8.8Expert Score

Sage Books Accounting software Review 2024

If you are trying to find a way to streamline your business functionality, then you need to think about your accounting procedures. Even though you need to focus on the details when it comes to accounting, you need to automate a lot of the processes that you currently do by hand. That way, you can save time, spending it on other areas of your business. One program that may help you do this is called Sage. What is Sage accounting software, and what do you need to know about this program? Take a look at a few important points below, and think about whether this is the right program for your business. 

Price

8

Customer Service

9.7

Accounting Standard Features

9.5

Reporting

9.7

Integrations

9

Platforms

9.2

Time in Business

9.7

PROS

• There is a free trial available. This allows you to try out the features before you decide if this is the right program for you.
• There are lots of integrations is available through Sage Accounting. Therefore, you may be able to link some of your other programs to Sage, making it easier for you to transfer data back and forth. 
• There are multiple versions of this application available including desktop, mobile, and cloud access. This is perfect for businesses that have a hybrid working environment where some employees may be on the go constantly. 
• If you are a solo entrepreneur or run a relatively small business, there is a cheaper option available that allows you to take advantage of Sage without blowing your budget.
• This program provides you with access to strong reporting features that allow you to track information over an extended amount of time.
• These are some of the biggest benefits of going with Sage Accounting. At the same time, it is important to think about some of the drawbacks as well. 

CONS

• The design is relatively basic. It is not going to make a great impression when you first take a look at the program. It may look a bit antiquated and outdated, making it difficult to find certain things. 
• Because there are so many features available, it can be overwhelming for people who do not have a lot of experience with accounting software programs. It may take a long time for you to learn how to use the program, which may harm your productivity in the beginning.
• You do not have access to a tremendous amount of data storage. If you run out of room, it can be difficult for you to keep your operations up and running. 
• Even though the customer service is readily available, not all levels of customer service are available at all plans. Therefore, there are situations where it may take a while for you to get an answer to your question.
• The program does not come with access to payroll or time tracking features. If you are looking for a program that can help you with this area of your business, you may want to go with a different option. 

Sage as an Accounting Software: A Detailed Guide of What To Know

An Overview of Sage Accounting: What Is This Program?

Sage Accounting is a software platform that provides analytics, accounting, payroll, and human resources features for small and medium businesses. This program has been around for more than 10 years, and it has grown to include a large number of features that you can customize to meet your niece. Now, there are added functionality is available, including CakeHR for human resources departments. Furthermore, there are additional features that can be scaled up for medium and larger companies.

One of the recent addition has been the growth of cloud accounting features. This makes it even easier for companies to scale their profiles through Sage to make sure they stay on track. At the same time, this is still largely viewed as legacy software when it comes to accounting. That is why it is important to think about the pros and cons of this program before moving forward.

The Main Features of Sage Accounting Software

There are several important features you will enjoy if you decide to use Sage Accounting Software. These include:

Inventory Management

Without a doubt, one of the most important features of this program is inventory management. There are a lot of businesses that use this program specifically for its inventory management features. Fortunately, inventory management is something that is included with a lot of its lower-level plans. Therefore, this is an easy choice for small business retail organizations that require salad inventory management to help them stay on track. Because this feature is so affordable, it has become one of the biggest selling points of the program.

Expense Tracking

Another helpful feature provided by Sage accounting is expense tracking. It is possible for you to tie your bank account to the program. That way, you can automatically import your expenses, making it easier to create reports regarding your business. You can figure out where the money is going, where the money is coming from, and what you need to do to control your overhead expenses. Furthermore, using Sage Business Cloud Accounting, you can create extensive workflow patterns and automatically enter your receipts into your profile to more easily track your expenses. This makes it easier for you to balance the books when it comes time for taxes. You can also add reports to your dashboard to forecast expenses, revenue, and sales targets.

Customer Support

Another major feature of the program is customer support. You will always have access to experts who can help you, no matter what your questions might be. Furthermore, you can tailor your customer support to meet your requirements. Even though the exact nature of your customer service is going to vary depending on the plan you choose, you will never be left in the dark when it comes to Sage accounting. If you have questions, you can get them answered.

Customizable Versions

Sage is a program that is used by small businesses, medium businesses, and larger businesses. As a result, there are multiple levels you can customize to meet your specific requirements. If you are looking for a larger plan, you can purchase one. If you are looking for a smaller plan that will minimize your overhead expenses, you can find a cheaper option as well. Then, as your business grows, you may find that you need to scale up some of your features. Sage makes it easy to do so, ensuring your plan grows with your company.

Smart Invoicing

Furthermore, this program also provides the ability to create smart invoices. Using this software, you can create, send, and track all of your invoices from start to finish. This makes it easier for you to improve your bookkeeping processes, monitoring your cash flow. In addition, you can create quotes and estimates for your clients. This is particularly helpful for those who work in the service industry, such as electricity, plumbing, and construction. Furthermore, it is possible to receive one-click payments through Stripe or PayPal using upper-level plans. In this manner, smart invoicing is a way for you to expedite a lot of the tasks that you probably still do by hand.

Onboarding Assistance

It can be overwhelming to take a look at the wide variety of features provided by Sage. Fortunately, there is onboarding assistance that can help you get the most out of the features. That way, you know what to do when you take a look at the dashboard. Then, if you are looking for a specific feature that can help you with an area of your business, this onboarding process can help you with that as well. If you decide you need to upgrade your plan, you can go through the onboarding process again to learn about the new features you have just subscribed to.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Sage Accounting?

Even though these features are impressive, it does not necessarily mean this is the right program for your company. It is important to take a look at the benefits and drawbacks, comparing them to your needs.

Make sure you think carefully about the benefits and drawbacks before you decide if this is the right program for you. This is a significant investment, so you need to be aware of the pricing plans available.

What Is the Customer Service Like?

If you decide to go with one of the upper-level plans through Sage Accounting, you will have access to numerous customer support options. This includes:

• You can take a look at the community forums to see if someone else has had the same problem. Then, you can take a look at what they did to address it.
• There are live question and answer sessions available every weekday between 9 AM and 6 PM, Eastern Time.
• You also have the option to sign up for one-on-one Sage coaching, which provides you with a personal teacher who can make sure you get the most out of the program.
• State University is a great way to learn more about the features available. You can take a look at some tutorials and learn more about how the program can help you.
• When you need acute customer service, do you have access to email support, phone support, and live chat.

Keep in mind that a lot of these features are only available to you at the upper levels of Sage. If you decide to go with one of the basic plans, you may not get access to all of these features. This means it could make it difficult for you to find help.

The Sage Pricing Structure: What Plans Are Available?

Sage is an accounting program that is trusted by small businesses, medium businesses, and large corporations. One of the reasons why this program works well at all levels is because there are multiple plans available. Some of the pricing plans include:

• Sage One Start: This plan costs $10 per month and is best for small businesses that are relatively strapped for cash. The plan provides access to simple income and expense tracking.
• Sage One Accounting: This plan costs $25 per month and is best for businesses that are growing quickly and require many integrations. This plan provides all the features of the prior plans and adds numerous integrations that may help your company.
• Sage 50Cloud Accounting Pro: This plan costs $56.08 per month per user and is good for small businesses that require cloud access. The plan provides all the features of the above plans and adds a Microsoft Suite integration as well as Cloud access. It includes all the features of the above plans.
• Sage 50Cloud Accounting Premium: This plan costs $84.58 per month per user and is great for teams of one to five people. This plan adds a wide variety of advanced analytics that can help businesses identify trends in their expense tracking. It includes all the features of the above plans.
• Sage 50Cloud Accounting Quantum: This is a plan that costs $139.58 per month per user and provides specific customizations for certain industries. If you require multi-business functionalities, then this plan might be for you.
• Sage 100Cloud: This plan costs $76 per month and is best for businesses with dozens of employees. This is great for enterprise resource planning, including all of the features of the above plans.

Clearly, there was a lot of overlap between these plans. Even though some of the differences have been highlighted above, it can be difficult to nail down the differences between these products. Therefore, if you are thinking about going with one of the plans above, it is a good idea for you to reach out to a support representative with the company. That way, you can figure out what plan is right for your business without adding unnecessarily to your overhead expenses. You can find the right plan to meet your needs. It might just take some time.

The Premium Additions:

Unfortunately, some of the best features of this program are not included in any of the plans above. This includes HR software, payroll tracking, and time slips. A few of the premium additions you may want to consider include:

• Payroll Tracking: If you would like payroll assistance, then this is a premium add-on. For just over $90 per month, you can add payroll tracking for up to 10 employees. This is great for businesses that are growing relatively quickly.
• TimeSlips: For about $90 per month, you can also include time tracking Integrations. Specifically called TimeSlips, this is a great way for you to enter time, track time, and create invoices. This also makes it easier for you to have your teams collaborate, as this is also available through mobile access.
• Sage 50 CRM: Finally, if you are looking for a CRM integration, this costs just under $40 per month for one user. The price may change if you are looking for something for bulk use. This can help your team stay in contact with one another, track leads, and Link invoices to customer profiles.

Even though these premium additions can be helpful, they can also be expensive. Therefore, it is important to take a look at other options before you decide if this one is right for you.

Mobile and Cloud Access

Mobile access is available through Sage Accounting. There are fully functional mobile applications available on all platforms. This makes it easier for you to manage your employees if they are commonly on the go. All features available through your traditional plan are also available on mobile applications.

In addition, there are cloud access options as well. This makes it easier for you to scale your business. If you need to increase your features, you can increase your plan by changing your subscription. Furthermore, this makes it easier for remote employees to access the information they need to do their jobs. You don’t have to worry about sending multiple files back and forth using unsecured email.

A Summary of Sage Accounting Software

Ultimately, there are numerous features available through Sage Accounting that make this one of the top accounting programs in the world. Furthermore, there are other features available that may be appropriate for larger businesses. Because there are so many plans available, you can customize them to meet your needs. That way, you can make sure you are not paying for anything to do not require.

At the same time, it can be difficult to tell the difference between many of these plans. Unfortunately, some of the best customer service options are not available at the lower plan. In addition, some of the most desirable features, including payroll and time tracking, are not available unless you pay for them as premium additions. Finally, the program is a bit Antiquated, which can make it hard to find certain features. Overall, this is a strong program that is included in the middle of our top ten list.