Development of the business

The Company was founded by David Goldman together with Paul Muller and Graham Wylie in 1981 in Newcastle upon Tyne to develop estimating and accounting software for small businesses.

In 1984 the Company launched Sage software, a product for the Amstrad PCW word processor, which used the CP/M operating system. Sage software sales escalated in that year from 30 copies a month to over 300. The Company was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1989.

In 1994 Paul Walker was appointed Chief Executive. In 1998 Sage’s Professional Accountants Division was established. In 1999 Sage entered FTSE 100 and launched a dedicated Irish division, based in Dublin as well as its e-business strategy. In that same year the UK acquisition of Tetra saw Sage enter the mid-range business software market.

In 2000 Sage shares were named ‘best performing share of the 90s’ in the UK business press. In 2001 Sage acquired Interact Commerce Inc and entered the CRM/contact management market and in 2002 Sage won 'Business of The Year' in National Business Awards. Also that year Sage sponsorsed the new Music Centre in Gateshead for £6m - now known as The Sage Gateshead - the largest ever UK arts/business sponsorship. By 2003 Sage was the only remaining technology stock in the FTSE 100 Index.