9009, 9004, 9005, 9024, 9006, 9007, 9010, 9016, 9017 |
dynamics-365-business-central |
Create new companies in [!INCLUDEprod_short]
In [!INCLUDEprod_short], the container for business data that belongs to a business unit or legal entity is referred to as a company. When you sign up for [!INCLUDEprod_short], you're given a demonstration company and an empty company, My Company. Switching between the companies is easy: just go to My Settings and move to the other company. But you can also create new companies in [!INCLUDEprod_short] depending on your business needs.
Note
To create a new company, you must be assigned to the Super permission set.
When you create a new company, an assisted setup guide helps you get the basics in place. Then, you can import data from your legacy system or another company in [!INCLUDEprod_short].
[!INCLUDE about-ui-learn]
If you decide to add a company to your [!INCLUDEprod_short], you can use the Create New Company assisted setup guide to get started. The setup guide is available from the Companies page and from the lookup in the Company field on the My Settings page.
The setup guide offers three templates and a blank option:
- Evaluation - Sample Data
Create a company that's similar to the demonstration company with sample data and setup data. This type of company is available to you without switching to a 30-day trial period, which the other types do. - Advanced Evaluation - Complete Sample Data Create a company with the Advanced functionality scope, which has everything you need to evaluate the product for companies with advanced processes. This type of company is available to you without switching to a 30-day trial period, which the other types do.
- Production - Setup Data Only
Create a company that's similar to My Company, with setup data such as a chart of accounts, payment methods, and financial report definitions, but without sample data. You can use this company for a 30-day trial period. - Create New - No Data
Create a blank company without setup data. You can use this company for a 30-day trial period.
If you want to get started easily with a new company, choose Production - Setup Data Only and then import your own business data, such as customers, items, and vendors. Choose the New template if you want to set up everything from scratch. In that case, you can use the Company Setup assisted setup guide to help you get started with essential setup data.
Note
When you create a new company, it takes a few minutes before you can access it in [!INCLUDEprod_short]. The setup status on the Companies page shows when the new company is ready for you. Then, you can switch to the new company by using My Settings.
During your 30 day trial, you can create any number of new companies, but they're only available during your trial. For more information, contact your [!INCLUDEprod_short] partner. See also the Dynamics 365 Business Central trial FAQ article.
Your administrator can learn more about trials and subscriptions here.
On the Companies page, you can use the Copy action to create a second company based on the contents of an existing company. Copying a company is useful, for example, when you want to test a company without disrupting production data.
Important
Don't use the Copy action to take a backup of a company. To take a backup, start by exporting the database as a .bacpac file. For more information, see Exporting Databases in the development and administration help.
[!INCLUDE email-copy-company]
[!INCLUDE dataverse-copy-company]
When you sign in to a new company, the Company Setup assisted setup guide helps you get started. The guide asks for information about your business, such as the address, bank details, and inventory costing method. This information forms the basis for many areas in [!INCLUDEprod_short] so you won't have to set them up manually.
For example, [!INCLUDE prod_short] includes your company address in invoices and other documents and your bank information in payments. The costing method is used to calculate prices and inventory valuation.
After the basics are in place, you can set up the remaining core areas. Then, you're ready to add business data, such as customers and vendors. For more information, see [Set Up [!INCLUDEprod_short]](setup.md).
[!INCLUDE company_environment]
For more information, see Switching to Another Company or Environment. For more information about environments, see Understanding the Infrastructure of Business Central Online (in English only).
After you create a company, you can't change its name. You can, however, change its Display Name, which is text that shows for the company throughout the application.
Tip
You can rename a company if you're using [!INCLUDEprod_short] on-premises.
The Contoso Coffee app provides demonstration data to help you explore the advanced capabilities of [!INCLUDE prod_short]. Find the app in AppSource, and install it in an empty company, for example a company in a sandbox environment. For more information, see Introduction to Contoso Coffee Demo Data.
Customizing Business Central
[Setting Up [!INCLUDEprod_short]](setup.md)
Importing Business Data from Other Finance Systems
Change Basic Settings
Getting Ready for Doing Business
Understanding the Infrastructure of Business Central Online (English only)
[!INCLUDEfooter-include]