Hi Linda. There is no typical size for a database - that can vary depending on how it's used and managed. By default, Sage installs SQL Express (free version), which has has a 10 GB limit on the main database file (.MDF file), which is more than enough for the vast majority of our customers. If you are instead using SQL Standard (paid version from Microsoft), then there is no size limit. If you think the database is too large, then see Knowledgebase article 90860 for instructions to see your database and how to purge history to reduce it if needed.

Also, keep in mind that your backup settings could take up a lot of space.  If you have companies from multiple years and have each company file getting backed up daily, and saving the backups for 30 days, that could be dozens of backup files.

How much are you storing inside the Company folder and how large is your attachments folder as those are the two main culprits for an IT to complain that you are using up way too much space. 

If you use the attachments feature in Sage (which is a great function) that you should consider purchasing the File Attachment Manager from Wright Office Solutions.  https://wrightoffice.com/attachments-management/.  To discuss this add on in more detail with a member of the Wright Office team, please email [email protected] or call their office at (517) 580-3717.

It will move them outside the company folder and monitor your attachments to let you know when links are broken.  It also points all current and archives to the same set of attachments (per company of course) to reduce even more space.  And with the attachments being outside the company folder, every backup will also be smaller.

Note:  the default location to save pdf reports is also inside the company folder \files\reports.  Instead of saving items here (where they are not security protected, consider putting shortcuts to new file locations in your regular shared data location.  This way IT can secure confidential files using windows security group settings.