
Struggling with complex accounting software is a massive headache.
You want to organize your finances, but the dashboard feels like a maze.
It is easy to feel lost and frustrated.
Small mistakes in your books can lead to huge tax problems later.
You might waste hours clicking the wrong buttons or losing track of your money.
This stress keeps you away from growing your business.
Don’t worry. This guide shows you exactly how to use Sage without the stress.
We will break it down into simple steps so you can master your finances today.

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Sage Tutorial
Learning new software feels tough at first.
This Sage tutorial makes it easy.
We show you how to set up your account and track every dollar.
You will manage invoices and payroll like a pro in no time.
Let’s begin.
How to Use Multi-currency Accounting
Doing business in other countries means handling different types of money.
Sage makes this simple. It does the hard math for you.
You do not need to worry about exchange rates messing up your books.
Here is how to set it up quickly.
Step 1: Turn On Multi-Currency
You need to tell the system you are ready to use other currencies.
- Go to the Settings tab on your main dashboard.
- Look for the section named Currencies or Foreign Trading.
- Click the checkbox that says “Enable Foreign Currency.”
- Save your changes to turn on the feature.
Step 2: Add Your Currencies
Now, choose the specific money types you need for your business.
- Go back to the Settings menu.
- Select Currencies from the list.
- Click on the Add Currency button.
- Choose the currency you need (like Euros or Dollars) from the list.

Step 3: Update Exchange Rates
Sage needs to know how much the money is worth today to keep your records accurate.
- Enter the current exchange rate for the day.
- You can type this in yourself or link it to a live bank feed for automatic updates.
- Sage uses this rate to calculate your totals in your main currency.
- Click Save to finish.
How to Use the Balance Sheet Report
You need to know if your business is healthy.
A balance sheet shows what you own & what you owe.
It is a snapshot of your money that helps you create a better plan for the future.
Having this data gives you a clear mind about your finances.
It keeps you stress-free during tax time.
If you are interested in seeing your true profit, this is the report you need.
Here is the best way to make one.
Step 1: Go to the Reporting Area
First, you need to find where the reports live in the system.
- Find the Reporting tab at the top of your screen.
- Click it to open the main reports menu.
- Look for the Financial Reports section.
Step 2: Choose Your Settings
Now, tell the software exactly what you want to see.
- Click on Balance Sheet from the list.
- Select the Date Range that you want to check (like “This Month” or “Last Year”).
- Choose a comparison period to see how your fresh numbers compare with the past.
- Pick the layout that looks best for you (Summary or Detailed).

Step 3: Generate and Export
Finally, run the report to see your results.
- Click the Calculate or Report button.
- Review the numbers that appear on the screen.
- Clicked on Export to save it as a PDF or Excel file.
- Share this file with your team or accountant.
How to Use Project Management
Researching big jobs is hard.
You need to track costs so your money does not go up in smoke.
This app helps you carry the load.
Ignore the ashes of past mistakes. Focus on success.
It brings calm to your house and office.
Here is how to create a space for your work.
Step 1: Set Up a New Project
Start this in the morning after you get out of bed.
- Search for the Projects tab.
- Light a fire under your team and click “New Project.”
- Create a bundle for the job and give it a sign or name.
- Expect good things to happen. Don’t let fear or negative energy control you.
- This is the first time you will feel true clarity.
Step 2: Link Your Costs
You must connect every bill to the right job.
- When you post a bill, link it to the project.
- This is the meat of the recipe.
- Add aromatic seasoning and a garnish of detail to the description.
- Pair expenses correctly so you do not burn through cash.
- Leave a comment on foods or travel costs.
- It is not like chopping vegetables; it is about precision.

Step 3: Track Profit and Loss
Watch your numbers grow.
- Look at the picture of your profit.
- Support your intuition with real data.
- Smudge out any errors and air out the details.
- Walk with openness and acknowledge the power of integration.
- Repeat this course for every job.
- Prepare for a better world and a better life where you don’t worry about loose leaves or lost data.
- Grinding through the numbers is now easy.
Alternatives to Sage
- Dext: This software focuses on automating data extraction from receipts and invoices. It saves time on manual data entry by digitizing your paperwork.
- Docyt: This platform is built on AI to automate bookkeeping and back-office tasks. Docyt aims to eliminate manual data entry and provide real-time financial insights, making it a powerful alternative for businesses that want a highly automated solution.
- Xero: This is a popular cloud-based accounting platform. It’s an alternative for Atera’s bookkeeping features, offering tools for invoicing, bank reconciliation, and expense tracking.
- Easy Month End: This specialized software is designed specifically to simplify the financial close process. It integrates with other accounting platforms like QuickBooks and Xero to ensure a smooth and easy month end.
- Puzzle io: This is a modern accounting software built specifically for startups. It helps with financial reporting and automation, offering real-time insights and a focus on streamlining the books for a faster close.
- Sage: A well-known provider of business management software, Sage offers a range of accounting and financial solutions that can serve as an alternative to Atera’s financial management module.
- Zoho Books: Part of the Zoho suite, this is a strong accounting tool for small to medium businesses. It helps with invoicing, expense tracking, and inventory management, and is a good alternative for those who need comprehensive financial tools.
- Synder: This software focuses on syncing your e-commerce and payment platforms with your accounting software. It’s a useful alternative for businesses that need to automate data flow from sales channels into their books.
- Easy Month End: This tool is designed specifically to streamline the month-end closing process. It’s a specialized alternative for businesses that want to improve and automate their financial reporting and reconciliation tasks.
- Docyt: An AI-powered bookkeeping platform, Docyt automates financial workflows. It is a direct competitor for Atera’s AI-driven bookkeeping features, offering real-time data and automated document management.
- RefreshMe: This is a personal financial management platform. While not a direct business alternative, it offers similar features like expense and invoice tracking.
- Wave: This is a popular free financial software. It’s a good choice for freelancers and small businesses for invoicing, accounting, and receipt scanning.
- Quicken: A well-known tool for personal and small business finance. It helps with budgeting, spending tracking, and financial planning.
- Hubdoc: This software is a document management tool. It automatically fetches your financial documents and syncs them to your accounting software.
- Expensify: This platform focuses on expense management. It is great for receipt scanning, business travel, and creating expense reports.
- QuickBooks: One of the most widely used accounting software programs. QuickBooks is a strong alternative that offers a full set of tools for financial management.
- AutoEntry: This tool automates data entry. It is a good alternative for the receipt and invoice capture features within Atera.
- FreshBooks: This program is great for invoicing and accounting. It is popular with freelancers and small businesses that need a simple way to track time and expenses.
- NetSuite: A powerful and complete cloud-based business management suite. NetSuite is an alternative for larger businesses that need more than just financial management.
Sage Compared
It’s helpful to see how Sage stacks up against other popular software.
Here is a brief comparison with some of its competitors.
- Sage vs Puzzle IO: While both handle accounting, Puzzle IO is designed specifically for startups, focusing on real-time cash flow and metrics like burn rate.
- Sage vs Dext: Dext is primarily a tool for automating data capture from receipts and invoices. It often works alongside Sage to make bookkeeping faster.
- Sage vs Xero: Xero is a cloud-based option known for being user-friendly, especially for small businesses. Sage can offer more robust features as a business grows.
- Sage vs Synder: Synder focuses on syncing e-commerce platforms and payment systems with accounting software like Sage.
- Sage vs Easy Month End: This software is a task manager that helps you keep track of all the steps needed to close your books at the end of the month.
- Sage vs Docyt: Docyt uses AI to automate bookkeeping and eliminate manual data entry, providing a highly automated alternative to traditional systems.
- Sage vs RefreshMe: RefreshMe is not a direct accounting competitor. It focuses more on employee recognition and engagement.
- Sage vs Zoho Books: Zoho Books is part of a large suite of business apps. It’s often praised for its clean design and strong connections to other Zoho products.
- Sage vs Wave: Wave is known for its free plan, which offers basic accounting and invoicing, making it a popular choice for freelancers and very small businesses.
- Sage vs Quicken: Quicken is more for personal or very small business finances. Sage offers more robust features for a growing business, like payroll and advanced inventory.
- Sage vs Hubdoc: Hubdoc is a document management tool that automatically collects and organizes financial documents, similar to Dext, and can integrate with accounting platforms.
- Sage vs Expensify: Expensify is an expert at managing expenses. It’s great for receipt scanning and automating expense reports for employees.
- Sage vs QuickBooks: QuickBooks is a major player in the small business accounting world. It’s known for its user-friendly interface and a wide range of features.
- Sage vs AutoEntry: This is another tool that automates data entry from receipts and invoices. It works well as an add-on to accounting software like Sage.
- Sage vs FreshBooks: FreshBooks is especially good for freelancers and service-based businesses, with a focus on simple invoicing and time tracking.
- Sage vs NetSuite: NetSuite is a full-scale ERP system for larger businesses. Sage has a range of products, with some competing at this level, but NetSuite is a bigger, more complex solution.
Conclusion
Learning how to use Sage does not have to be scary.
You now know how to handle different currencies and balance sheets.
You also learned to manage projects without losing money.
These tools give you control over your business.
You stop guessing and start knowing.
Do not worry if you make a mistake at first.
Just follow the steps we listed. You will save time and avoid stress.
Your business deserves clear finances.
Log in today and try one new feature. You are ready to grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sage good for beginners?
Yes, it is very easy to use. The menus are clear. You do not need to be an expert to manage your money. It guides you step by step.
Can I use Sage on a Mac?
Is my financial data safe?
Yes, your data is very secure. Sage uses strong security tools to protect itself. No one can see your numbers unless you allow them to.
Does it connect to my bank?
Yes, it links to your bank account. It pulls in your transactions automatically. This saves you from having to type everything by hand. It keeps your records accurate.
Can I invite my accountant?
Yes, you can easily add other users. Your accountant can log in to help you. It makes tax season much less stressful for both of you.
More Facts about Sage
- It Started in a Pub: The idea for Sage began in 1981 in a pub in Newcastle, England. The founder, David Goldman, wanted a better way to create price quotes for his printing business.
- It Helps Businesses with Money: Sage offers software that can helped small and medium-sized companies manage their finances. This includes paying employees (payroll) and managing bills.
- It is Very Big in the UK: Sage is one of the largest technology companies in the United Kingdom. It is the only software company listed on the FTSE 100, which is a list of the top 100 of companies on the London Stock Exchange.
- Millions of Users: Over 6 million businesses worldwide use Sage products to keep their records straight.
- It Uses the Cloud: While it started as a program you installed on a computer, Sage now offers “cloud” software. This means business owners can check their finances from anywhere with an internet connection.
- It Owns Other Software: Sage has bought many other software companies to grow. For example, they own Sage Intacct, which is a popular tool for managing finances in larger companies.
- SageMath is Different: There is also a free math program called “SageMath,” but it is completely different from the Sage business software.













