{"id":30275,"date":"2026-05-27T14:12:06","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T13:12:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/?p=30275"},"modified":"2026-05-27T14:12:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T13:12:08","slug":"sales-order-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/sales-order-management\/","title":{"rendered":"What is sales order management: How to optimise sales order processing"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--standard entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--standard\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/category\/growth-customers\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Growth &amp; Customers<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is sales order management: How to optimise sales order processing\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLooking to simplify your sales order management? Discover how to optimise your process and keep your business running smoothly.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-05-27T14:12:06+01:00\">27 May, 2026<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"What is sales order management: How to optimise sales order processing\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/sales-order-management\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/author\/laurencematone\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/03\/Profile_LM-350x350.jpeg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"Laurence Matone\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Laurence Matone<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you sell products or services, keeping your sales order management running effectively is key to your business success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tracking orders is just the start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From order creation to fulfilment and invoicing\u2014you&#8217;ll need to ensure the complete order lifecycle is efficient and all the parts are working in unison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This guide breaks down what sales order management is, how it works, and why getting it right matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You&#8217;ll also be able to explore best practices when it comes to streamlining your workflow, and learn how automation improves accuracy, speed, and order tracking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here&#8217;s what we&#8217;ll cover:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a href=\"#h-steps-in-the-sales-order-management-process\" data-level=\"2\">Steps in the sales order management process<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-best-practices-to-optimise-sales-order-management\" data-level=\"2\">Best practices to optimise sales order management<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-the-benefits-of-an-optimised-sales-order-process\" data-level=\"2\">The benefits of an optimised sales order process<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-steps-in-the-sales-order-management-process\"><strong>Steps in the sales order management process<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An optimised sales order management system gives you real-time visibility into every order&#8217;s status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This will help you eliminate guesswork and reduce the risk of delays, stock shortages, and frustrated customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the flip side, if your sales order management isn&#8217;t optimised, it&#8217;s likely you&#8217;ll have to deal with miscommunication between departments, delayed shipments, and inventory discrepancies\u2014which can impact both customer satisfaction and your bottom line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A well-structured sales order management process keeps everything running smoothly\u2014from the moment a customer places an order to final delivery and billing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When all the steps are interconnected, you avoid delays, reduce errors, and create a seamless customer experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s how it works:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-quote\"><strong>1. Quote<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before an order is placed, your business may provide a quote to the customer, outlining pricing, product availability, and any terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the quote is accepted, the order moves to the processing stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-sales-order-processing\"><strong>2. Sales order processing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where it all starts\u2014when your customer places their order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At this stage, you&#8217;ll want to double-check the order details to make sure everything is accurate before fulfilment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That includes verifying product availability, pricing, and customer information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You might also need to review payment terms or check customer credit before approving the order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once everything looks good, it&#8217;s officially ready to move on to the next step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-inventory-sourcing\"><strong>3. Inventory sourcing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the order is approved, it&#8217;s time to determine where the inventory will come from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the item is in stock, it&#8217;s allocated and reserved for the order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If it&#8217;s out of stock, this may trigger a backorder or a request to your supplier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout this process, your sales order management system updates inventory records in real time, making sure you always have an accurate picture of stock levels and reducing the risk of overselling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-order-fulfilment-and-shipping\"><strong>4. Order fulfilment and shipping<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With inventory sourced, your fulfilment team steps in to pick, pack, and ship the order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Orders are sent to warehouses or fulfilment centres where they are carefully prepared for shipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once packed, shipping labels are generated and tracking details are shared with the customer so they can monitor their order&#8217;s progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As soon as the order is shipped, the system automatically updates its status from &#8220;processing&#8221; to &#8220;shipped.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keeping customers informed of their order status at every stage helps build trust and improve their buying experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-billing-and-invoicing\"><strong>5. Billing and invoicing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After the order has shipped, it&#8217;s time to generate and send the invoice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your billing system creates the invoice and delivers it to your customer, outlining the total amount due.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Payments are then recorded and accounts updated, keeping everything accurate and current.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/accounting-software\/billing\/\">automated billing software<\/a> can help make this process effortlessly efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It helps you customise invoices, track payments in real-time, maintain accurate financial records, and securely connect with banks\u2014saving your team time and reducing the risk of errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-practices-to-optimise-sales-order-management\"><strong>Best practices to optimise sales order management<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your sales order management process is inefficient, it can lead to delayed shipments, stock discrepancies, and loss of revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To keep orders flowing smoothly and make sure your business runs efficiently, focus on these key best practices:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-audit-your-current-system\"><strong>1. Audit your current system<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before making changes, take a step back and evaluate your current sales order process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Identifying problem areas early on will help you make targeted improvements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Start by asking your team a few key questions, such as the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Are there bottlenecks causing delays in order processing?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do we frequently run out of stock or end up with too much inventory?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are manual processes slowing down fulfilment and leading to errors?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>By pinpointing these challenges, you&#8217;ll get a clearer picture of what needs to be optimised\u2014whether it&#8217;s streamlining approvals, improving inventory tracking, or automating repetitive tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-automate-where-possible\"><strong>2. Automate where possible<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Manual processes can be a huge time drain. If you&#8217;re constantly entering orders manually or chasing approvals, it might be time to embrace automation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Automating your sales order management process helps you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reduce human errors at the order entry stage, minimising incorrect shipments and unhappy customers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Speed up approvals by eliminating bottlenecks and keeping orders moving efficiently.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Automatically update inventory levels as each order is placed, making sure you always have an accurate view of your stock.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-upgrade-to-inventory-management-software\"><strong>3. Upgrade to inventory management software<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Trying to keep track of inventory manually can lead to costly mistakes\u2014like selling products you don&#8217;t currently have available or running out of stock at the worst possible time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the right inventory management system, you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Prevent overselling or stockouts by automatically adjusting inventory as orders come in.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Track inventory across multiple warehouses and fulfilment centres without the hassle of spreadsheets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improve order fulfilment accuracy by making sure the right products are always available when needed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-use-demand-forecasting\"><strong>4. Use demand forecasting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Running out of stock or overstocking products can take a big toll on your bottom line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Accurate demand forecasting helps you stay ahead by predicting customer demand based on historical data and market trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of reacting to stock issues, you can proactively manage your inventory and streamline operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With demand forecasting, you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Plan inventory purchases more effectively, ensuring you have the right products at the right time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid stockouts and costly last-minute rush orders, which can disrupt fulfilment and increase expenses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improve customer satisfaction by keeping popular items in stock and ensuring on-time deliveries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A strong demand forecasting strategy means fewer supply chain surprises and a smoother ordering process for both you and your customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-improve-reverse-logistics\"><strong>5. Improve reverse logistics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Returns are an inevitable part of the sales cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Handling them effectively can make a big difference to your customers&#8217; experience and your inventory management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A well-defined logistics process ensures returns, refunds, and exchanges are handled smoothly whilst minimising disruptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It allows you to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Make returns easy for customers, reducing friction and frustration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Process refunds and exchanges quickly so customers get resolutions without long wait times.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Track and restock returned inventory efficiently, keeping your stock levels accurate and minimising waste.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>By applying these best practices, your business can streamline its sales order management process, reduce inefficiencies, and improve customer satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-benefits-of-an-optimised-sales-order-process\"><strong>The benefits of an optimised sales order process<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With the right setup, you can make your sales order process faster, smoother, and more reliable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s how an optimised process can benefit your business by eliminating bottlenecks, reducing manual work, and keeping everything running seamlessly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faster-order-processing\"><strong>Faster order processing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Automating your sales order workflows speeds up approvals, fulfilment, and invoicing, so orders move through the system without delays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fewer-errors\"><strong>Fewer errors<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Automation helps eliminate order entry mistakes, duplicate orders, and incorrect shipments, saving you time and money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-better-inventory-control\"><strong>Better inventory control<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With real-time inventory updates you&#8217;ll always have an accurate view of stock levels, preventing overselling and shortages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-improved-customer-satisfaction\"><strong>Improved customer satisfaction<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When orders are processed accurately, shipped quickly, and returns are handled efficiently, customers enjoy a smoother experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-higher-profitability\"><strong>Higher profitability<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Reducing inefficiencies saves time and operational costs whilst improving your cash flow and facilitating your strategic business goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-medium-font-size\" id=\"h-final-thoughts\"><strong>Final thoughts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Optimising your sales order management process will help you work faster, creating a system that&#8217;s efficient and boosts your overall business performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When each step is connected, you gain better visibility and a more reliable workflow whilst reducing order delays and costly errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Customers receive their orders on time, inventory stays balanced, and your team can focus on business growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re still juggling spreadsheets or outdated systems, now is the time to switch to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/supply-chain-management\/\">automated sales order management software<\/a> and take your business to the next level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<section class=\"more-topics alignfull has-grey-light-background-color wp-block-sage-post-topics\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"more-topics__title h2\">Browse more topics from this article<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"post-tags__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/grow-business\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow to grow your business\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/inventory\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tInventory\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/midsized-business\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMidsized business\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/performance-management\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPerformance management\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/supply-chain\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSupply chain\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-sage-related-posts\">\n\t<section class=\"related-posts card-grid has-dark-background-color\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--featured h1\">Explore more wisdom<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-0 post-30266 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-bookkeeping tag-inventory business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business industry-food-beverage card-post--is-clickable\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"card-post__media-wrapper\">\n\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1301828814-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1301828814-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1301828814-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1301828814-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card-post__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__label\">Recommended<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-05-27T11:27:46+01:00\">27 May, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">12 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/restaurant-inventory-management-best-practices\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tGuide to restaurant inventory management and best practices\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"card-post__description\">\n\t\t\t\tMaster restaurant inventory management with practical tips to control stock, reduce waste, improve efficiency, and maximise profits in your restaurant.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__non-featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--more h4\">More on this Topic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-1 post-18419 post type-post status-publish format-audio has-post-thumbnail hentry category-growth-customers tag-grow-business tag-start-business tag-sound-advice-podcast tag-startup-stories post_format-post-format-audio business_type-small-business industry-ecommerce\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/sound-sdvice-started-business-with-spice-girl-christopher-money\/?scroll=1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/05\/Blog_S3_Ep8-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Christopher Money and Emma Bunton\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/05\/Blog_S3_Ep8-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/05\/Blog_S3_Ep8-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/05\/Blog_S3_Ep8-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" class=\"card-post__meta-icon svg-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"M9.75 1.5C8.793 1.5 8 2.293 8 3.25v8.377a.8.8 0 0 0 0 .243v4.38c0 .957.793 1.75 1.75 1.75h5.5c.957 0 1.75-.792 1.75-1.75v-4.377a.8.8 0 0 0 0-.243V3.25c0-.957-.792-1.75-1.75-1.75zm0 1.5h5.5c.147 0 .25.102.25.25V11h-6V3.25c0-.148.102-.25.25-.25m-4.012 7.989a.75.75 0 0 0-.739.761v4.5A4.76 4.76 0 0 0 9.749 21h2v2a.76.76 0 0 0 .216.537.74.74 0 0 0 .534.223.76.76 0 0 0 .535-.223.74.74 0 0 0 .216-.537v-2h2A4.76 4.76 0 0 0 20 16.25v-4.5a.76.76 0 0 0-.216-.537.74.74 0 0 0-.535-.223.75.75 0 0 0-.75.76v4.5a3.24 3.24 0 0 1-3.25 3.25h-5.5a3.24 3.24 0 0 1-3.25-3.25v-4.5a.755.755 0 0 0-.469-.707.8.8 0 0 0-.293-.055zM9.5 12.5h6v3.75c0 .147-.102.25-.25.25h-5.5a.24.24 0 0 1-.25-.25zm3 1a.997.997 0 0 0-1 1 .997.997 0 0 0 1 1 .997.997 0 0 0 1-1 .997.997 0 0 0-1-1\" \/><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-05-21T15:30:08+01:00\">21 May, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">31 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tI started a business with a Spice Girl\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-2 post-20757 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-business-finances tag-midsized-business business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/startups-secure-investment-become-unicorns\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1473163791-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Looking at business data\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1473163791-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1473163791-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1473163791.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-05-20T15:18:54+01:00\">20 May, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">15 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tUK unicorns: How\u00a0promising\u00a0start-ups\u00a0can\u00a0scale and secure investment\u00a0\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-3 post-15685 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-business-finances tag-grow-business business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/attract-angel-investors-startup-business\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1414921475-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1414921475-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1414921475-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1414921475.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-05-01T10:00:00+01:00\">1 May, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">18 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tHow to attract angel investors to your start-up: A practical guide\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-4 post-2044 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-growth-customers category-money-matters category-trends-insights tag-create-business-plan tag-grow-business tag-start-business business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/accelerate-the-funding-for-your-start-up\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/08\/0J9A9648-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/08\/0J9A9648-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/08\/0J9A9648-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/08\/0J9A9648.jpg 999w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-05-01T00:00:00+01:00\">1 May, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">4 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tHow do you apply for a\u00a0startup\u00a0accelerator\u00a0programme?\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Looking to simplify your sales order management? Discover how to optimise your process and keep your business running smoothly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1911,"featured_media":16264,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,6,9],"tags":[15,26,159,42,130],"business_type":[4,3],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[73,74,75],"imagine_tag":[77,79,91,111],"coauthors":[752],"class_list":["post-30275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-growth-customers","category-money-matters","category-strategy-legal-operations","tag-grow-business","tag-inventory","tag-midsized-business","tag-performance-management","tag-supply-chain","business_type-small-business","business_type-medium-sized-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-gb","author_name":"Laurence Matone","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-981641138.jpg","imagine_tags":{"77":"Accounting software","79":"Business management","91":"Growing business","111":"Supply chain management"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice UK","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1911"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30275"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30275\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30276,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30275\/revisions\/30276"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/16264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30275"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=30275"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=30275"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=30275"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=30275"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=30275"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=30275"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=30275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}