My new client (the dental practice one) currently does their accounts on Excel. They have specifically requested that part of my job is to transfer everything onto Sage (they wouldn't entertain the idea of any other software). However I only have Sage instant accounts and as they run three dental practices as separate businesses I would need Sage 50. Is there an online version I could use for all three? Or am I gonna have to just bite the bullet and pay for Sage 50, which I think I may have to do eventually anyway(thank goodness for credit cards)?
If they wouldn't entertain the idea of any other software, wouldn't you then have a case to insist that they buy it themselves and then you go and use it on their premises, or something.
Seems a bit off that a client can insist on how you run your business and force you to incur costs as a result. That's like me putting my car in for a cheap £99 service and insisting that they use all-genuine imported parts, but they're not allowed to charge me any more.
All depends if you want to buy client manager or not at the moment.
If so then it is reasonable that you say that you can transfer onto SAGE and run inhouse but there would be an annual charge to cover the cost of you maintaining the sotware for them (but at a price less than if they buy it themselves). If you are not happy with charging them separately then you can include in your annual price but if you have already agreed this but they are now coming back to you to say that you must use SAGE then think you have grounds to say that is fine "but will cost you £x per year above what i have quoted".
Other option is get them to buy SAGE themselves and install at their premises for you to do the bookkeeping work on.
Ive been meaning to get Sage 50 for a while but need more clients to justify the expense, although need to actually have the software to get the clients iyswim.
Would I be better getting Sage Instant Compliance Starter Package seeing as I definitely have less than 25 clients, but when I get to the stage I have more clients I will be in a position to be able to upgrade (
Dont know what the version you are quoting does but i got SAGE client manager for up to 25 clients and costs about £800 for the first year.
It is compliant with all versions of SAGE up to SAGE 50, plus you get a stand alone version of SAGE 50 and Payroll which you can use to show clients on your laptop how it works and you get things like 20% off SAGE products.
I only have 3 clients that use SAGE for their bookkeeping as well as my own accounts so it is pretty costly per client at the moment but i view it as a fixed overhead cost that will dilute in cost as get more clients who need their processing done.
Hasn't Peasie been able to get Sage CM with his ICB membership?
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Actually looking into it I may be better off with Sage Instant Accounts production - can be used for up to 100 clients though the up to 50 would suffice for now. But then it won't do alot of the stuff Sage 50 will do.
I dont think SAGE strictly enforces the "need to be a certfied member of a professional body" re client manager.
It certainly wouldn't sit well with those getting commission on sales.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Correct me if I'm wrong but Sage Instant Accounts Production isn't bookkeeping software. It produces end of year statutory accounts so will be of no use to this problem. I'd be getting the client to buy Sage 50 5 company version and then paying for any additional user licences and installing it on their own pc. It does mean you would always have to work at their premises unless you also bought Sage 50 but as someone else commented if they expect you to do the work off site then they shouldnt dictate software
Have been looking more into this and am utterly confused as to which package I need. If I was to get Sage 50 Client Manager, don't I need to already have Sage 50 Accounts?
No. If you bought Sage 50 Client manager, that includes multi-company Sage. If they also have Sage 50 at their offices, then you could transfer backups between their software and yours using the Client manager facility. Think a 25 company Sage 50 client manager is currently £700+VAT.
Oh, well, then you'd just have 25 companies on Sage, all for yourself, lol. (they don't need to have Sage, but if they, or any client does, Client manager is an extra facility to transfer the data to you, so that the client can continue to work on it, while you do too.)
Have asked for information on it. I've also started looking at Quickbooks as its a lot, lot cheaper. What's the difference between QB and Sage - if there is no difference in the things you can do then I think I will get QB and just tell the client I have had to change software due to the increasing ongoing costs that Sage keep asking for.
