Sage Instant Accounts review

Payment time

One new feature we haven't seen in an application at this price is the ability to accept card payments. When you've registered for the service, a 'Pay by Card' button appears in the Customer Receipt window.

It's a few simple steps from clicking this to authorising and accepting payment - and it can all be done without leaving the application. This feature will be a boon to anyone in a retail environment or those who do a lot of business over the phone.

The feature doesn't come as standard though - you'll need a merchant account and a subscription to Sage Payment Solutions at around £10 per month to take advantage of it. And those just getting started in business who lack a merchant account but have an internet presence may instead prefer the ability to accept PayPal payments, a feature offered by Microsoft Accounting Express, but missing here.

Instant Accounts 2008 is a solid release, with plenty of power for small and medium-sized businesses and a clear route map to more powerful applications in the Sage stable.

The trouble is that at around twice the price of many of its budget rivals, and with the far more powerful MYOB Accounting and Microsoft Accounting only £50 more, Instant Accounts falls uncomfortably between two stools.

Author: Tom Gorham