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Accounts payable automation designed for small businesses

Bring balance to your back-office using accounts payable features powered by AI. Automate and manage finance tasks from one place, including your bank, payment systems, purchase and expense automation, and credit supply.

Automating your AP process has never been easier

Efficiency is on your side with the benefits of AI-powered accounts payable automation.

Know your spending at all times

Keep track of every penny your business spends with simplified, automated features that remove the burden of manual data entry. 

Avoid hours of admin

Digitising your financial records ensures that no expense goes missing. Wave goodbye to stacks of paperwork. 

Manage finances with confidence

Know when and where your business is due to collect and pay up with connected banking, automated data capture, and insight-filled dashboards. 

How can your business benefit?

From keeping your reports accurate, to boosting your business productivity, automated, AI-powered accounts payable features let you confidently focus on the higher-value work of making smarter, faster decisions.

Save time and money

Cut back on the hours taken up by manual data entry using automated data capture, as part of our AI powered Purchase Automation features. With Accounting Standard and Plus, you can automate tasks and focus on those of higher value.

  • Upload or email a purchase invoice and our AI will automatically extract details and create a pre-populated draft for you to approve.
  • Our AI correctly identifies the supplier, amount, dates, and line items
  • Any duplicate invoices are detected and flagged so you don't pay twice by mistake, helping you stay on top of your bills.

Keep suppliers on side

Manage how your business works with suppliers, making sure information flows. From contracts to cashflow visibility, you’re in control. 

  • Get instant insights on aged creditors or comprehensive lists of credits incurred by using simple dashboards and powerful reporting.
  • Control spending and bespoke credit terms with terms as agreed, for an accurate picture of your finances.
  • Sending returns or cancelling purchases? Flag disputes or create credit notes with ease.

Plans to support you and your business

Get 3 months free

Get full access to your product, and upgrade or cancel at any time. No long-term contracts, commitments or hidden fees.

Accounting Start

For VAT-registered sole traders or cash accounting small businesses.
per month / excl. 20% VAT*
Get 3 months free
Most Popular

Accounting Standard

For small businesses working with suppliers, CIS, or with accrual accounting.
per month / excl. 20% VAT*
Get 3 months free

Accounting Plus

For small businesses managing inventory or working in multiple currencies.
per month / excl. 20% VAT*
Get 3 months free

*Get 3 months free, then £15/£30/£39 + VAT/mo (tier depending). Terms and conditions apply.

Add Payroll starting at 5 employees from £10.00 per month excl. VAT with the option to add up to 150 employees. Add additional employees in-product at £2.00 per month (Essentials), £4.00 per month (Standard) and £6.00 (Premium). Prices exclude VAT.

Accounts payable FAQs

Accounts payable is how a business processes purchase invoices and payments in the accounting cycle. You may choose to pay bills as soon as they land, but it’s more likely you'll have a number of bills to pay at different times. Your accounts payable process is how you organise and account for that activity.

Sage Accounting is a HMRC-recognised, cloud accounting solution with AI-powered automation, designed for small businesses. The software's AP features will help your business streamline your accounts payable processes through invoice automation, payment remittance, tax calculation and supplier management.

When a business buys goods or services on credit (rather than cash) it will credit accounts payable and the credit balance will increase. When a business pays one of its suppliers the amount included in accounts payable, the company should debit accounts payable meaning the credit balance is decreased.

Accounts payable is a short-term credit mechanism used by a business to pay a supplier for products and services. Payment terms differ, typically across 30 or 90 days. The payable amount goes into default if a business does not pay within the terms agreed, and is listed on a company's balance sheet. Accounts payable is a liability since it's money owed to creditors and is listed under current liabilities.

With Accounting Standard and Accounting Plus, Sage users can get access to a number of helpful tools to meet all of their accounts payable requirements.

Purchase Automation is the newest AI-based tool which automatically extracts purchase invoice details and creates a pre-populated draft for you to approve. Our AI correctly identifies the supplier, amount, dates, and line items, taking the manual work out of completing your account payable tasks. Save on time and prevent mistakes as duplicate invoices are detected and flagged automatically - helping you stay on top of your bills.

AutoEntry features also allow you to stay on top of your accounts payable as an additional add-on app. Generate, upload, and populate invoices and documentation, without the need for manual paperwork. Instantly capture information for:

  • Purchase invoices and credit notes
  • Supplier statements
  • Sales invoices and credit notes
  • Bank statements
  • Expenses
  • Line itemisation included

Sage Marketplace

Get added functionality with our partner apps which integrate directly with Sage Accounting, bringing you more tools that help you get the job done.

AutoEntry

Remove the need for data entry

AutoEntry is an intelligent, cloud-based solution which eliminates bookkeeping data entry, so users never again have to type up invoices or receipts.

Satago

Get paid faster

Satago helps business owners and accountants get invoices paid faster and protect against credit risk.

Tradify

Fast and easy job management app

Tradify streamlines and automates your job tracking, from enquiry to payment. Reduce admin hours in scheduling, payroll, CIS and more.

itsettled

Cashflow Protection Software 

itsettled identifies payment risks and automatically collects overdue invoices - saving time, improving working capital, and allowing businesses to thrive.

See what our customers have to say

Find out how Sage simplifies accounting for all types of business.

“I used to spend (at least) twice as long repeating data entries manually before we opted to go with Sage. Now, thanks to it's effortless automation, I have more time on my hands to complete other tasks.”

Ian Burns
Finance, The Plastic Network

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Ready to get started?

Whether you’re a sole trader, a micro-business or a small business with complex accounts payable needs, there’s a Sage Accounting solution for you.

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