Background and basic function

========================

Users can only see records from one company at a time.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They switch between companies using a selection field in the top right of their screen. The exception to this is the administrator, which sees all records at all times.

The company_id Field

-------------------------------

Enabling multi-company activates a "company_id" field on almost every record. Multicompany record rules define what is shared between companies in conjunction with the "company_id" field which exists on most models.

• Leave the company_id field blank to share a record with all companies.

• Add a company to the field to make it visible to users logged into that company or one of its parent companies only

• To ignore the company_id field on a model, archive the multicompany record rule for that model. This will force share records of that model between companies regardless of the value int he company_id field

• The administrator ignores all multicompany record rules. Therefore, don't create any records or transactions as administrator because you may create a record that can be read only by the administrator

Company Properties

-------------------------------

• Some fields contain different values depending on the company. These are called property fields.

• The name of these fields usually contains "property".

• Property fields usually contain accounting information. The most important property fields are the account fields on products and product categories

When/Why should you use Multicompany?

====================================

You should consider using multi-database or multi-warehouse if possible. These configurations are simpler and less prone to user error and are therefore preferred if they fit your needs.

If the answer to the following questions is mostly yes, the multicompany feature may save you time:

• Do you need to manage more than one legal entity?

• Do these entities have their own separate accounting with their on CofA and Financial Statements?

• Do the companies share common data?

Pros:

-------

• Efficiency gains when a lot of data is shared between companies

• Consolidated reporting

Cons:

--------

• Configuration Complexity > slower to implement

• Expect to troubleshoot permissions errors during setup

• Possibilities for user error during configuration and use

• You need an admin user for configuration only (extra user cost)

• Certain features, like perpetual valuation, assets, and deferred revenues require special consideration to set up in conjunction with a shared product catalog

Questions to ask if you decide to implement multicompany:

=================================================

What is the relationship between companies?

-------------------------------------------------------------

• What information is shared?

·        

• product catalog (some or all?)

• contact book (includes vendors, customers by default)

• any other info? leads? stock levels?

• who needs to see stock where?

• do you need to track stock "on the boat" between the two companies?

Accounting consolidation

-----------------------------------

• What is the relationship between companies? Parent/Child/Sibling?

• Do you need to see rolled-up GL reports?

Other Reports

----------------------

• Do any other reports (eg sales) need to be consolidated?

Are there any Intercompany Workflows?

-----------------------------------------------------

• How do the companies interact with each other? Are there any workflows that involve both companies? eg manufacturing

• How does stock move between the two companies?

• Is stock pushed or pulled from the parent company?

Basic Setup Steps

===============

1. THIS IS NOT NEEDED V12.0 AND LATER **Create an admin user which is not used by a human in day to day operations. Do not create records with admin because admin can see records from both companies at the same time. No other user can do this, so admin can create records which nobody else can open

2. Turn on multi-company in settings > general settings

3. create any necessary companies from settings > users > companies (ideally, implement one additional company at a time)

4. enable any intercompany transactions (in general settings) pending answers to the questions below

5. if necessary, configure record rules to share information other than contacts and products

6. Install a chart of accounts template for all companies

7. set up charts of accounts and journals for each company

8. set up warehouses and locations for each company

1.      Ensure each company has their own Production Location, Inventory Location & Scrap Location – label them to be company specific to avoid confusion

2.      On Products form, set Counterpart Locations to default to the correct company location or you will receive error messages (Debug – Set         Defaults)

9. for each company, link the chart of accounts to

1.      contacts

2.      products

3.      product categories

4.       taxes

10. for each company, set up taxes, fiscal positions, and pricelists on customers

11. create separate payment sequences for each company if desired

12. test all workflows as a user other than admin!

Sequences

==========

By default, Odoo shares non-accounting sequences between companies.

Notes on Intercompany transactions:

=======================

• Note: choosing option set A on company 1 and set B on company 2 enables full automatic workflow. this won't work if there are 3 companies

•  

•  

• Option set A: Send Sales and Purchase Orders

• Create SO/PO Automagically (plus optional auto-validation)

• C1 SO to C2

• C2 PO create > validate > stock.picking create

• C1 PO to C2

• C2 SO create > validate > stock.picking create

•  

•  

• Option Set B: Send Invoices and Refunds

• C1 Invoice to C2

• C2 vendor bill for C1

• C1 Vendor bill to C2

• C2 Invoice to C1