Sage 50cloud Pastel

Ask any South African bookkeeper about Pastel and you will get a knowing nod. Sage 50cloud Pastel is the current form of the desktop package that has anchored local accounting departments for over three decades, and it remains the pragmatic choice for businesses that want serious desktop software backed by an enormous installed base of consultants and training providers across the country.

The product handles the full accounting cycle: general ledger, cash book, customer and supplier processing, inventory, invoicing and VAT at the standard 15% rate with reporting built for SARS compliance. Automatic bank reconciliation and direct bank feeds have narrowed the gap with cloud rivals, and the desktop core means work continues even when the internet does not, which still matters in parts of South Africa.

Sage sells it in three plans on the official Sage shop. Start costs R1,375 per month or R16,500 per year and includes two users and two companies, which suits businesses with straightforward administrative needs. Core costs R1,915 per month or R22,980 per year with four users and four companies, and unlocks the additional modules. Plus costs R2,715 per month or R32,580 per year with five users and five companies for scaled businesses running multiple branches. The module catalogue is extensive: foreign currency processing at R460 per month, point of sale at R725, multiple warehouses at R460, serial number tracking at R460, Sage Intelligence advanced reporting at R650, time and billing at R460, GL Manager at R725, Debtors Manager at R595 and receipting at R460. Buying any Sage 50cloud Pastel product currently earns a 20% discount on Pastel Payroll.