A Sage 50 alternative for Canadian businesses
Sage 50, the product many Canadians still call Simply Accounting, has kept small-business books in this country for decades. If you are weighing a move, here is how SeroBooks compares, what changes, and when staying on Sage 50 makes more sense.
Last checked October 20, 2026
Canadian sales tax, worked out for you
GST, HST, PST, RST and QST per line by place of supply, in all 13 provinces and territories, with filing from the ledger.
The same books on every device
Windows, macOS, Android and the web share one company. iPhone and iPad are coming soon.
Inventory and Amazon in the ledger
Stock, barcodes and serial lookup on every plan; expiry dates on Standard and Pro; Amazon settlements posted component by component.
Free help to move
A free 15-minute call with the founder, then free help setting up and bringing your books across.
Competitor capabilities as of August 2026, from their published materials; tiers and features change — verify current details with the vendor. All trademarks belong to their owners.
Why people look for a Sage 50 alternative
The reasons we hear are practical. Someone wants to see the books from home or from a second location. A bookkeeper is tired of passing a company file around. The business started selling on Amazon or carrying more stock, and the spreadsheets beside the books keep growing. Or a new staff member needs to be useful on day one.
What moves across, and what to rethink
Bring your lists and your opening balances: customers, suppliers, products, the chart of accounts, open invoices and bills, and the trial balance at your cutover date. Leave old transactions in Sage 50, which stays readable as your archive.
A move is also the one time tidying the chart of accounts costs nothing. Merge the accounts nobody has used in years, and open SeroBooks with the chart you actually want.
When to stay with Sage 50
Stay if you must work fully offline, if your accountant's practice is built around Sage 50 files, or if your business is stable and a move would cost more than it saves. Sage 50 remains serious software with a long Canadian history.
Choose SeroBooks when…
Choose SeroBooks if you want Canadian sales tax worked out for you, your books on every device, and inventory and Amazon in the same ledger.
Choose Sage 50 when…
Choose Sage 50 if you need to work offline or your accountant's practice is built on it. It remains deep software with a long Canadian history.
Rather talk it through first?
Book a free 15-minute call with the founder. We look at your current books, answer your questions, and show you what moving would involve. If you go ahead, we help you set up and bring your company across at no charge. No obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sage 50 the same as Simply Accounting?
Sage 50 in Canada is the product formerly sold as Simply Accounting, which is why many people still search for it by that name.
Can I move from Sage 50 to SeroBooks?
Yes. Bring your lists and opening balances at a month or year boundary, and keep Sage 50 as your archive for earlier years. We help you set up and move at no charge.
Does SeroBooks handle payroll and Records of Employment?
Yes, as an add-on to any plan, sold by employee count: payroll for every province and territory and the United States, with T4, T4A, T5018 and W-2 filing files and Records of Employment. Quebec RL-1 slips are not produced yet.
Does SeroBooks work offline?
No. SeroBooks needs an internet connection.
Is there a free trial?
Yes, 14 days on every plan. A card is needed to start it, nothing is charged until the trial ends, and you can cancel any time before then.