Sage Accounting Review

Rated #8 Best UK Accounting Software

Overall Rating:

9.1

Ease Of Use = 8.3

Value For Money = 9.0

Customer Support = 9.3

Features = 9.8

Sage Accounting review – This a small business accounting application that incorporates a variety of financial tools and has impressive customisation options.

The cloud-based platform can be accessed on any device, perfect for small businesses to manage their accounts on the go. With options to combine with Payroll and HR solutions, it offers small businesses and sole traders the ability to access one streamlined accounting solution for all available needs.

At a Glance

Aimed at sole traders and small businesses, Sage Accounting is an online accountancy software to help businesses manage finances, create invoices, manage and submit VAT invoices, and ultimately keep businesses on top of their finances.

Sage has been around the accountancy space for some time with various solutions, and Sage Accounting is the latest model to encompass all that small businesses may need in one place. 

This program is more complex than many accounting software programs, which may hold less appeal to simpler, smaller businesses, but if you have employees working remotely, it offers great functionality. 

In short, Sage Accounting allows you to automate processes, so you can concentrate on your core business. You can work in real time and get a single view of your whole client base in just one place.

What Features Does Sage Accounting Support?

Sage Accounting provides a variety of time-saving features. However, the main ones you can enjoy include:

• Multi-function bookkeeping tools to handle accounts, inventory and payments
• Personalised invoices and the ability to send reminders for payments 
• Automated data entry to easily upload invoices and receipts 
• Creates an audit trail to record any ledger changes
• Direct invoicing from sales orders
• Stock and inventory tracking tools
• Clear and visual cashflow tools to see the money in and out of your business
• VAT tools, including VAT returns which can be submitted directly to HMRC if you are VAT-registered
• Sage membership – offering access to member masterclasses with experts to address business challenges

You can also download your bank account information into Sage and produce account charts and departmental reports.

Sage Accounting is also rolling out a new AI assistant called Sage Copilot, which is designed to analyse your data to provide actionable insights and generate contextual emails when needed. However, this feature is still within early access, which we’ll cover below. 

Lastly, Sage Accounting also offers an optional Payroll and HR management add-on, which starts at £10 extra per month for the essentials package.

The essentials package supports payroll and HR services for up to 150 employees, including automatic pension enrolment and employee holidays, which will be more than enough for any small business.

Fees

Sage Accounting has three tiers depending on the features needed, allowing you to choose the package best suited to your business needs. This includes:

• Accounting Start: This is designed for VAT-registered sole traders or cash accounting small businesses and costs £15 per month.
• Accounting Standard: This is for small businesses working with suppliers, CIS or with accrual accounting. It costs £30 per month.
• Accounting Plus: This is for small businesses managing inventory or working in multiple currencies and costs £39 per month.

Each tier comes with a 3-month free trial to test the features. Payroll and HR management come as an optional add-on starting at an extra £10 per month.

Sage Accounting Advert

The Advantages

So, let’s take a moment to summarise the benefits our Sage Accounting review has discovered so far.

Sage Accounting allows you to automate processes, so you can spend more time on your core business. It’s packed with features beyond basic accounting, including more advanced options such as inventory management, multi-currency banking, payroll and HR. 

As a cloud-based platform, you can access Sage Accounting from anywhere. 

In addition, you can automatically collect cash through direct debit, but the payment integration allows your customers to quickly and easily pay using PayPal, Stripe, or SagePay.

The direct bank feed automatically pulls information from bank accounts with rules to ensure that no intervention is needed to ensure the transactions go where you want. 

Sage Accounting also makes compliance easier, as the software is continually updated for new or changing compliance requirements. HMRC reconsigned, Sage accounting is MTD ready, allowing you to create and submit your returns with ease. 

Sage is a solid brand and has demonstrated a reputation for providing clients with the tools and services needed to add value to your business.

The Disadvantages

There is no such thing as a perfect product or company, so to ensure our Sage Accounting review is balanced, we do need to point out some of the disadvantages associated with this product. 

Firstly, like any software, Sage Accounting is not perfect. Some users report technical difficulties with stock not updating from purchase orders and issues with batch limitations, which can be time-consuming when entering multiple invoices for the same supplier.

Although Sage Accounting does have a mobile app, it has more limitations than the desktop version, which can be frustrating for remote employees. In addition, you also need a good internet connection to use and update the program in real-time, so if you suffer from slow internet speed, you may struggle with the cloud-based platform. 

Although Sage does offer a comprehensive support package, some users have reported also waiting for a support response. 

Another negative that is worth mentioning is the steep learning curve. Users have reported that those who lack IT skills may struggle to understand the interface and find creating templates difficult. However, the support team can guide you through this process.

Finally, the new Sage Accounting feature—AI assistance with the copilot—is still under early access. We anticipate many hiccups and errors as the company works to define it.

Sage Accounting Review – Summary

In short, we have found Sage Accounting an attractive choice for small businesses. The automation functionality makes it easier for small businesses to scale. It is a complete package available in different versions for your business type, with the option to add payroll and HR if you are, or choose to become, an employer. 

Although some users report that it is a more expensive option, it is an investment that can save you time and could reduce your accountant fees.

For these reasons, we suggest that you try the 3-month trial to assess whether Sage Accounting meets your individual needs.

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