We currently use TAS payroll but with it being retired have reviewed the Sage alternative being offered and find it to be very poor and not particularly well suited to having multiple companies compared with TAS. We operate payrolls for around 80 employer clients who have between 1 and 100 employees. Can anyone recommend an alternative to Sage? I'd also be interested t hear of people's experiences who have made the switch from TAS to Sage.
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Replies (38)
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Payroo
If you don't mind a cloud based approach try payroo.com
We have used this successfully for several years.
Captain
We use Payroll Manager and find that good. It's easy to use and has good functions. You can email payslips etc
BrightPay Payroll
Hi Stonefield,
I work with BrightPay. I haven't seen us mentioned here but I'd encourage you to check us out if you have not done so already. We've had greatr feedback on it so far. We offer the bureau package to cater for unlimited employees and employers. We are in the process of launching the new 'RTI Ready' version.
We too use Payroll Manager
..after giving up on TAS a few years ago because of the ever increasing cost and we have not looked back.
Such an easy system to use and for the very small one man band client we can do the payroll for a year in advance in less then 30 mins.
Sage Payroll
What is poor about Sage Payroll?
It allows multiple companies and deals with them no problem at all.
Sage or Moneysoft
What is poor about Sage Payroll?
It allows multiple companies and deals with them no problem at all.
I agree with Peter. I've used Sage for years and find it very easy, especially for clients with large numbers of employees, and it handles multi companies very well.
Moneysoft could be an alternative as it very cheap and handles multi companies well, but I would recommend you look at it carefully and download the trial before deciding.
One of my clients uses Moneysoft and I have used it when I have had to cover for them on occasion. I think it is fine for companies that have only a few employees, but anything over about 10 and it becomes difficult to use. This is because each employee has a seperate Tab which run across the top of the screen, and the screen only holds about 8 across. You have to select each employee's Tab seperatly to enter their pay. If you have clients with a lot of employees you'll spend a lot of time scrolling, and when I did the payroll for my client, I was always worried that I had missed someone. I also don't like the reports much.
Karen
Witch-Queen
Moneysoft - difficult to use ?
One of my clients uses Moneysoft and I have used it when I have had to cover for them on occasion. I think it is fine for companies that have only a few employees, but anything over about 10 and it becomes difficult to use. This is because each employee has a seperate Tab which run across the top of the screen, and the screen only holds about 8 across. You have to select each employee's Tab seperatly to enter their pay. If you have clients with a lot of employees you'll spend a lot of time scrolling, and when I did the payroll for my client, I was always worried that I had missed someone. I also don't like the reports much.
Karen
Witch-Queen
If this is the sum total of your objections to Moneysoft, allow me to enlighten you.
Yes - each employee has a separate pay details input screen, showing not only the current pay period but all the others for the tax year (does Sage let you see the history of pay details?). You can click across them if you want, but you can also click on the very first icon button of the pay details screen to display a list of all the employees, allowing you to select whichever one you want from the list. But why would you want to flit to and fro between employees? Moneysoft allows you to sort the order of employees any which way you want (does Sage let you do that?) and then, you just click across each one in turn, which makes sure that you don't miss any.
As you have only used Moneysoft occasionally, I suspect that your criticisms may be based on a lack of familiarity with the product.
Moneysoft
[But why would you want to flit to and fro between employees? Moneysoft allows you to sort the order of employees any which way you want (does Sage let you do that?) and then, you just click across each one in turn, which makes sure that you don't miss any.
It is also really quick to move between the tabs if you use ctrl+right/left arrow key (something I only discovered recently so others might not be aware).
Would always recommend Moneysoft.
Moneysoft
Migrated TAS payroll clients to Moneysoft - vast majority of data can be exported from TAS and imported into Moneysoft.
Got to this package from a review of software in the ICAEW IT Faculty Software Guide....very useful...
12Pay
Gets my vote. I run a payroll with around 45 staff for a Client. My process goes something like...
Download time reports from Clock In system to CSV filePlonk data into my import template.Import to 12PayHave software check for new HMRC notices, apply if necessary.Print reports and review.Agree with client.Issue payslips electronically.
It makes my life quite easy really.
Answers to questions re Sage
"Yes - each employee has a separate pay details input screen, showing not only the current pay period but all the others for the tax year (does Sage let you see the history of pay details?)."
Yes
"Moneysoft allows you to sort the order of employees any which way you want (does Sage let you do that?)"
Yes
Past years
"Yes - each employee has a separate pay details input screen, showing not only the current pay period but all the others for the tax year (does Sage let you see the history of pay details?)."
Yes
Out of interest, does the instantly available history in Sage include payslips/P11s etc for previous PAYE years? And can you get cross-year analysis reports? (useful when preparing accounts if the accounting year isn't the PAYE year)
Moneysoft
I also use Moneysoft Payroll Manager and think its brilliant. Their support is good too.
Cloud or non Cloud with Pegasus Software
We can provide Pegasus Payroll, RTI ready and available as a cloud based solution through our web hosting division (fully tested and accessible from any internet enabled device including MACS)
Would be happy to discuss or demonstrate - have bureau reference sites in similar model to your selves already utilising the cloud.
call 0208 605 9708 for details or email [email protected]
www.intsysuk.com (pegasus) www.cloudsis.com (hosting Pegasus)
Money soft
I use Tas and will have to change. I have used Sage in the past and would not give it the time of day. I have been looking around and have decided on Moneysoft. I have 90 payrolls. I love that the data can be imported from Tas which I have done for one of my payrolls of 70 employees and it went like a dream. I have not started using it for payroll at the moment and may come across some hurdles but what I have seen I am very happy with.
Moneysoft
Another vote for Moneysoft. I have used it for several years now and can't fault it. You can ring them wth suggestions for extra reports etc and they will incorporate them if at all possible.
Ex Sage User
We now use Qtac.
There were big issues with Sage several years ago, not least not being able to backpay one employee and having the run the whole payroll again.
Since we dumped them, we understand that they have now sorted that problem. However, Sage are so arrogant about being the 'market leader' that the service they provided to us (and presumably others) was unacceptable.
Qtac charge depending upon the number of employees.
Sage v Moneysoft
I am a Sage Accountants club member. I was paying about £1,500 per year for Accounts and Payroll. I realised that none of my clients were using Sage Accounts so I cancelled part of my membership. I am now paying £520 per year. I am happy with Sage Payroll but I see that Moneysoft is a lot cheaper and people say they prefer it. I may buy Moneysoft for one year and test it and then make a decision whether to switch.
Star payroll
We use this bureau software for about 100 clients with employees from 1 to 500. It's very effective and flexible and the support is excellent. Highly recommended. The website is not great but if you pick up the phone they are brilliant.
Moneysoft or Quickbooks
I have been using payroll manager for years and cant fault it! I have recently been engaged by a new client who has quickbooks and uses the payroll software as well. They have now taken on a sub contractor and needed to join the CIS scheme and couldn't using quickbooks as they dont support CIS?
They are now new recruits to payroll manager who does! :)
Quickbooks
I use Quickbooks - I'm a member of their accountant's club which includes payroll and you can use it for as many companies and as many employees as you want.
re MoneySoft
which of the programs mentioned peviously [ excl sage ] have
* a department structure, and
* can be linked to SAGE
have the following setup:
client runs 10 shops, ie each a department
weekly payrolls for staff some full most part/shift
monthly for managers
and monthly for head office/ management
with the running of weekly on 4 -5 4 basis + monthly's on last day of month
interetsed in Boards views
Moneysoft does this
which of the programs mentioned peviously [ excl sage ] have
* a department structure, and
* can be linked to SAGE
have the following setup:
client runs 10 shops, ie each a department
weekly payrolls for staff some full most part/shift
monthly for managers
and monthly for head office/ management
with the running of weekly on 4 -5 4 basis + monthly's on last day of month
interetsed in Boards views
I'm not sure about other software programs but Moneysoft handles departments, different pay periods and shifts, and you can set up your Sage nominal codes within Moneysoft to easily export payroll data in the correct format (I've not tried that, but it is possible).
Qtac
Multi-company (all employees of all payrolls added together) charges are:
All plus VAT
10 Employees £129, 50 £230, 100 £350.00, 250 £515, 500 £707, 1000 £880, Unlimited £1460.
They do offers to new users from time to time. I think there's one currently that expires on 31 March. Not sure of hte details.
We have used Moneysoft Payroll, happily, for years; we haven't had a problem. I have reviewed "cloud" services but when I've asked as to "where my data is stored" nobody can tell me! You need to be careful here because under the DPA your data controller MUST know where data is stored. If that location is outside of the UK & or EU there can be a breech of the DPA.
Payroll Professional
If you need software for running your Payroll Bureau then you should be looking at Payroll Professional from Star Computers. Built from the ground up as a solution for Accountants that provide payroll services for multiple clients, Payroll Professional provides functionality unmatched by competitive products.
The size of your client’s payroll is not an issue as the software is scalable. Over 70,000 organisations, ranging in size from 1 to more than 5,000 employees have their payrolls processed with Payroll Professional. Comprehensive user definable employer profiling and a range of reporting tools mean that the most demanding of reporting requirements can usually be addressed.
There are in the region of 450 Bureaux using the software, that range in size from 40 of the Top 60, to smaller practices that process less than 50 payrolls, many of these have migrated from Sage, IRIS and Superpay
The software is RTI and Pension Reform Ready with over 1,100 client payrolls involved in the RTI Pilot.
payroll
Try Brightpay, I have used it for years. Very easy to use. Good price. Excellent support. Little known in the UK I think, but I have never had any problems. All my clients love it. Multi company is good price. No messing around to get more money out of you like some I could mention. Unlimited employees. Free up to 3 employees, Free for charities - full product unlimited employees, full support. Great company to deal with.
Payroll Software
I've been using Qtac for many years and would (and have) recommend it. It's straightforward to use, doesn't try to be too clever (unlike Sage, hence the over-inflated price of Sage), and performs consistantly to a high standard. - Paul
Payroll
I am currently using SAGE which is I find very user friendly, but the price has escalated dramatically in the last two years. Previous I used TAS (whom Sage bought out) This software became very costly hence the change to Sage. Quick Books (now own SAGE) has also become very very expensive. Have used IRIS in the past, but is not as user friendly as Sage.
Payroll Software Reviews
Well, there are many payroll software programs in the market, but all the programs of QuickBooks are really perfect, you can read reviews here http://usemyreviews.com/payroll-software-reviews/
payroll software
I run a payroll bureau for clients and currently use sage. I'm looking to switch as sage is getting very expensive (previously used TAS). I have been looking at other payroll packages mentioned here such as bright pay and moneysoft. Can anyone recommend one for multi companies, less than 10 employees, does RTI CIS and auto enrolment. Thanks
READ BEFORE YOU BUY MONEYSOFT
My experience with Moneysoft
We are a small family business and we bought Monysoft's Payroll manager to set up our Pensions. It came recommended. It was a drag to get it running and once we got there we could not set up the email function in the software and once the files where created to upload to NEST the date range did not match. Every time my wife phoned they said it was NEST and did not once try to investigate the issue. We still manually change the dates on the file Payroll manager creates. When I phoned to get some help after a long struggle the extremely rude man on the phone was utterly unhelpful and treated me like I was an idiot - If I have a choice I will NEVER buy Moneysoft's software - Their system can not work with outlook / office 365 email and the files for NEST pension is definitely created with the WRONG date format and they turn their backs as if it is not their problem