Sage

Sage in brief

• Rank: #61 of 100 in UK's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026; #8 of 12 in Technology & Digital.
• WCRC Power Score: 64.52 out of 100.
• Founded: 1981, by David Goldman.
• Owner: The Sage Group plc, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
• Leadership: Steve Hare, Chief Executive Officer.
• Latest revenue: £2.5bn revenue (FY2025, year to Sep 2025, +8.0%), group revenue of The Sage Group plc, as per company filings.

What makes Sage powerful

Sage is one of Britain's largest software companies, and it has stayed rooted in Newcastle, where it was founded. In the year to September 2025 total revenue rose 8% to £2.51bn, or 10% on an underlying basis, and 97% of it was recurring, giving the business unusual predictability.

The shift to the cloud is driving growth. Sage Business Cloud, led by products such as Sage Intacct, now makes up most of its revenue, and the company has rolled out its Sage Copilot AI assistant and AI agents to automate accounting tasks for small and mid-sized businesses. Strong cash flows fund regular share buybacks. In May 2026 half-year results showed revenue growth of 11% and a jump in pre-tax profit to £262m, and Sage raised its guidance for the year.

97% of Sage's revenue is recurring.

Why Sage ranks #61

Sage ranks 61st with a WCRC Power Score of 64.52, just behind The Guardian and ahead of National Grid. Digital and financial strength (74) is its strongest pillar, reflecting highly recurring revenue and accelerating growth in 2026. Product and innovation (66) is solid, while positioning (62), trust (64) and sustainability and governance (62) are lower, as Sage is less visible to consumers than many brands around it.

The Achilles' heel

Sage serves small and mid-sized businesses, a market where cloud rivals and AI-native start-ups are moving quickly and where customers are sensitive to economic conditions. Investors worry that generative AI could lower barriers to building accounting software. Sage must keep its products ahead while defending margins and its long-established customer base.

The 2026 story

Sage's 2026 has been a year of accelerating growth. In May half-year results to 31 March 2026 reported revenue up 11% and pre-tax profit rising to £262m, and the company lifted its full-year guidance after growth beat analyst estimates. Steve Hare continues as chief executive, and Sage Copilot and AI agents are now part of its core products. Results for the year to September 2026 had not been published when this profile was checked, so the latest full year remains the year to September 2025.

Pillar profile

Provisional desk scores out of 100, for the WCRC Business Intelligence Unit to validate.

Versus its nearest rivals

Questions people ask

Also featured in

• Most powerful Technology & Digital brands
• Most powerful brands in England

Key facts

Sources

• Revenue figure published by The Sage Group plc
• Company website, official announcements and press releases
• Published interviews and statements by the leadership
• WCRC Business Intelligence Unit research: consumer sentiment, ratings and reviews, search demand, media and social data