Set your accounting and payroll up for success

As we settle into the new year, it’s a good time to pause, take stock, and make sure your accounting and payroll processes are set up to support the year ahead.

While the financial year may still be in progress, the start of a new calendar year is ideal for tightening controls, setting clear goals, and removing any friction that crept in during the past year.

Start 2026 on the right foot
Here are a few practical ways to bring clarity and confidence into your accounting and payroll for the months ahead:

  • Review your processes
    Are payroll approvals, leave tracking, and month-end procedures still working efficiently? Small tweaks now can save hours later.
  • Clean up your data
    Ensure employee records, cost centres, and reporting structures are accurate and up to date before workloads ramp up.
  • Align systems with goals
    If growth, efficiency, or better reporting is on your 2026 agenda, your software and processes should actively support those goals.
  • Plan for compliance early
    With tax year-end approaching in a few months, now is the time to identify risks and avoid last-minute pressure.

How can MRBM help?

From optimising your accounting and payroll setup to Sage support, outsourced payroll, and compliance advice, our team is here to help you get organised, informed, and in control.

Let’s make this a year of clarity and confidence.

Get in touch: info@mrbm.co.za  /  031 818 9030.

A Look Ahead: How AI Will Shape Your Accounting in 2026

As we wrap up 2025, one thing is clear: this has been a landmark year for AI adoption.

Across the industry, and within our own client base, we’ve seen a massive shift in both the usage and trust of AI-driven tools. The results have been real, measurable, and genuinely exciting — and we’re only getting started.

So, what’s coming in 2026?

The future of accounting and business information systems is being shaped by intelligent automation, rapid data access, and tools that can support better, faster decision-making.

At MRBM, here’s where we’ll be focusing our R&D efforts over the next year:

1. AI agents that handle your repetitive tasks

From analysing invoices to formatting data for seamless import into your accounting software, AI agents will soon take care of the manual admin that slows teams down.

2. Smarter access to your business data

We’re working on deeper integrations with Copilot and your databases — Sage, SharePoint, client information, and other business sources. You’ll be able to ask Copilot “What were my company’s sales figures last month?” or “Turn that data into a graph” and get a usable, accurate response in a minute.

A quick reminder: security comes first

As with any new technology, AI brings massive opportunity — but also responsibility. When used correctly and safely, AI can transform the way you work. When used carelessly, the risks can be significant.

Please continue to keep security front of mind and ensure you’re following best practices as you adopt these tools.

If you’d like to chat about how AI could support your accounting, payroll, or business information systems in 2026, we’re here to help.

Get in touch: info@mrbm.co.za  /  031 818 9030.

Hosting a Year-End Function? Know Your Responsibilities and Risks

Protect Your People and Your Business.

As the festive season approaches, many companies plan year-end functions to reward employees and strengthen team spirit. While these events can boost morale and foster connection, they also come with legal and reputational risks that employers must manage.

Key Risks to Consider:

Employee Conduct:

Misbehaviour, harassment, or discrimination during the event can lead to disciplinary action and reputational damage.

Alcohol Consumption:

Serving alcohol increases the risk of accidents, misconduct, and potential liability for injuries or damages.

Health & Safety Obligations:

Employers remain responsible for creating a safe environment—even offsite.

Transport & After-Parties:

Driving under the influence and unsanctioned after-parties can expose your company to risk.

 

Your Responsibilities:

  • Before the event, make sure to remind staff of company policies and the code of conduct.
  • Provide adequate food, water, and non-alcoholic options.
  • Ensure everyone has access to safe transport or taxi services.
  • During the event, keep an eye on behaviour and step in quickly if any issues occur.

Our HR team can help you draft policies, communicate expectations, and implement risk mitigation strategies.

Get in touch: info@mrbm.co.za  /  031 818 9030.

Introducing Sage 50c Pastel Partner’s New Tiered Packages – Built to Grow with You

Sage has officially launched a new, scalable subscription model for Sage 50c Pastel Partner, designed to evolve with your business from startup to enterprise.

Unlike basic accounting tools, Sage 50c Partner grows seamlessly with your operations — so you’ll never need to “start over” with new software as your business expands.

The new tiered structure is as follows:

Start Tier – For Startups & Small Businesses

Start Tier – For Startups & Small Businesses

2 Users | 2 Companies | From R1,375 / month
Perfect for new businesses ready to move beyond entry-level accounting tools.

Core Tier – For Growing Businesses
Core Tier – For Growing Businesses

4 Users | 4 Companies | Optional Add-ons | From R1,915 / month
Ideal for businesses needing more flexibility and the option to add additional modules.

Plus Tier – For Established, Expanding Operations

Plus Tier – For Established, Expanding Operations

5 Users | 5–Unlimited Companies | Expandable to 20 Users | From R2,715 / month
Designed for medium to large businesses. The Plus Tier allows you to add more users, companies, and modules as you grow — offering maximum flexibility and scalability for complex operations.

Why Businesses Choose Sage 50c Pastel Partner

For over 30 years, Sage has been trusted by more than 100,000 South African businesses for reliable, compliant, and high-performing accounting solutions.

Building on that legacy, Sage 50c Pastel Partner delivers advanced functionality designed specifically for growing South African businesses that need more than just basic bookkeeping.

Beyond standard accounting, it’s built for compliance, scalability, and control — giving your business complete oversight from a single system.

  • Manage multiple delivery addresses per client – ideal for multi-branch operations
  • Automate recurring billing and invoicing – perfect for service contracts and monthly retainers
  • Maintain full oversight of inventory, suppliers, customers, and cash flow
  • Enjoy both desktop and cloud-connected flexibility to work your way

Sage 50c Pastel Partner brings together Sage’s proven reliability with the flexibility and depth your business needs to grow confidently.

Predictable, Scalable Pricing

With the new tiered subscription model, you only pay for what your business needs today — and scale up effortlessly when ready.
Choose monthly or annual plans, enjoy easy tier upgrades, and receive consistent feature updates.

All tiers include Bank Manager, Sage Intelligence Reporting, and the V13 Pervasive Workgroup Database at no additional cost.

FAQs

  • Why does it cost more?
    Partner now includes enhanced features that were previously optional extras — offering far greater value.
  • What if I only need something simple?
    For smaller businesses or those seeking a fully cloud-based solution, Sage Business Cloud Accounting remains available from R435 / month (2 users | 1 company).

Ready to find your perfect fit?

Contact MRBM to discuss which Sage 50c Pastel Partner tier is right for your business — or explore the cloud alternative if you’re just getting started.

Get in touch: info@mrbm.co.za  /  031 818 9030.

How to manage remote locations and multi-currency businesses effectively

If your business is already operating across multiple locations — or even across borders — you’ll know that growth comes with a unique set of challenges.

What once worked for a single office or region often doesn’t scale when you’re dealing with distributed teams, multiple sets of financial data, and transactions in more than one currency. Common pain points usually include:

  • Struggling to consolidate reports from various locations.
  • Issues with reporting accurately across multiple segments, i.e. divisions, sites and countries.
  • Delays in getting accurate, real-time insights because systems aren’t connected.
  • The administrative burden of dealing with multi-currency invoicing and reconciliation.
  • Maintaining compliance with local tax and payroll requirements in each location.

The good news? These aren’t challenges you need to solve manually. The right systems can make all the difference in creating a single version of the truth, no matter where your teams or customers are based.

With the right Sage solution in place, you can:

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➡️ Streamline multi-currency management
Issue invoices, process payments, and consolidate accounts with confidence.

 

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➡️ Unify your reporting
Gain a clear, centralised view of performance across every division, site, region and country.

 

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➡️ Enable remote work
Give your teams secure access to the financial data they need, wherever they are.

 

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➡️ Reduce risk
Stay automatically aligned with local compliance requirements.

 

We help businesses like yours choose and implement the right solution for their unique business needs — whether that’s the scalability of Sage 300cloud or the flexibility of Sage 200 Evolution.

Talk to us today about how we can help you better manage your multi-location business.

Get in touch: info@mrbm.co.za  /  031 818 9030.

Avoid Penalties with Sage Pastel Payroll

Avoid SARS Penalties the Smart Way – with Sage Pastel Payroll Software

Late submissions, missed deadlines, or small errors in payroll can result in unnecessary expenses.

But the good news is, Sage Pastel Payroll allows for easy and efficient processing of your payroll to ensure timeous payments.

Here’s how:

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➡️ Automate calculations
PAYE, UIF, SDL and other deductions are calculated automatically, reducing the risk of human error.

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➡️ Generate accurate reports
Easily create statutory reports (EMP201, EMP501, IRP5/IT3a) to meet SARS requirements.

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➡️ Stay legislation-ready
Sage keeps their products in line with South African legislation so stay up to date with simple updates and legislative releases.

Want help setting this up?

MRBM will support in making sure your payroll is accurate, compliant and stress-free.

Get in touch: info@mrbm.co.za  /  031 818 9030.

5 Signs it’s Time to Move from Spreadsheets to the Cloud

Ready to Grow? Here’s Why Excel May Be Holding You Back

Spreadsheets are a great starting point for small businesses — flexible, familiar, and inexpensive.

But as your business grows, managing finances becomes more complex. What once served as a quick manual solution soon turns into a time-consuming, error-prone, and risky process.

Here are 5 signs that it’s time to consider moving to cloud accounting:

➡️ 1. Errors are costing you time and money
Even the smallest slip in a formula or a copy-paste mistake can ripple through your entire financial picture. If you’re spending hours double-checking numbers, a cloud system that automates data entry and reconciliations can eliminate that risk.

➡️ 2. Collaboration is a constant headache
How many versions of that “final spreadsheet” exist in your inbox? Cloud accounting provides a single source of truth, with real-time access for you, your finance team, and even your external accountants. No more chasing down the latest file.

➡️ 3. Reporting takes too long
If generating management reports, VAT returns, or cash flow forecasts means pulling data from multiple sheets and manually compiling them, it’s slowing you down. Cloud accounting software generates accurate reports instantly — giving you more time to act on the numbers instead of preparing them.

➡️ 4. Security is a concern
Spreadsheets stored on desktops or emailed between staff are vulnerable to data loss, manipulation, corruption, or even malware. With cloud accounting, your financial data is encrypted, backed up, and protected — so you can focus on business, not IT risks.

➡️ 5. You need flexibility and scalability
In today’s world, you need to access your financial data from anywhere, on any device. Cloud accounting isn’t just convenient; it scales with your business, letting you add users, integrate apps, and handle growing complexity without adding manual admin.

Spreadsheets are powerful tools, but they weren’t designed to run a growing business’s finances. Cloud accounting gives you automation, security, and insights that help you stay ahead.

Ready to move beyond spreadsheets?

Get in touch: info@mrbm.co.za  /  031 818 9030.

Save R1800 on Accounting & Payroll Software Plus 10% off Flex

Only 3 weeks left!

R1800 discount on:
🎁 Sage Pastel Payroll
🎁 Sage 50cloud Pastel Partner
🎁 Sage Business Cloud Accounting

10% discount on:
🎁 Sage 50cloud Pastel Partner (on new Flex annual packages)

Valid until 30 September 2025. T’s and C’s apply.

➡️ Save R1800 on Pastel & Cloud Accounting

Sign up for Sage 50cloud Pastel Partner or Sage Business Cloud Accounting before the end of September and save R1800 (equivalent to 2 hours of free setup/support). Our experienced team are ready to help you get started with ease.

Upgrading from a previous Sage solution? No problem – the labour fee is on the house.

Not sure which product is right for you? Here’s a quick tip:

  • Sage 50cloud Pastel Partner is ideal (and more cost-effective) for SMB’s managing multiple companies with complexed accounting needs.

  • Sage Business Cloud Accounting is better suited for less complex SMB accounting needs, especially if you’re looking for a fully cloud-based solution.

We’ve broken it down in our side-by-side comparison – read it here.

➡️ Save R1800 on Pastel Payroll

Whether you’re managing payroll across multiple entities, preparing for SARS submissions, or setting up a new system, Sage Pastel Payroll is a trusted, in-house solution that’s been supporting South African businesses for years.

With MRBM by your side, you get more than just the software — you get expert guidance from a team that’s worked with Pastel Payroll since the beginning. We know the product inside out and ensure it’s configured to suit your exact business needs.

Until the end of the month we’re offering R1800 discount (equivalent to 2 hours free setup/support) — making it even easier to get started with confidence.

Top reasons to choose Pastel Payroll with MRBM?

  • Multiple Entities:  Handle payroll for more than one company from one system.

  • Set It Up Right: Our experienced team have years of hands-on experience and configure your Pastel Payroll system correctly from the start.

  • Simplify SARS Submissions: Whether it’s bi-annual or year-end reporting, Pastel Payroll helps you prepare and import the necessary files with ease.

➡️ Save 10% on Flex Packages

Sign up for a new Sage 50cloud Pastel Partner annual Flex package and save 10% for the year.

What is Flex?

All the features available on Sage 50cloud Pastel are available to you with easy-to-pay monthly instalments. This subscription-based accounting solution is designed to simplify your accounting processes and keep your finances on track.

Don’t miss out — Save now before Sage’s price increase next month!

Get in touch: info@mrbm.co.za  /  031 818 9030.

Save R1800 on Pastel & Cloud Accounting – Ends 30 Sept!

Limited time offer for small-medium sized businesses!

Sign up for Sage 50cloud Pastel Partner or Sage Business Cloud Accounting before the end of September and save R1800 (equivalent to 2 hours of free setup/support). Our experienced team are ready to help you get started with ease.

Upgrading from a previous Sage solution? No problem – the labour fee is on the house.

Not sure which product is right for you? Here’s a quick tip:

✅  Sage 50cloud Pastel Partner is ideal (and more cost-effective) for SMB’s managing multiple companies with complexed accounting needs.

✅  Sage Business Cloud Accounting is better suited for less complex SMB accounting needs, especially if you’re looking for a fully cloud-based solution.

 

We’ve broken it down in our side-by-side comparison – read it here.

 

Don’t miss out – Take advantage of this offer and save!
Offer valid until 30 September 2025. T’s and C’s apply.

Get in touch: info@mrbm.co.za  /  031 818 9030.

Save R1800 on Pastel Payroll – Limited Time Offer!

Switch to Pastel Payroll and Save

Whether you’re managing payroll across multiple entities, preparing for SARS submissions, or setting up a new system, Sage Pastel Payroll is a trusted, in-house solution that’s been supporting South African businesses for years.

With MRBM by your side, you get more than just the software — you get expert guidance from a team that’s worked with Pastel Payroll since the beginning. We know the product inside out and ensure it’s configured to suit your exact business needs.

And for a limited time, we’re offering R1800 discount (equivalent to 2 hours free setup/support) before 30 September — making it even easier to get started with confidence.

Top reasons to choose Pastel Payroll with MRBM?

✅ MULTIPLE ENTITIES
Handle payroll for more than one company from one system — no need for separate setups or duplicate work.

✅ SET IT UP RIGHT
That’s where our experienced team comes in. With deep product knowledge and years of hands-on experience, we’ll configure your Pastel Payroll system correctly from the start — tailored to your exact company setup and needs.

We don’t just install and go — we train you on your actual payroll environment, so you and your team feel confident using the system from day one. Avoid errors, save time, and get it right the first time with MRBM.

✅ SIMPLIFY SARS SUBMISSIONS
Whether it’s bi-annual or year-end reporting, Pastel Payroll helps you prepare and import the necessary files with ease. Starting mid-tax year? No problem — year-to-date figures are easy to capture.

 

Save Now!

Let our team help you implement or optimise Pastel Payroll to match your business. Don’t wait — this offer is only available until 30 September 2025.
T’s and C’s apply.

Get in touch: info@mrbm.co.za  /  031 818 9030.