Canadian Small Businesses Are Making the Switch to Simply Accounting by Sage

RICHMOND, BC--(Marketwire - January 15, 2008) - Sage Software announced today its Simple Switch campaign for small businesses, accountants, and bookkeepers to assist them with making the switch from QuickBooks® or MYOB® to Simply Accounting by Sage 2008. With the Simple Switch program, Sage Software will provide a free copy of Simply Accounting software to small businesses switching from QuickBooks and MYOB along with a free, one-year subscription to SimplyCARE, including Payroll and Support services. The introduction of the campaign also marks the availability of the new Simply Accounting Conversion Tool for QuickBooks 2006 and 2007.

"Over the past year, we saw an average of 600(1) small businesses a month make the switch to Simply Accounting from competing accounting packages, and we are confident it's because they recognize the value we offer them -- an outstanding accounting solution made in Canada by Canadians who understand the needs of Canadian small businesses," said Laurie Schultz, general manager, Simply Accounting and Accpac, N.A. "With our Simple Switch program, we are actively extending an invitation to small businesses currently on competing accounting software solutions to help them make the transition to Simply Accounting."

The Simple Switch offer is available to small businesses converting from other accounting products(2), and includes a free copy of Simply Accounting 2008 or Simply Accounting Premium 2008, along with 12 months of SimplyCARE with Payroll and Support services, or a discounted copy of Simply Accounting Enterprise with 24 months of SimplyCARE with Payroll and Support services. For QuickBooks 2006 and 2007 customers, the conversion process has been improved with the release of the new Simply Accounting Conversion Tool.

The new Simply Accounting Conversion Tool is a simple process for transferring information from QuickBooks 2006 and 2007 into Simply Accounting. With a few easy steps, the tool transfers the chart of accounts with opening balances, customer, vendor, employee, inventory, and project records, as well as unpaid customer and vendor invoices into a new Simply Accounting file.

The Simple Switch campaign also extends to accountants and bookkeepers with clients that use QuickBooks or MYOB, along with an offer to join the Sage Software Accountants Network (SSAN) free for one year.

"Canadian small businesses deserve an accounting package that provides them with the functionality they need for conducting business, including bilingual and multicurrency capabilities, and Simply Accounting is the only accounting solution that offers this comprehensive package," added Schultz. "We know that small businesses rely on the advice of their accountants when choosing an accounting solution, so we are actively reaching out to accountants and bookkeepers who are not currently members to encourage them to join SSAN. By joining SSAN, they will have access to the support and information they need to assist their clients with choosing the best accounting package for their business needs."

The Simple Switch program offers Canadian small businesses a great opportunity to start the New Year off with a better accounting solution.

Availability

There are limited quantities of free product available through February 15, 2008, and the Simple Switch offer is only redeemable by new customers to Simply Accounting who are switching from QuickBooks or MYOB. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers. For more information on the Simple Switch campaign, visit http://www.simplyaccounting.com/products/simpleswitch/.

About Sage Software

Sage Software supports the needs, challenges and dreams of nearly 2.8 million small and mid-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 accounting and business management software solutions and related products and services for small and mid-sized businesses. Formed in 1981, Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989 and the Group now has 5.5 million customers and employs over 13,900 people worldwide. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.sagesoftware.com/moreinfo or call (866) 308-2378.

(1) This data is tracked in the Simply Accounting in-product survey, and based on the past 12 mos. The survey averaged 14K responses of which 12% of those buying at retail identified themselves as "switching from another competitive software program," translating to 7200 overall new users for Simply Accounting, which is an average of 600 per month.

(2) This offer is for one year of products and services without any additional obligation for Simply Accounting 2008 and Simply Accounting Premium 2008. For Simply Accounting Enterprise, this offer is for 2 years of products and services for the price of one year. Applies only to direct orders including orders through Simply Accountant's Network.

Contact Information: Contacts: Marchell Gillis 770-724-4256 marchell.gillis@sage.com Mark Priscaro 925-931-7048 mark.priscaro@sage.com