Sage 50c Accounting - Canada

I have used various versions of this software since 2009. It has, in that time, slowly become more expensive and requires extra fees for payroll and other basic services most to all companies need anyway. Once you pass the learning curve the program is powerful and useful but its price has over tripled in the last 7-8 years. Nearly to the point that for a cost of a yearly subscription I could have someone do the books for me while I sip on a Margarita. Are you reading these SAGE? You have lost a customer in me 100%.

I went from Simply to Sage50 ProAccounting desktop in 2021. I do not use online help or cloud service and have always prepared employee paychecks manually since there are only 6. Once joining in 2021 for simple package at $183, in 2022 they want to increase to $577 stating I will be supported. When asked what type of support I will be getting, my chat stopped. I need basic package, no cloud, no support, manual input of employee pay. How can the extra $400 be justified if I will not be needing whatever this support was?

Sage 50 Acctg program is an overall well rounded system that works great for small to large businesses. Since it changed from Simply Accounting, Sage 50 has been moving to cloud based and monthly premium service plans which for some small businesses are very costly. As well their service has fallen way short. After hours on the phone, and hours of troubleshooting an error I was getting, which was not allowing me to open by .SAI file; I worked it out myself, even after 2 technicians could not open it, and I was told it would cost our non-profit company $799 to open a service plan and upgrade to the 2021 program. I started a new company on my 2020.2 program and once it opened, I closed it. Then I restored from a previous backup and magically it was all corrected and up and running. This makes me believe that their programs are set to lock you out and look for support so they can charge you $$ for a new plan. Shame!

while the software does the job I need and is pretty straightforward to navigate I agree with other reviewers here, sage is a detestable, unethical bunch of crooks, support is non existent unless you wish to pay $499 for a support package. I was running 2017 premium and as soon as I turned over to 2021 calendar year I can no longer enter or print sales invoices or pull up sales report. I called in and was told “oh you have the 2017 version, we no longer support that so you can either upgrade or buy the support pack” I’ve run their software for 13yrs and this is how they treat a customer. I have absolutely no doubt that this was caused on their end through the connection manager to force me to pay for the current iteration. Although it is a big pain to switch programs it’ll be worth it to be rid of these shysters, wave here I come. DO NOT BUY SAGE !!

OMG, 2 years in a row have to use their data repair services because Sage 50 2020/2021 would not change over to new calendar year. I mean how hard is it to zero out employee data to start new calendar year, not company YE. That is a $250.00 repair even though we have active support.

The accounting program is easy to use and I have had no issues with it. The company has changed to a subscription model and crippled the software I purchased originally. 800$ if you want to do payroll…A YEAR!

Sage does what it’s supposed to in terms of accounting put the price is extortion. I spent almost a $1000.00 upgrading from Simply 2010 because I began having issues with it on one of our machines and regretted it almost right away. Functionality hasn’t changed except that now I can’t do payroll without paying an annual fee of $1500.00. The cherry on top of this extortion scam is that I’m not available for updates (even though I just bought the software) without buying a service plan.

Sage 50 has gotten too big for their britches!! They have raised the prices over 75% in 5 years and it’s not worth it. Support is not there! Half the time the tech has no idea what they are talking about! Despite what the Sales desk threatens you with - and they do - not everyone needs the payroll or the help desk. Many users only need the program and can get away with using a older version for many years.!!

I agree with other posters….customer service is the worst. You don’t get $900 worth of service or product, which is what the yearly subscription costs. After realizing they automatically charge your account, I immediately tried to get a refund (because I sold my business) and they gave me the run around 3 times, telling me I had to talk to “Rob”. I’m pretty sure Rob doesn’t exist because 3 messages and another phone call later, I got the runaround again with no callback from Rob. They have no interest in keeping customers happy. Do yourself a favour and pay a real person to do it.

Sage accounting is ok too use but if you don’t get the help include with the product your screwed for help, and if your subscription runs out and you try to do any changes to the year you PAYED for forget it!! soo much for paying 900$ when your subscription is over its over !! and the help desk is not friendly! or willing to even talk to you if you don’t have a new subscription

Sage 50 continues to raise their prices on their software without adding and additional features or benefits. They moved from a purchased model to a subscription model which I was fine with, but they increased their price from $300 a year to $498 a year with no benefit to me and I’m sick of it

The program is difficult to navigate if your not accountant trained. This passed year I entered a category incorrectly and Sage would not allow me to do my year end. When I called them they told me that my version was too old ( it was working perfectly other than not allowing me to close out the year) and that I would have to download the 2019 version for $499.00 and I would get 1 free year of service so they could help me. If that doesn’t meet the standard for extortion I am not sure what does. I ended up calling my accountant, who visited my home and fixed the error for $75.00. It will be a cold day in Satans living room before I ever buy , support or recommend this product to anyone.

The software works fine until there is a problem. In the last six months the phone support line is never able take a call. Voice message asks for name and extension number which I leave. When they call back they do not use the extension number but leave a voicemail on the front desk phone leaving the regular support number to call back. When calling back this number I get he same message. No agents available leave a name and number and they will call me back. I am now 18th on line on a chat support.

It has taken me over 3 weeks to be able to download and utilize Sage. I had problems installing and had called support, was told what to do, didn’t work, one of my co-workers figured it out and we finally got it installed 2 weeks later. Next I have a date issue, it will not allow me to enter any entries as it tells me it has to be before and after same date which is a future date. I call the number of person that was so wonderful at trying to sell me the product, however now that they have my purchase, they put me through to support. Support basically is a taped greeting telling me to go to a web page for help. I go there, and get someone to chat with. That person reconnects me with someone else, and someone else, and then I get hung up on. There were at least 6 people that I “chatted” with online. Eventually one gave a link to click on, which gave me some instructions to read and another link to click. I asked if there were no one that could walk me through this as I am beyond frustrated at this point. She gave me a phone number to call. That number again gave me a voice mail to go to a web page. This is a very expensive product to not have someone that can assist you. That is totally ridiculous. I was warned that Sage is wonderful at sales however once they’ve got you hooked, they are terrible for service. They were right

Run forget you ever heard the name Sage.Thats it don’t ask why just run, kind of like if I yelled Fire or Bear don’t ask just run.

Have to export everything into Excel to do department based reporting, it doesn’t handle deferred income well for managing SaaS based revenue.

Sage Payroll for Ontario lacks

not really good for a project based comparison and analysis, fairly easy to input data

Software is good. My book keeper says there is no support when there are problems. Frequently on hold for 30 minutes or more. within the last 2 years there has been at least 2 occasions when we have been overbilled or billed for product we never asked for.

I’ve used the software for 17 years. I recently closed my business due to illness & when I tried to find a more affordable option (given I’m no longer in business but have a couple of months of tax stuff, etc. that I need to take care of) I was offered an option of $730.00/year only!!! OUTRAGEOUS!!! When I asked why there is not a cheaper service available to me as a long time good customer, I was told “you signed up for Premium”. I said “but not for life!!!”. So everyone - beware, if you sign up with these people they will keep you for life or turn your program off so that you can “read only”, can’t even switch back to Pro for cheaper as you would have to re-enter everything. This is disgusting!!! I will be going on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter - every social media available to me to show how outrageous this is.

No quality customer service. Not enough staff to answer phone calls or deal with online chat

Product is fine but employees are non existent

You cannot get a hold of anyone and no one ever calls you back