RB User Guide > Entities > Firms

Adding firms to RB

You can add firms to your RB database in the Entities module, import them from other applications (RB9 only), or on the fly in cases and jobs.

1. Start a new firm

   • From scratch

     1. Entities > Firms
     2. Check that the firm does not already exist in your RB database. See Searching firms.
     3. If the firm doesn’t appear in your search, click New in the Firms window.

   • From another application

     If you have an existing database of firms in another application, you can import the data into RB via an Excel spreadsheet. See Importing entities from other systems.

   • Within a case

     New firm will automatically be added as a party to the case.

     1. Calendar > Cases
     2. Find case. See Searching cases.
     3. Click Edit in the View Case window.
     4. In Edit Case window’s Parties pane, click .
     5. In the New Party panel, click New.

   • Within a job

     1. Calendar > Jobs (List View)/Jobs (Monthly View)/Jobs (Weekly View)
     2. Find job. See Searching in RB.
     3. Click Edit in the View Job window.
     4. In Edit Job window, Ordering Client pane, click *Ordering Firm > Lookup Firm (required) or Scheduled By > Lookup Firm.
     5. In the Lookup Firm panel, click New.

   • When creating a new contact

     Contacts must be tied to firms in RB. If a contact’s firm is not in the database, you can add it on the fly.

     1. Entities > Contacts
     2. Click New.
     3. In the New Contact window, the Lookup Firm panel automatically opens. Click New.

2. Enter required information

   In the New Firm window, enter the firm’s name in *Firm Name (required). (If creating new firm within a case, you will also be required to enter at least one contact into the firm. See Adding contacts.)

3. Enter optional information

   You can enter information now or at any time after saving:

   • General

     To enter basic firm information, including contact information and important warnings, see Entering general firm information.

   • Additional

     To enter billing details and notes for your calendaring and production/billing departments, see Entering additional firm information.

   • Marketing

     To specify what type of firm this is for marketing and billing purposes, see Entering firm marketing information.

   • Collections

     Initially, you can designate which resource is responsible for collecting this firm’s overdue payments (see Looking up resources), and the actionable financial status of this firm, such as COD or bankrupt. (Account statuses are set in Lists > Firms.)

     After saving the firm, you can enter and track retainers (see Entering retainers), and track collection efforts and results (see Recording collections efforts).

4. Save firm

   Click Save >

   • Save & Edit: To enter more firm information. The window changes to Edit Firm, adds additional panes, and scrolls to Notification Email and Tags panes. See Updating firms.
   • Save & Close: If you have no more information to add at this time.

Reference

• Microsoft Excel
• Bulk Import
• COD
• Setup > Lists > Firms
• Retainers

Step-by-step instructions

• Searching firms
• Importing entities from other systems
• Searching cases
• Searching in RB
• Adding contacts
• Entering general firm information
• Entering additional firm information
• Entering firm marketing information
• Looking up resources
• Entering retainers
• Recording collections efforts
• Updating firms