Hi
Today I have received another letter from Sage indicating another price increase to their accountants club package - this time for payroll and epayslips. 2 weeks ago, I received a similar letter re additional functionality for accounts - sage view. So, since renewal last September with the annual increase and now 2 increases later I am looking at a 45% increase in the cost of this for functionality that I do not want and do not need. I fully understand the situation re epayslips, but Sage do not appear to understand our clients and their unwillingness to use certain things (much like HMRC and the digital proposal).
My question is, given that most of the community have strong views on sage, what is a realistic way forward to dump sage when you have a client base that are predominately sage users because of the historic dominance of the provider?
Thanks
Replies (9)
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That's a tough one. Even if you decide to move, the clients may stay behind.
Maybe tell them about the price increase and point out that this will be passed on to them ultimately.
But you're still left with a lot of work helping them to migrate to the software of your choice.
Only a crazy fool would use Sage Payroll. I saved one of my clients around £300 a year by doing the payroll for him on Moneysoft, rather than him buying Sage Payroll and doing it himself.
We're in the same boat - I wouldn't mind so much if their prices hadn't kept going up over the last few years and if they were actually bringing in something we were going to use! We have a battle constantly with Sage and get bits and pieces knocked off our bills but we still pay them a fortune; some of the software is great but the new CT software leaves something to be desired - I thought Digita's version was bad but the new Sage one is definitely no better!
I have a 'discussion' with Sage this morning. The £12 increase on the Payroll I can understand as we were informed by letter about the automated payslips, although hwe probably won't use them. But the extra £12 per month increase on Client Manager - for what? Neither did we have any notification of the increase! The person I spoke to at Sage couldn't give me a reason for the increase but stuttered and bluffed his way through. We are gradually moving clients away from Sage - which is sad, having been long standing customers of Sage, and the customer care has gone down the pan too.
Ironic really.
The increase on Payroll subscription was touted as owing to automated payslips. Which incidentally will not be available till July (I am placing my bet on August).
Some targeted questioning got my account manager to agree that the subscription prices for Core products (Client Manager & Payroll) had not been increased over the last 18 months and they decided to time the increase with roll out of new features e.g., bank feeds for Sage 50.
It's still unacceptable as far as I am concerned because all the recent R&D by Sage has merely brought their product at par with the current competition, not added any new features. Why should we have to pay for having Sage get their act together.
Guess it is time to look elsewhere for answers.
Sage One has been quietly doubled in price. Line 50 has seen a huge price increase over the past couple of years although the functionality has been reduced to little more than is found in Sage Instant. Almost every month my Accountants package costs more than the month before. And Sage Support is a very different animal to the one on which the company made its reputation. The company appears to have made a decision to reduce its customer base and increase its profitability.
"The company appears to have made a decision to reduce its customer base and increase its profitability."
Help them do that.
As I do not use Sage Payroll, I have no idea what level of prices you are talking about. Could someone please tell me how much Sage Payroll costs for one year (say, 2016/17) as basic payroll bureau software with the following specifications:
- unlimited number of (or at least, up to 100) client employers
- up to 250 (or at least, up to 100) employees a year for each payroll
- AE pension facility (assessment, upload files, write letters).
With regard to facilities, does Sage payroll handle:
- CIS300 returns of sub-contractor payments or is this a separate module? If so, how much?
- forms P11D (enter figures and submission) or is this a separate module? If so, how much?
The tone of this thread suggests that Sage charges several £00s or even, £000s, a year, but I find that hard to believe when Moneysoft charges only £180 a year for all of the above facilities.
For me I cannot really understand why people would still use sage for in house payroll bureau work.
Its a good product but the ramping up of prices is way more than the likes of moneysoft and Brightpay that do everything you need and are under £200.
Payroll pricing is so competative that the first place I would be looking to reduce costs.