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Read More Mar 8, 2023 Filed under: Accounting, Bookkeeping, Invoicing, Small Business
Sage 50cloud Accounting Review (Formerly Peachtree)
Sage 50cloud Accounting has complex accounting features and solid customizability, but it also has a steep learning curve and could be expensive. Is it right for your small business?
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Expert Analyst & Reviewer
UPDATED
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Sage 50cloud
| Total Rating | 3.0 |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Poor |
| Features | Good |
| Customer Service | Poor |
| Integrations | Fair |
| Reviews | Fair |
Accounting Method
Accrual & Cash BasisPricing
$56.08-$155.92/monthBusiness Size
Medium to large businesses with up to 40 usersSage 50cloud At A Glance
- Despite its name, Sage 50cloud is a locally-installed fully-featured accounting software solution.
- Sage 50cloud is best suited for medium to large businesses that want strong accounting and fully customizable software.
- Sage 50cloud boasts a number of strong features including advanced inventory, budgeting, time tracking, and job costing.
Pros
- Double-entry accounting
- Numerous features
- Ample accounting reports
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Outdated UI
- Limited integrations
Table of Contents
- What Is Sage 50cloud Accounting?
- Sage 50cloud Accounting Pricing
- Is Sage 50cloud Accounting Easy To Use?
- Sage 50cloud Accounting Features
- Sage 50cloud Accounting Customer Service
- Sage 50cloud Accounting Integrations
- Sage 50cloud Accounting Reviews
- Is Sage 50cloud Accounting Secure?
- The Final Verdict: Is Sage 50cloud Accounting Worth It?
- Sage 50cloud Accounting FAQs
What Is Sage 50cloud Accounting?
Sage 50cloud is locally-installed accounting software that offers traditional accounting, advanced features, and a high degree of customizability. With strong inventory, reporting, and unique tools such as a cash flow manager, it’s easy to see why the software has been so popular.
But Sage 50cloud is not without its faults. The software has an incredibly steep learning curve and is more expensive than its competitors. With poor customer support, an outdated UI, and a lack of automations, this software could stand improvement. However, if you’re looking for software with complex accounting features and a high degree of customizability, Sage 50cloud could be a good choice for you. If you’re looking for something that still has great features but is far less expensive and easier to learn, check out QuickBooks Online or Xero. Otherwise, read on to learn what Sage 50cloud has to offer.
Sage 50cloud Accounting Pricing
| Sage 50cloud Plans | Price | When To Use |
|---|---|---|
| Sage 50cloud Pro Accounting | $56.08/month | If you need locally installed software for 1 user |
| Sage 50cloud Premium Accounting | $92/month | If you need advanced accounting software for up to 5 users |
| Sage 50cloud Quantum Accounting | $155.92/month | If you need advanced accounting software for up to 40 users |
Sage 50cloud offers three pricing plans that can be purchased as monthly or yearly subscriptions. There is a discount for purchasing yearly, and the company is often running promotions, so be sure to take advantage of any discounts. If you opt for the monthly plan, you can cancel your subscription at any time. If you opt for the yearly plan, your Sage 50cloud subscription cannot be canceled at any time, and you must agree to a minimum one-year commitment. A free test drive is available to try out the software.
Licenses are available. However, the company is pushing users to purchase a subscription to Sage 50cloud online — so much so that there’s no license pricing listed on the website. You can contact support directly for pricing, or you can purchase Sage 50cloud from most office supplies stores, such as Staples or Office Depot. Make sure to check how many users your license allows and the level of customer support available before purchasing.
Sage 50cloud Pro Accounting
The Sage 50cloud Pro Accounting plan is priced at $56.08/month and includes:
- Invoicing
- Bill tracking
- Expense tracking
- Bank reconciliation
- Reports
- Job costing
- Inventory management
- Sage Security Shield
- One user
Sage 50cloud Premium Accounting
The Premium Accounting plan starts at $92/month and includes everything from the Pro Accounting plan, plus:
- Support for multiple businesses
- Purchase orders & change orders
- Advanced reporting
- Audit trails
- Time tracking
- Project management
- Advanced job costing
- Advanced budgeting
- Serialized inventory
- Industry-specific features
- Up to five users (additional fees apply)
Sage 50cloud Quantum Accounting
The Quantum Accounting plan starts at $155.92/month and includes everything from the Premium Accounting plan, plus:
- Role-based user permissions
- Workflow management
- Up to 40 users (additional fees apply)
Extra Sage 50cloud Accounting Costs & Fees
| Sage 50cloud Extra Costs | Price |
|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 | $150/year |
| Sage Invoice Payments | Contact Sage for more details |
| Sage Payroll HCM | Contact Sage for more details |
| Additional Users | Contact Sage for more details |
| Paya | Contact Sage for more details |
| Auto Entry | Starts at $12 |
Sage 50cloud offers additional services for an extra cost. You can add payroll, Paya Virtual Terminal (formerly Sage Exchange), and Sage Invoice Payments. Pricing for these services is not available online, so contact Sage for more information. You can also add extra users to your Premium or Quantum Accounting subscription. You can contact Sage for pricing or calculate pricing through the Sage 50cloud website. Microsoft 365 is available for $150/year. Auto Entry is another add-on that allows you to snap pictures of receipts, invoices, and more to upload to your account. Pricing starts at $12.
Is Sage 50cloud Accounting Easy To Use?
Sage 50cloud is not for the faint of heart. The software is complex, has a steep learning curve, and takes quite a while to learn (especially if you aren’t familiar with accounting). This is partially due to the sheer number of features available. The software is well-organized, but the UI is outdated, and many features could be streamlined for better usability. There is a basic walkthrough guide when you first open the software that gives you the lay of the land as well as a built-in help center.
Sage 50cloud Accounting Features
| Sage 50cloud Features | Availability |
|---|---|
| Budgeting | |
| Tax Support | |
| Invoicing | |
| Estimates | |
| Client Portal | |
| Contact Management | |
| Expense Tracking | |
| Bank Reconciliation | |
| Chart Of Accounts | |
| Accounts Payable | |
| Inventory | |
| Time Tracking | |
| Project Management | |
| Number Of Reports | 165+ |
This is where Sage shines. Despite an outdated UI, Sage 50cloud boasts a number of advanced features that make it a worthy competitor in the business accounting software space. Here are some of the most notable features the software has to offer:
Invoices & Estimates
Sage 50cloud only has one basic invoice template, but there are a few customization options. There are also several automations available. Estimates and quotes are also available. Here are all of the invoice and estimate features you’ll receive with this software:
- Invoice template
- Customize templates by changing fonts, colors, layouts, and logos
- Invoice tracking
- Recurring invoices
- Duplicate invoices
- Add attachments to invoices
- Send one invoice to multiple customers
- Send invoices by email
- Quotes
- Proposals
- Convert quotes to invoices or sales orders
Bookkeeping
Sage 50cloud has a wide range of bookkeeping features to help you tackle your business finances and balance your books. Notable features include:
- Expense tracking
- Live bank feeds
- Bank reconciliation
- Accounts payable
- Write & print checks
- Customizable chart of accounts
- Journal entries
- Sales orders
- Cash flow manager
- Year-End Wizard
Contact Management
Sage 50cloud makes it easy to manage your customers, vendors, and employees. You can add plenty of information and view the most important info from the Customer & Sales dashboard. Contact management features include:
- Customer management
- Vendor management
- Employee management
- Add contact info including address, phone numbers, & email addresses
- Create custom fields
- View contact history
- Attach tasks to contacts
- Record customer payment information
- Assign sales reps to customers
Inventory
Sage 50cloud’s inventory feature is particularly well-developed. Features include:
- Set inventory defaults
- Set unit measures
- Build inventory assemblies
- Serialized inventory (Premium & Quantum plans)
- Set quantity discounts (Quantum plan)
Time Tracking
Time tracking is made easy with Sage 50cloud, which boasts features like:
- Track time with built-in time
- Enter hours manually
- Create weekly timesheets
- Mark time as billable or nonbillable
Project Management
Sage 50cloud has the option to create and manage projects. Project management highlights include:
- Add descriptions, dates, supervisor, status, & more
- Create job phases to track progress
- Job costing (Premium & Quantum plans)
Reporting & Budgeting
Sage 50cloud’s reporting provides all of the details you could ever want or need from your business. A budgeting feature is also available. Available features include:
- 165+ reports
- Customizable reports
- Create a budget from scratch
- Create a budget using existing data
Tax Support
Sage 50cloud offers tax support for 1099s.
Sage 50cloud Accounting Customer Service
| Sage 50cloud Support | Availability |
|---|---|
| Phone Support | |
| Email Support | |
| Support Tickets | |
| Live Chat | |
| Dedicated Support Representative | |
| Knowledge Base or Help Center | |
| Videos & Tutorials | |
| Company Blog | |
| Social Media |
Sage 50cloud has plenty of support options available. However, glitchy in-software live chat, a help article search bar that isn’t so helpful, no email support, and long wait times over the phone are all evidence that Sage 50cloud needs to step up its games in terms of support. Other support options that may work for you are support tickets, a knowledgebase filled with articles and videos, and year-end resources. Training courses are also available for a fee.
Sage 50cloud Accounting Integrations
Sage 50cloud accounting software offers over 70 third-party integrations; however, there are hardly any payment processing apps available. The software does integrate with Paya (formerly Sage Exchange).
Sage 50cloud Accounting Reviews
While there are negative Sage reviews, there’s an equal number of positive reviews from users who love the software. The software receives 3.8/5 stars on G2 (based on 125 ratings) and 3.8/5 stars on Capterra (based on 278 ratings). Here are what users like and dislike about this software.
Negative Sage 50cloud Reviews & Complaints
- Steep learning curve
- Outdated UI
- Bugs & glitches
- Expensive pricing plans
Positive Sage 50cloud Reviews
- Customizability
- Strong features
- Robust reporting
- Excellent inventory management
Is Sage 50cloud Accounting Secure?
As locally-installed software, Sage50cloud’s security is primarily up to you.
The Final Verdict: Is Sage 50cloud Accounting Worth It?
| Sage 50cloud Review Summary | |
|---|---|
| Accounting Method | Accrual & Cash Basis |
| Pricing | $56.08-$155.92/month |
| Pricing | $56.08-$155.92/month |
| Choose If You Need |
|
While the software offers a couple of unique features, Sage 50cloud is missing some of the major basics, such as multicurrency support, multiple invoice templates, and transaction categorization. In addition, Sage 50cloud has poor customer service and a steep learning curve. When the software is already so expensive to begin with, Sage 50cloud isn’t a realistic solution for many businesses, especially those looking for an easy accounting software solution.
That said, the software could still be a good fit for accountants or businesses in need of advanced features, such as inventory serialization, departmental accounting, cash flow management, and customizable reporting. Before you make your decision, take the software for a free test drive before signing up. If Sage 50cloud doesn’t sound like the right fit for your business, take a look at one of our other accounting solutions instead.
Sage 50cloud Accounting FAQs
Erica Seppala
Expert Analyst & Reviewer at Merchant Maverick
An expert in accounting, finance, and point of sale, Erica has been researching and writing about all things small-business since 2018. Erica's insights into personal and business finance have been cited in numerous publications, including MSN, Real Simple, and Reader's Digest. She is a graduate of Limestone College.
View Erica Seppala's professional experience on LinkedIn.
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Organization Name: LnG Builders
READ THE COMMENTS, DONT GO BY THE REVIEW! I have been a sage50 Quantum user since starting my company in 2017. This software is one of the worst pieces of software i have ever bought. It isn’t as some say difficult to use, the software crashes constantly, corrupts data files, you better back up local and cloud EVERY DAY! the payroll module frequently wont work and locks up and doesn’t recognize accounts and as many have said God forbid you need support. The chat feature is a joke, it just points you to random articles that 90% of time don’t hardly relate to the issue as it is just a bot not a real person. To get hold of a real person you have to leave a call back Number and you best be waiting by the phone cause all they allow is about 2 rings and they hang up making you start all over. Once you get someone Usually they cant answer anything and you have to be escalated which means another wait to have someone call back. Last as many have said, you will be required to update every year to keep support going and trust me …. you will need support!
This comment refers to an earlier version of this review and may be outdated.
Organization Name: LYNN C. MYERS CPA' PLLC
WE HAVE BEEN A LOYAL PEACHTREE/SAGE CUSTOMER FOR OVER 25 YEARS. SAGE LIED TO US IN 2014 WHEN WE WENT WITH THEIR SUBSCRIPTION. THEY SAID WE COULD GO BACK TO OUR OWNED SOFTWARE ANYTIME IF WE DID NOT WANT TO CONTINUE THE SUBSCRIPTION. YET WHEN I CALLED IN 2019 THEY SAID WE COULD NOT DO THIS.
THEY ALSO LIED AND ADVISED US THAT IF WE WENT AWAY FROM THEIR SYSTEM, CURRENTLY, WE COULD STILL READ OUR OLD FILES. WE PAID FOR 2019 BUT NOW CANNOT EVEN GET INTO THE PROGRAM TO READ OUR FILES FOR “ANY AND ALL YEARS!”
IN OUR OPINION SAGE IS NOT LOYAL AND USING A STANDARD OF FAIR, SO MUCH SO THAT WE CANNOT DO BUSINESS WITH. THEM FURTHER. I HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEONE WHO CONSIDERS LOYALTY FROM THE SOFTWARE PROVIDER AND ISSUE.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this review and may be outdated.
Organization Name: New Light
This is ridiculous! I have spend a lot of time and frustration! I tried to convert from Quick Books online and I was not able to do it. I have been waiting for my refund for almost 100 days! I prefer Quick Books online! They are really helpful and they always reimburse the money in a reasonable time. I do not recommend Sage 50 at all! Time wasted and lots of frustration!
This comment refers to an earlier version of this review and may be outdated.
Organization Name: Dan Murphy Logistics
I bought this product in 2013. I have a basic home based business. I had no real issues other than it is difficult to navigate if your not accountant trained. What compounds this is Sage don’t support their product. You pay almost 500.00 and in my case I was told that they could no longer offer support for my product because it was too old. They wanted me to upgrade to the newer edition for 499.00 and I would get one year of support. To my ears it was nothing short of extortion. I called my accountant and she fixed the error ( wrongly labeled account) so I could close out my year. Cost: 75.00 for a home visit by accountant. It will be a cold day in Satan’s bedroom before I ever give these extortionists another dime. Terrible service from corporate extortionists.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this review and may be outdated.
Organization Name: Emirates ready mix
i have one problem in financial year endingequity gets closed ledger amout didnt deduct retained earningshow can help?
This comment refers to an earlier version of this review and may be outdated.
Hi there!
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, this is a bit outside our expertise. To get the best help regarding this question, I’d suggest you contact Sage 50cloud support or your accountant directly.
Best wishes,
-Chelsea Krause
This comment refers to an earlier version of this review and may be outdated.
Organization Name: Best Business Strategies
I started with Peachtree Build 3. I am now a Certified Sage 50 Consultant. My suggestion is to get the help you need to set your software up right from the start and it will pay you back every day. The green box software does not require you to use a chart of accounts. While it is easy to use, you pay your accountant at the end of the year to sort out the transactions. When you look at financial statements and you see Sales Tax in expenses (this is a liability account) you know you can’t trust the postings.
Just because the software takes your entry, it does not mean it is posted correctly. Using Accounting software is no different than driving a car. You need someone to teach you no matter what software you are using. If you don’t spend the money in the beginning for training, and a good set up, you will pay in the end when you crash. Sometimes every year-end when you pay for your tax preparation.
Shirley Byard, owner BestBusinessStrategies.com
This comment refers to an earlier version of this review and may be outdated.
Organization Name: Stella J Karavas CPA
As a CPA in the space of small businesses and start-ups, I have used Sage (Peachtree) for over two decades and purchased for clients. They WERE one of the best software packages for small businesses. Now I would recommend EVERYONE to stay clear as they hold their most loyal patron’s “hostage” force feeding them their new business model. Having purchased the full-blown version of 2017, the company now blocks your activation key from EVEN USING THE PROGRAM YOU PURCHASED. You call customer support and they give you a song and dance pushing you around leading you into an abyss of nothingness; no help; no support UNLESS you pay their price.Whoever is at the helm of this company should be shown the door. Loyalty means nothing to this company. Stay clear of Sage as I am sure down the line they will hold you hostage once again to higher monthly fees and business models that suit their bottom line but not yours!
This comment refers to an earlier version of this review and may be outdated.
Hello,
We are currently using DACEASY and are looking for a cloud based program to replace it.
The SAGE website says that SAGE 50c is offering migration from DACEASY so it would seem the logical choice for us.
What is your opinion of Sage 50c as a replacement for DACEASY ?
Thank you.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this review and may be outdated.
Hi Dave,
If you are looking for the easiest transfer of data possible, then Sage 50c would be the way to go, but that is the only plus I see for sticking with Sage 50c. The software is incredibly expensive and unintuitive. If you switched to Sage 50c you would be gaining these features: customizable work flows, customizable dashboard, multiple company support, online backup, integrate eMarketing, multiple contacts per customer, warranty tracking, commission tracking, stock and sub item tracking, work ticket tracking, more project management capabilities, more expense and revenue tracking capabilities. But you would be losing: POS module, inventory kits, tracking multiple warehouses. I hope this helps but if you have further questions please let me know.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this review and may be outdated.