SageSpark, a program that is designed to move Sage down market, is going to provide common human resource forms for its small business members under a new program called HR Advice. Templates and instructions will be available for commonly used forms such as employee evaluation forms, offer letters and employee appraisals.Spark was introduced early this year as a way to move Sage North America into small entrepreneurial businesses. Since then, 2,950 users have signed up for the program and LeDuc says the company is happy with the pace. Spark provides members with a one-page Web site built from their profiles. The service also includes search engine submission.
"It’s simple to set up and they don’t have any decisions to make. They get results," he says.
HR Advice is the first expansion of the program since its introduction and comes in two parts. The free version has some templates, which might be all a very small business might need. For $199 a year, businesses can gain access to a large library of templates and forms, LeDuc continues.
The SageSpark program, www.sagespark.com, provides a variety of information to small business. It also offers services for sales, including sales and marketing, banking solutions, IT services, and invoicing and accounting. Free tools include a business directory of Spark members, an online invoicing tool called billing boss, the Canadian software Simply Accounting First Step 2009 and an accountant and bookkeeper directory.
