Running an affiliate marketing business as an SME entrepreneur means balancing global transactions, complex commission structures, and ever-changing tax regulations. While spreadsheets or basic tools might work temporarily, if you’re looking to scale your business efficiently, you need specialised accounting software.
Sage has, for many years, been seen as the “standout choices” for affiliate-driven SMEs, but there are plenty of other viable options available, too. Alternatives include QuickBooks, Xero, and FreshBooks, and in this guide, we’ll break down why we believe Sage is the best choice for SEM affiliates, while highlighting scenarios where competitors might be a better option.
Why SME affiliate entrepreneurs need accounting software
Affiliate businesses face unique financial challenges that aren’t always found in other types of business, and these challenges are a large part of why accounting software is so important.
For example, many affiliate businesses work globally. This means payments and commissions are paid in multiple currencies. It also means cross-border tax compliance comes into play.
If affiliates work with partners, sub-affiliates, or influencers, you may also need to track payouts. This also goes for affiliate managers, and those running affiliate programmes.
If you’re a business wanting to scale (and if you’re not, you should be) then you’ll also want to ensure the accounting software you’re using is able to grow with your business—from startup, to enterprise-level.
Sure, generic tools like Excel or free invoicing apps may be able to handle basic tasks, but most of the time, they lack automation, multi-currency support, and don’t scale well. In the following section of this guide, we’ll explore how Sage—and other alternatives—alleviate many of these problems.
Sage: The Best All-Rounder for Affiliate SMEs
Sage, founded in 1981 in the UK, has grown from a small startup to a global leader in business software, serving millions of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) worldwide. With decades of experience, Sage is largely considered to be the market leader in accounting software, and it provides a robust suite of tools designed to streamline operations and support business growth.
Sage is available in a number of solutions—Sage Business Cloud Accounting for cloud-based convenience and Sage 50cloud for a hybrid desktop/cloud experience. Whether tracking international transactions, analyzing campaign ROI, or ensuring tax compliance, Sage delivers the flexibility and functionality to keep your business running smoothly.
Key Strengths
- Multi-Currency Support: Auto-converts 160+ currencies, tracks exchange rates, and reconciles international transactions.
- Advanced Reporting: Profit & Loss, cash flow forecasts, and custom dashboards for tracking campaign ROI.
- Tax Compliance Automation: Handles VAT, GST, and sales tax calculations; generates audit-ready reports.
- Scalability: Easily upgrade plans or add users as your affiliate business grows.
- Third-Party Integrations: Connects with affiliate platforms (ClickBank, Rakuten), payment gateways (PayPal, Stripe), and CRMs.
Best For: Affiliate entrepreneurs managing global campaigns, complex commission structures, or rapid scaling.
Top Sage alternatives: pros, cons, and best use cases
1. QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Online is a popular choice for its intuitive interface and ease of use, making it ideal for those new to accounting, or solopreneurs. It offers strong integrations with over 750 apps, including affiliate tools like Shopify and Mailchimp, and includes built-in payroll features for US, Canadian, and UK users.
However, its multi-currency support is limited to 20+ currencies, and advanced features require upgrading to higher-tier plans, which can become expensive, fast. While it does offer pre-built reporting templates, they don’t have the same levels of customisation and flexibility of Safe.
Pros:
- User-Friendly: Intuitive interface, ideal for accounting newbies.
- Strong Integrations: 750+ apps, including affiliate tools like Shopify and Mailchimp.
- Payroll Add-On: Built-in payroll for teams (US/Canada/UK).
Cons:
- Limited Multi-Currency: Only handles 20+ currencies (vs. Sage’s 160+).
- Scalability Issues: Advanced features require pricier plans.
- Less Custom Reporting: Pre-built templates lack Sage’s flexibility.
Best For: Solopreneurs or small teams prioritising ease of use over global features.
2. Xero
Xero is a powerful option for tech-savvy teams, offering unlimited users on all plans and robust bank reconciliation tools for automating transaction matching. With over 1,000 integrations, including tools like A2X for Amazon affiliates, Xero is highly versatile, but it doesn’t have native tax support, which means you’ll need to use third-party apps for VAT/GST filing.
Xero’s interface is also quite a lot less intuitive, and non-accountants may find it harder to use. Another thing to keep in mind is that Xero does not offer phone support.
Pros:
- Unlimited Users: All plans allow unlimited collaborators.
- Bank Reconciliation: Strong automation for transaction matching.
- Ecosystem: 1,000+ integrations, including A2X for Amazon affiliates.
Cons:
- No Native Tax Support: Requires third-party apps for VAT/GST filing.
- Steep Learning Curve: Less intuitive for non-accountants.
- Limited Phone Support: Relies heavily on email/chat.
Best For: Tech-savvy teams needing robust integrations and collaboration tools.
3. FreshBooks
FreshBooks is a freelancer-friendly platform known for its simplicity, affordability, and excellent mobile app. It offers straightforward invoicing, time tracking, and client portals, making it a great choice for solo entrepreneurs or freelancers with who don’t typically make or receive global transactions.
However, FreshBooks lacks multi-currency support and advanced features like inventory management or detailed reporting. Adding team members can also double the cost, as it’s primarily designed for single users.
Pros:
- Freelancer-Friendly: Simple invoicing, time tracking, and client portals.
- Affordable Starter Plan: $19/month for basic features.
- Mobile App: Highly rated for on-the-go access.
Cons:
- No Multi-Currency: Transactions are limited to your base currency.
- Scalability Gaps: Lacks inventory management or advanced reporting.
- Single-User Focus: Adding team members doubles the cost.
Best For: Solo affiliate marketers or freelancers with straightforward finances.
4. Zoho Books
Zoho Books is a budget-friendly option, starting at just $15 per month, and is particularly appealing for small teams already using Zoho’s other products. The software offers automation features like workflows for recurring invoices and approval processes, as well as seamless integration with other Zoho apps like CRM and Inventory.
However, its multi-currency support is limited to premium tiers, and its reporting abilities are far more basic when compared to Sage.
Pros:
- Budget-Friendly: Starts at $15/month (cheaper than Sage).
- Automation: Workflows for recurring invoices and approval processes.
- Zoho Suite Integration: Seamless with Zoho CRM, Inventory, etc.
Cons:
- Limited Global Features: Multi-currency only on premium tiers.
- Basic Reporting: Fewer customization options than Sage.
- Niche Ecosystem: Integrations favor Zoho apps over third-party tools.
Best For: Small teams on a tight budget using Zoho’s ecosystem.
Why Sage is ideal for SME affiliate entrepreneurs
While some of Sage’s competitors undeniably have their strengths, Sage’s blend of global functionality, scalability, and affiliate-specific tools makes it the top choice, in our opinion. Below, we’ll look at five of the core reasons why we believe Sage is the best choice for SME affiliate entrepreneurs:
- Global Reach, Local Compliance: Sage allows you to automatically convert earnings from international campaigns (e.g., EU affiliate networks) and stay compliant with regional tax laws—not something most competitors offers.
- Granular Campaign Tracking: Sage allows you to track income/expenses to specific campaigns (e.g., “Q4 TikTok Ads”) which allows you to breakdown ROI in ways other tools don’t.
- Automated Commission Management: Sage allows you to easily record payouts to sub-affiliates as expenses and link them to campaigns using tags.
- Future-Proof Scalability: Sage is ideal for businesses of all sizes, as you can begin by using Sage Business Cloud Accounting and upgrade to Sage 50cloud if and when your transaction volumes grow.
- 24/7 Support: Sage offers phone, chat, and community support, which is more than many competitor tools.
However, there are cases where alternatives may make sense:
- QuickBooks: If you’re a US-based affiliate with simple finances and need payroll.
- Xero: If collaboration and integrations are your top priorities.
- FreshBooks: If you’re a solo entrepreneur with minimal global transactions.
- Zoho Books: If you’re budget-conscious and already use Zoho apps.
Final Verdict: Sage is the smart choice for growth-focused affiliates
Sage’s unmatched multi-currency support, tax automation, and scalability make it the best long-term investment for SME affiliate entrepreneurs in our opinion. While some of the alternatives like QuickBooks or FreshBooks might work for some businesses—mainly smaller, niche companies—Sage offers a far more comprehensive suite of tools designed to let you manage global campaigns, track commissions effortlessly, and scale—without switching platforms.
Here at Affiverse, we’re always trying to educate and help affiliate businesses—and if you’re ready to take your affiliate marketing career to the next level, the AAMP Program is your ultimate guide to success.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale an existing program, this 12-week course offers unparalleled expertise, live coaching, and actionable strategies to help you grow your affiliate program and achieve measurable results.
