2019 Review of Sage Business Cloud Accounting

From the July 2019 reviews of small business accounting systems.

Formerly known as Sage One, Sage Business Cloud is a good fit for micro-businesses and sole proprietors that desire an easily accessible accounting application. Sage Business Cloud can be accessed from a computer, tablet, or smart phone, with the mobile app working with both iOS and Android devices. Though core product functionality is limited to creating invoices, tracking AR, and connecting to various financial institutions, the available of numerous apps that integrate with the core application extend product functionality considerably.

Sage Business Cloud uses an easily navigated user interface with numerous dashboards available. The Accounting version of Sage Business Cloud offers additional functionality such as real time reports, including complete financial reporting capability. The Accounting version also allows users to generate quotes and estimates, and record purchase invoices.

Core Accounting Features: 4.25 Stars

The Getting Started feature in Sage Business Accounting offers users an easy way to navigate through the various setup options necessary, including setting up customers, entering banking information, setting up vendors, and reviewing the current chart of accounts to make any changes. Users can opt to use the default chart of accounts that is automatically set up in Sage Business Accounting, with the ability to customize accounts as needed.  The setup page offers additional setup options, such as the ability to customize invoices, enter products or services, set up departments or cost codes, and invite colleagues to set up an account. Products, services, vendors, and customers can also be added on the fly when necessary, and users can attach a specific tax rate to each customer, or choose to override the tax when desired.

Users can easily create a new invoice, including specific rates and discounts, if any. Users can later view the invoice list to review all invoices that have been entered into the system as well as their current status. Users can save invoices as a draft if desired, and they can also be emailed directly to customers from the invoice screen. The product does not offer the option to print checks, but users can pay vendors electronically, or via credit card, later recording the expense when the bill has been paid, or when banking transactions have been downloaded. Users can also opt to receive an alert when bills are past due, with the option to resend an invoice to a customer.   While payroll functionality is not offered in Sage Business Cloud, the product integrates with a wide variety of point of sale applications such as Lightspeed Retail, iVend Retail, Epos Now, and Aphix Cloud Platform. The product does accept multiple currencies, with the ability to bill customers in multiple currencies as well. 

Relationship Management: 4.25 Stars

Both customers and vendors are managed under the Contacts feature. The customer option tracks both business and contact information, and users can enter customer details such as credit limits and credit terms as well as enter banking details to accept automatic payments. Vendor information includes contact name as well as a Tax I.D. number for 1099 processing, an applicable tax rate, and payment details such as an account number and routing number for EFT payments. There is also a Contacts report available that helps users manage both customers and vendors. Sage Business Cloud also integrates with various CRM applications such as SalesSeek, Capsule, eBridge Connections, and OnePage CRM for more in-depth customer and vendor relationship management capability.

Cloud Capability: 5 Stars

Completely mobile, Sage Business Cloud is easily accessible from a variety of devices including desktop systems, laptops, and iOS and Android smart phones and tablets. The core application offers online access to sales invoices and complete connection to any banking or financial institutions. Users can also set up EFT capability in the application in order to pay vendors or charge customers online. Access to more than 100 apps provides users with the ability to manage a brick and mortar or online store, accept online payments, manage documents, track inventory, and track time. 

Management Features: 4.75 Stars

Sage Business Cloud uses a Getting Started dashboard as the main navigation area, with access to system functions such as Summary, Sales, Expenses, Contacts, Products & Services, Banking, Journals, Reporting, and Settings. In addition to the Getting Started dashboard, the product also offers Sales, Expenses, Cash Flow Statement and Cash Flow Forecast dashboards as well, with users able to customize the dashboards to display the information they request, including the ability to choose the financial institutions they wish to include. Along with dashboards, the product also offers complete financial statements, along with other reports such as online payment reports, tax reports, products and services reports, and various cash reports. All Sage Business Cloud reports can be exported to a CSV file for additional editing or saved as a PDF.

Tech Issues: 5 Stars

Users can import customer and vendor data from other applications into Sage Business Cloud using a CSV template, which is included in the application. The application is designed to be used on any kind of device including iOS and Android smart phones and tablets. Sage Business Cloud also now offers integration with more than 100 apps that are designed to increase product functionality, including payment acceptance and banking, financial services, time tracking, point of sale, CRM, invoicing, e-commerce, and inventory. Sage Business Cloud also offers an accountant’s version of the application.

Help is easily accessible directly from the application, with users able to also access the chat line from any screen in the application. An online community is available to share issues and concerns with other users. The Support option on the Sage Business Cloud website offers access to various forums, a searchable Knowledgebase, and various training options available.  Support is available during regular business hours and can be accessed from the Sage website, where users can create a new case, or by utilizing the chat option which is available 24/7. 

Summary & Pricing

Sage Business Cloud Accounting is available in two versions; Accounting Start, which is an entry level system designed for sole proprietors and currently runs $10 per month, and the Accounting version, which is currently $25 per month and includes reporting, invoicing, and quote and estimate creation. Both versions are available as a free trial.  

2019 Rating – 4.5 Stars