Simply Accounting by Sage Poised for Continued Growth with New Solutions and Services for Start-ups and Growing Small Businesses

The #1 choice of accountants and small businesses in Canada1, Simply Accounting 2009 includes a free express version of Simply Accounting First Step 2009, plus valuable business services including secure credit card processing

Vancouver, B.C., November 3, 2008 – Sage Software announced today the availability of the new Simply Accounting by Sage 2009 product line, including Simply Accounting Enterprise 2009 and a free, downloadable express version of the new Simply Accounting First Step 2009 for start-ups. Also new in the 2009 product line are online business services that include secure credit card processing using Sage Payment Solutions technology, more features in the Learning Centre to get businesses up and running quickly, and comprehensive reporting for tighter oversight and management in a challenging economic environment.

"As the #1 choice of accountants and small businesses in Canada1, we are poised to become even more of a resource to small businesses with our 2009 product line and new service offerings, and we will be introducing more convenient business services in the very near future to help businesses from start-up to success," said Jamie Sutherland, general manager, Simply Accounting by Sage. "With this release of Simply Accounting we continue to provide the easy-to-use accounting that small businesses have come to depend on from Sage Software, along with more features and services that go beyond accounting to help small business owners better manage and grow their companies."

A fully bilingual French and English accounting solution, Simply Accounting 2009 includes integration with business management services that place accounting tasks and expanded support features at the fingertips of small businesses, to help save them time and money, including:

· Integrated credit card processing through Sage Payment Solutions—This add-on service automates credit card processing directly within a Simply Accounting sales transaction and enables small businesses to safely manage and view payment reports securely online.

· Transfer Funds Feature—Small businesses can quickly link to and record a transfer of funds to or from a credit card, bank, or line of credit. This new automated feature minimizes errors in recording these transactions within Simply Accounting.

· New Simply Accounting Online Community Integration —The Simply Accounting Online Community has been integrated with the newly enhanced Learning Centre within Simply Accounting to provide information updates, training resources and videos, and a choice of Real Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds. Additionally, the new Getting Started Page provides quick links and direction to help new businesses get their business up and running after installing the product.

Simply Accounting Enterprise 2009

The most comprehensive, cost-efficient accounting solution in Canada for growing small businesses, Simply Accounting Enterprise 2009 includes the multi-language and multi-currency capabilities that have long been an integral part of the product line, plus more scalability, security, reporting and payroll management features:

· New Payroll Features — include the ability to withhold additional Quebec Tax and an improved remittance report. Also new for SimplyCare Payroll subscribers is the Year End Review Report which identifies CPP/QPP and EI discrepancies before employers have to process T4 slips. This report is based on the Canada Revenue Agency's Pensionable and Insurable Earning Review. Additionally, small businesses can now e-mail direct deposit slips to employees.

· New Report Enhancements — make it easier to pull information and create reports, including the ability to show corrections on Project Reports, add customizable report columns in Summary and Detail reports, and produce a new "Sales Receipts by Payment Method" Report.

· Increased Scalability and Role-based Security — Simply Accounting Enterprise supports up to 1,000 departments and price lists and 100 e-mail addresses per customer in the database. With new role-based security, small business owners can limit users' access rights to only the reports they need, providing companies with an extra level of protection.

Free Simply Accounting First Step 2009 express download

Newly available this year is a free, downloadable version of Simply Accounting First Step 2009, which includes basic accounting features such as invoicing, management of GST/HST and PST/QST, print to PDF and reports. This free download is available to help new small businesses get started with basic automated accounting, and have the ability to move up the Simply Accounting line as their needs demand.

In addition to award-winning Simply Accounting support and service, small businesses can work with the over 9,000 Simply Accounting partners across Canada. The Simply Accounting partner program is one of the best in Canada with two times more accounting recommenders than its closest competitor.

Sage Software offers Canadian small and medium-sized businesses a portfolio that includes Simply Accounting by Sage, Sage BusinessVision 50 Accounting, and Sage Accpac ERP, which is part of the Sage Accpac Extended Enterprise Suite that includes integrated SageCRM.

Pricing and Availability

Simply Accounting by Sage 2009 is currently shipping and will be available at Canadian retailers nationwide by mid-November. Simply Accounting First Step 2009 (formerly Simply Accounting Entrepreneur) is $49.99. The Simply Accounting First Step 2009 (express version) is free to download at
http://www.simplyaccounting.com/products/first_step/

Simply Accounting Pro 2009 (formerly Simply Accounting Basic) single-user is $149; $349 with payroll included. Simply Accounting Premium is $299; $499 with payroll included. Simply Accounting Enterprise 2009 is available for direct purchase from Sage Software, a five-user license is $1,249, and a ten-user license available for $2,499. All prices listed are in CDN dollars.

To learn more about Simply Accounting by Sage 2009, SimplyCARE Plans and special rebate offers for small businesses switching from a competing accounting package, please visit: www.simplyaccounting.com

For more information on integrated credit card processing through Sage Payment Solutions, please visit www.sagepayments.ca/simplyaccounting.

About Sage Software

Sage Software supports the needs, challenges and dreams of nearly 2.9 million small and medium-sized business customers in North America through easy-to-use, scalable and customizable software and services. Our products support accounting, operations, customer relationship management, human resources, time tracking, merchant services and the specialized needs of the construction, distribution, healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofit and real estate industries. Sage Software is a subsidiary of The Sage Group plc, a leading global supplier of business management software and services to small and medium-sized businesses. Formed in 1981, Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989. Sage Group now has 5.7 million customers and employs over 14,800 people worldwide. For more information, please visit the web site at www.sagesoftware.com or call (866) 308-2378.

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