Sage Intacct vs Sage 50

For small businesses in the UK, Sage 50 has long been a trusted and reliable choice for accounting software. It’s a robust entry-level solution, offering essential accounting functions to help small businesses manage their finances efficiently. However, as companies scale, their financial needs become more complex, often outgrowing Sage 50’s capabilities. This is where Sage Intacct, an advanced cloud-based financial management solution, can help. Let’s explore the key differences and why businesses might transition from Sage 50 to Sage Intacct.

Target audience and industries

Sage 50 is ideal for small businesses spanning a range of industries. It provides essential accounting tools and therefore suits industries that don’t require complex financial management and are operating on a smaller scale. While Sage 50 offers strong core accounting features, it may struggle to meet industry-specific needs, global capabilities, and advanced reporting, making it less suitable for larger businesses with more complex financial demands.

Sage Intacct targets mid-sized businesses and enterprises in need of more sophisticated financial tools. It’s particularly strong in industries like healthcare, SaaS, financial services, and non-profits, where advanced reporting, multi-entity consolidations, and automation are critical. Intacct’s cloud-native platform and focus on scalability make it a perfect fit for organisations that have outgrown Sage 50.

Modules and functionality

Sage 50 offers core accounting features, including accounts payable/receivable, budgeting, inventory management, and basic financial reporting. It covers the essential functions a small business needs but doesn’t offer extensive customisation or niche functionality for larger, more complex operations.

Sage Intacct’s modular structure is one of its strengths. It offers a wide array of financial management tools such as core financials, dashboards and reporting, expense management, order management, revenue recognition, time tracking, and project accounting. Sage Intacct is renowned for its advanced functionality, including an AI-powered intelligent general ledger, multi-entity consolidation, real-time collaboration, built-in workflows and automation, and integrated payment processing. The system is designed to handle higher transaction volumes, regulatory compliance, and multi-dimensional reporting, which makes it suitable for complex, multi-departmental organisations.

Deployment and implementation time

Sage 50 is not considered a true cloud solution, but rather desktop accounting software with cloud connectivity. Implementation is typically straightforward, with most businesses getting up and running within days or weeks. It’s an ideal tool for those who need to get started with accounting software quickly without extensive onboarding or customisations.

Sage Intacct is a fully cloud-based solution, which allows for easier deployment across teams, regions, or entities. Implementation takes longer compared to Sage 50 due to the system’s complexity and the depth of configuration options. However, with proper planning, businesses can expect implementation timelines to range from several weeks to a few months, depending on the extent of customisations required. Businesses benefit from working with an experienced Sage partner to make the implementation process as efficient and seamless as possible.

Integration options

Sage 50 integrates with a range of third-party applications, including CRMs, payroll software, and POS systems. While it is an entry-level solution with fewer integration options compared to other accounting software, it still offers essential connectivity to support small business needs.

With its open API architecture, Sage Intacct enables seamless integration with a wide range of third-party applications spanning CRM, business management, e-commerce, tax management and more, making it a great choice for businesses looking to extend their solution without extensive development work. Additionally, users can access the Sage Intacct Marketplace, which provides a variety of third-party apps, integrations, and add-ons designed to enhance Sage Intacct’s functionality and offer industry-specific solutions to meet diverse business requirements.

Scalability

Sage 50 is excellent for small businesses, but as organisations scale, they often outgrow its limitations. The software is not built for multi-entity businesses, complex financial structures, or high transaction volumes. Once your business hits a certain level of growth, you may experience lags or inefficiencies that hinder your financial operations.

Built for scalability, Sage Intacct grows effortlessly with your business. It’s designed to handle high transaction volumes, advanced reporting, and multi-entity consolidations with ease. As your business expands, you can add new users, modules, or entities without sacrificing performance. For fast-growing companies, this scalability is a major factor in the decision to switch.

User interface

Sage 50’s intuitive interface and simplicity make it a popular choice among small business owners without an accounting background.

Sage Intacct’s cloud-native interface is modern, intuitive, and highly customisable. The software’s advanced features offer a wealth of opportunities for finance professionals. While there is a learning curve for users, Sage Intacct is designed to empower finance teams with its robust capabilities.

Pricing

Sage 50 is a budget-friendly option for small businesses. Pricing is typically subscription-based and depends on the number of user licences required. Compared to most other accounting solutions, Sage 50 is an affordable option for startups and small operations, but as needs grow, costs can increase due to add-ons or the need to upgrade to a more advanced solution.

Sage Intacct operates on a modular, subscription-based pricing model. This means you only pay for the features and users you need, but the overall cost can be significantly higher than Sage 50, especially for mid-sized or growing companies. However, the extensive functionality, scalability, and advanced reporting justify the investment for businesses with complex financial needs.