Payroll requires a subscription plan to keep it current. I am not aware of it being sold at retail. The payroll can be added to a retail purchase.

Alwyn

It's been sold at retail for decades.  The image below is from Staples Nov 2019.

Not sure how you could not be aware of it but PAYROLL edition has been at retail for at least the last 10 years I'v been purchasing it.  It looks like SAGE's greed to buy it from them is whats happened here. It's now a $600 subscription vs a few hundred more from previous years. Unbeleivable!!

Last year I paid $899 at staples for the 2023 Premium with payroll.  This year will cost my business almost double that. Thanks for the mention Richard.

Just be aware of what Sage is including in the subscription pricing when you discuss this with them.  You may or may not need the Office 365 integration, the payments processing, the Remote Data Access, etc. that all add to the subscription if you choose to use and pay for it.  Even the option to use Credit Memos and Copy transactions is a subscription cost now.

Hi nikos ,

Thank you for sharing your concerns. I can confirm that Sage 50 CA Payroll edition is not available in retail stores like Staples and Best Buy. This is a change from the past, and I understand it's significant for you as a longtime customer.

We've also noted the pricing concerns you and other customers have expressed. Although market conditions have affected pricing across the board, I understand that the new costs may be a burden.

For a more budget-friendly alternative, you might consider Sage Business Cloud Accounting + Payroll (SBCA + SBCP). It offers many of the features you've come to expect at a different price point.

Rest assured, I've escalated this issue to our team. We value your business and are committed to supporting you through these changes.

Warm Regards,
Erzsi