Sage has started a new accountant program. The 20 for 20 program, which does not replace the existing Sage or Intacct offerings for firms, is designed for firms that have some business sophistication, according to A.Z. Zabala, senior director of sales and strategy, who leads a program that is in addition to the historical Sage Accountant Program and Sage Intacct Accountant Program.Zabala says target firms are “developed enough to have web site, to have a sales process.” As of mid-August, there were six active firms and “seven more that are ready to get started or evaluated,” Zabala says.
“This is an accelerator program," Zabala says.
Selected firms received access to a variety of technology stacks, both Sage and non-Sage. In exchange, they provide 20 client leads a quarter to Sage.
Asked how Sage will ensure that leads are not just 20 names sent over, Zabala says the company has a team to work with the firms. Also, the agreement is not legally binding. Sage can be flexible in dealing with firms which might not reach that goal in a particular quarter. Zabala cites one early entrant that only provide four leads in the first quarter but delivered 28 in the next period.
