Review by Leah Berk

To teach myself how to use Sage 50, I relied online tutorials (video and text) for when I got stuck; Youtube has a wealth of intro/beginner/intermediate ones for helping setup and run the program. With an afternoon’s focus, I got most of the basic functions implemented and felt comfortable using the software.

This software is really ideal for a small business or company that needs reliable accounting software, but does not (yet) need an actual accountant or financial person to keep tabs on things. I run a very small business out of my home and occasionally have a friend or partner assist me with the goings-on, and Sage 50 definitely offers the functionality I needed: invoices and statements (looked great, slick, and professionally done), balancing, etc. Premium is more than adequate for a small (<10?) employee business.

A major drawback is taht it’s a subscription software, meaning it has planned obsolescence and will require renewal in a year. I’m not sure if I would stick with this (given I received a free copy to review) given its cost, but I’ll see how it goes for a year with my small business before deciding to renew/continue. The other major direct competitor is QuickBooks, whose software packages are equally expensive.