Sage Bookkeepers Club - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

Marky65 · Guru

Sage Bookkeepers Club

RobH · Expert

Hi Mark,

in all the years I have used Sage they have moved the goal posts like this. Years ago I paid to be a sage reseller and was guaranteed that nobody could sell sage any cheaper, but of course they still sold it to bigger clients at half what I had too pay for it. I've been in the accountants club for some time but I was largely forced into it as they changed the rules. They are a hard hearted business with no real care for their customers, if I didn't have so many clients on Sage I would ditch them in the morning.

Rob

Jymlyn · Senior Member

Hi Mark

I am in the process of joining the Bookkeepers club, my salesperson has never said anything to me about it going up in the near future, the price I am being quoted at the moment is from £575 including payroll, all I am waiting on is my results for Payroll diploma from ICB to go ahead! Lets hope they are not going to suddenly quote me £995.

Kind regards

Lynda

Wella · Expert

Hi Mark

I made an enquiry about Bookkeepers Club about six months ago. They tried to get me to sign up there and then but I explained I did not have enough clients at the time to justify the expense but to call back in 3 months, and they did. I told them the same thing and they rang back last week (always the same person). That's when he gave me the bad news that the Bookkeepers Club had been scrapped but I could join their new club for even more money. No chance.

If you hadn't already guessed, I'm a fan of VT Accounts + 12Pay combo.

The bookkeeping part VT+ is different to use than Sage and it doesn't have all the bells & whistles of Sage but with the accounts version it also produces professional final accounts documents.

12Pay have a bureau version, which has some added features to the version I use

VT+ can be downloaded for 60 day trial and 12Pay can be downloaded for free but it is limited to 3 companies and a limited number of payslips

Initial total cost for VT Final Accounts (£199) + 12Pay Bureau (£99) £299 (ex VAT) Final accounts reduces to £150 + VAT in second year

HTH
Bill

-- Edited by Wella on Thursday 21st of October 2010 04:51:00 PM

kjmcculloch · Guru

I've never been a fan of Sage. I always found their software quite time consuming to use. The strange thing I found is that most accountants can't see past it. Well, except for one I know who tries to push quickbooks at every opportunity.

The only good thing about sage is their support.

Kris

ADAS · Guru

I'm a member of Sage bookkeepeers club and have been for a few years. Strangely when i called them a few weeks ago they never mentioned ending the club.

Mark do you know if the £995 is for a 5 client license?

Lynda, if I where you I'd follow Bills advice (I'll add mine too) and have a good look at 12-pay. It's very cheap ,easy to use and the only difference from a user point of view with Sage is that it isn't as pretty !! I use the bureau version with the CIS bolt on and it's great.

(If people read my other post about just passing payroll and are thinking what's he on about - I decided to join ICB and sit their exams after running my business for a few years already)

ADAS · Guru

kjmcculloch wrote:

I've never been a fan of Sage. I always found their software quite time consuming to use. Kris

Oddly enough Kris - I'd say the opposite. Once you invest a bit of time setting it up properly, I find data entry really quick.

-- Edited by ADAS on Thursday 21st of October 2010 05:16:41 PM

Marky65 · Guru

ADAS wrote:

kjmcculloch wrote:

I've never been a fan of Sage. I always found their software quite time consuming to use. Kris

Oddly enough Kris - I'd say the opposite. Once you invest a bit of time setting it up properly, I find data entry really quick.

-- Edited by ADAS on Thursday 21st of October 2010 05:16:41 PM

I have used Sage for as long as I can remember which is why I went with this option and find it very easy to use.

I have just started using 12pay for one small business with one employee and it seems ok, as I had reached the 5 client licence limit and didn't want the extra expense of upgrading. Tony, you are so right about it not being pretty.

Bill, I had sort of noticed how in many of your posts you have mentioned VT and 12pay are you on a commission smile

I think that I wil have to look at these. The only problem I have is that most of my bookkeeping clients are companies that all use Sage. Thanks for the prices, they do seem very competetive compared to Sage.

Tony, Sage didn't tell me how many clients this was for. I think that it may be for up to 5 as they mention both client manager and single client/single user as being available under the same heading.

Regards

Mark

BackOfficeGroup · Guru

Mark

I'm a member of the accountants club with Sage not the bookkeepers club, which I must admit I have not heard of, as I use Sage Payroll Bureau - I've just used their support on a client machine adn was very useful as the client does not have support - can reduce the client costs in this way, therefore added value.

P

Jymlyn · Senior Member

Hi Tony

Thanks for the advice about 12-Pay, but I've been using Sage for over 20 odd years, and I feel I'm a bit long in the tooth to try something else. Will have a look though and keep an open mind!

Kind regards

Lynda

stephen72 · Senior Member

Mark,
I bought the bookkeepers club a couple of years ago without any problems until i wanted to add more clients on and i was quoted a ridiculous price.I stood my groung and said that i would use other software but the next day my account manager rang me and offered me client manager with 25 clients for £395 plus VAT. i went ahead with it as i thought that it was a reasonable price.
Try calling their bluff and see how you get on it might work.

stephen

Marky65 · Guru

Hi Stephen

Thanks that is interesting to know because I am due to be speaking with them tomorrow about it.

Regards

Mark

Merlion ABS · Senior Member

Typical Sage I'm afraid. Get you in on a cheap price then over inflate the renewal prices.

Same with all the new versions coming out each year, no free upgrade unless you take out the very expenses support which you will rarely use and certainly does not justify the cost.

Like RobH says, if we could ditch them we would, but so many bookkeepers, clients and accounts rely on sage now, its very hard to get rid of them.

It seems like they are holding us for ransom sometimes, but there is no chance in hell I would pay double for exactly the same package.

Marky65 · Guru

Hi

Just spoken with account manager and basically their attitude is that is the price, take it or leave it, typical arrogance of Sage. I asked how can they even consider doing this when the whole economy is in such a mess, didn't have an answer just to say that they have consulted with businesses over the change in structure and it was decided this was the best way to go, best way for who ? Sage ?

Looks like I will be spending the next 6 months learning new software and seeing how I can bring that into work.

Regards

Mark

ADAS · Guru

Just been quoted £750 for a 25 client license, no payroll though. What's upset me is...

"DONT WORRY ABOUT REPLYING TO THIS EMAIL TONY - ON RENEWAL DATE WE'LL AUTOMATICALLY RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP"

Thanks Sage.

Flex Accounting Services · Senior Member

I'm the same as Bill, 12 pay and VT combo. I think sage are really pushing it now !!
Bev

ADAS · Guru

I use VT for published accounts but never used the rest of the package even though I've got a copy.

How do you find it Bev (hi btw), I'm seriously considering a change but there's a lot I do like about Sage.

Flex Accounting Services · Senior Member

Hi Tony. Dont think we've spoken before. Nice to meet you !
I used to be on here quite frequent but not been on for a while, but back now !
I've also used sage for a long time but used VT for about a year now and I really like it. I like sage too but just costs too much.
Bev