NetSuite began offering a new program to Sage partners to resell its Web-based accounting software with a 50 percent revenue share split for the first 12 months.

The company is offering the deal at a time when Sage lost a key partner with the demise of the MIS Group, the company’s top reseller in North America (see Sage Reseller MIS Closes Shop). Sage has also been laying off employees in recent months (see Sage Cuts 500 in North America).

NetSuite is promoting the concept of cloud computing, in which companies can access the software from a group of remote servers across the Internet, whereas most of Sage’s software runs on the user’s own desktop or laptop PC or the company server.

Under the NetSuite deal, Sage channel partners will receive training customized for Sage implementation experts to familiarize them with NetSuite’s accounting, enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management and e-commerce software.

“NetSuite expects this program will find a warm reception in a Sage channel partner community wracked with fear, uncertainty and doubt about the future of on-premise applications and the ability of Sage to lead them to the new world of cloud computing,” said a press release from the company. “Demand for on-premise software is diminishing across the board.”

Sage did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The program for Sage channel partners is available through Sept. 30, 2009 to all current Sage channel partners in good standing, based on acceptance into the NetSuite Solution Provider Program. The 50 percent revenue share applies to all new NetSuite subscriptions secured by the partner on one, two or three-year subscriptions.

For more information, visit www.netsuite.com/sagepartner.