The Payroll Center is built around a combination of the online Paychoice service, purchased last year, and the other payroll services mentioned. The company also hopes to soon have a payroll package for its Sage One online small business offering.

"We hope we can get a low-end version of PayChoice," says Ray Barlow, VP of Sage Accountant Solutions. He hopes to have a decision in the next two or three months.

The Payroll Center provides online access to client data and enables professionals to serve companies with up to 500 employees. Accountants also are assigned a dedicated support specialist while there self-service capabilities enable employees to access paystubs and W-2s. There is a GL interface for Sage 50, 100 and QuickBooks.

Asked if Sage had a previous wholesale product, Barlow replied, "It's the first-time we have put it in a very clear precise picture."

In terms of its other offerings, Payroll Essentials is available for $49.95 per month and is designed for businesses with up to 10 employees. Full Service Payroll offers outsource payroll, HR and time management systems.