Considering Sage....

Dane · Nov 23, 2009

Any one got any advice?

Is it worth it, or stick to some basic spread sheets?

Is it easy to get along with?

Any one else using this....

All views appreciated.

Pyro · Nov 23, 2009

A colleague of mine uses Sage (I don't know exactly which version, but it's no higher than the "Line 50" package) and has just discovered that there is an annual maintenance/support fee that he has to pay. It's around the

batty · Nov 23, 2009

I use quickbooks which is easy to use. One of my missus relations uses sage and says it very complicated but I have never tried it so can't comment from own experience. You do not have to have a service contract with quickbooks if you don't want to.

Batty

danny7299 · Nov 24, 2009

I think the only benifit with sage (unless you have a huge company) , is that you can send the file to you accountant at your years end who will also have sage,

Pyro · Nov 24, 2009

I have had a chat with my colleague regarding Sage. He is using the "Accounts Pro 2009" version.

There is an annual fee that covers bug fixes and allows questions to be asked on the help-line. It does NOT cover software updates - these are chargeable. You do need to have an "accountant's mind" and know about accountancy methods and terminology to get the best out of it.

His suggestion for a user-friendly package is "Microsoft Small Business Accounts", released this summer.

Sage allows on-line VAT and other HMRC services; "Small Business Accounts" does not.

The on line stuff is, I think, not so much of an issue: my spreadsheets do VAT calculations and when I file VAT returns on-line, I simply copy and paste my results into the VAT return form. It's no harder to do than a written VAT return.

Cirrus · Nov 24, 2009

I use Sage (wife is an accountant) and you do NOT need to buy the technical support they advise you that you need. One of my clients is a software guru and he is a Sage reseller and openly admits that he advises his customers not to take the expensive tech support package as it is a con. Not really needed to be truthful.