The Best ERP Systems for Small Businesses
Small businesses need an ERP system that is affordable, user-friendly, and customizable to their needs. We tested and reviewed the best small business ERPs based on various features, including financial management, CRM, and inventory tracking.
- Powerful mobile access
- Highly scalable
- Wide range of features across all industries
- Large number of available modules
- Cloud-first solution
- Industry-specific customizations
- Multi-dimensional reporting capabilities
- Integrates with Salesforce, Versapay, etc.
- Provides multi-entity support
We’ve evaluated the best ERP systems for small businesses, focusing on affordability, scalability, and ease of use. These solutions streamline key operations like accounting and supply chain management while growing your business.
We’ve compiled the best picks, whether you’re looking for a solution with strong customization options or one suitable for distributors.
- Dynamics 365: Best Overall
- NetSuite: Most Customizable
- Sage Intacct: Strong Financial Management
- SAP Business One: Best CRM Features
- Odoo: Best Open Source Solution
- Acumatica: Best for Small Businesses
- SYSPRO: Best for Distribution
- Epicor Kinetic: Best for Manufacturing
- Striven: Best for Project-based Businesses
- ERPNext: Best for Global SMEs
Dynamics 365 - Best Overall
Dynamics 365 Business Central is a scalable solution that provides flexibility to adapt to your unique business workflows. The software allows you to leverage pre-built, add-on applications from Microsoft Appsource, like 360 Quick Link, 24/7 TimeTracker, and Advanced Inventory Count. This enables you to pay for the modules you need and add more functionality as you expand.
Dynamics allows you to add unlimited users via flexible subscription options, allowing you to scale your user base to match your company’s growth trajectory. Business Central has two pricing plans that start at $70/user/month. The Essentials plan offers a variety of features, from inventory management to sales and marketing initiatives. The second tiered plan offers the same functionalities as the Essentials plan, with additional service management and manufacturing features. With numerous features provided, your growing team can have all the features you need, without having to worry about paying for the ones you don’t.
NetSuite - Most Customizable
NetSuite is our top pick for businesses seeking ERP customizations. Whether it’s a B2B or B2C company, firms can mold NetSuite to provide the optimal fit.
Businesses can harness tools like SuiteScript for full automation and integration with third-party apps. They can also finetune the system with tailored forms, custom fields, personalized roles, and real-time dashboards. These features collectively enhance operational compatibility, letting businesses manage data and processes in ways most aligned with their daily functions.
Sage Intacct - Strong Financial Management
Sage Intacct has advanced financial management capabilities. It offers a multi-dimensional general ledger that tracks financial data based on multiple dimensions, such as department, project, location, or product line. This enables detailed financial reporting and analysis, providing insights into the performance of different business segments.
The platform includes features for automated revenue recognition, helping you comply with standards like ASC 606 and IFRS 15. It supports various revenue recognition methods and provides real-time visibility into revenue streams.
SAP Business One - Best CRM Features
SAP Business One has strong CRM features, offering marketing campaigns, customer master data, and opportunity and sales management in a central platform.
SAP Business One allows you to create and maintain email, telemarketing, and direct mail campaigns. It also allows you to manage sales opportunities and track activities. The software provides a service component in CRM to manage warranties and service contracts. Finally, it offers strong analytics and reporting to gain insights into customer data and sales performance.
Odoo - Best Open Source Solution
Odoo has strong open-source solution due to its unparalleled flexibility and adaptability. You can access and customize the source code to fit their specific needs. This can help you save on software costs and ensure a system meets your unique requirements.
Odoo has a large and active community of developers and users who share knowledge, best practices, and custom modules. This can help you get support and find solutions to common challenges.
Acumatica - Best for Small Businesses
Acumatica offers a resource-based pricing model that enables you to pay for the resources you use rather than the number of employees or users added to the system.
Beyond the licensing model, Acumatica offers a wide variety of third-party add-ons and can be personalized to fit the way your small organization operates. This includes CRM, eCommerce, and other financial management systems.
As your small business expands, it will need to grow and adapt. Being able to pick and choose the modules you need and add more as your requirements change means Acumatica is a scalable software perfect for a growing small business.
SYSPRO - Best for Distribution
SYSPRO caters to the unique needs of distribution companies, offering specialized modules for compliance regulations, quality control, and traceability. Additionally, this ERP integrates key business areas like finance, inventory management, sales, purchasing, production planning, and CRM into a centralized system.
We also found SYSPRO compatible with smaller businesses because it’s designed to evolve with company growth. Its scalability ensures that the system can adapt to its changing needs as your business expands without requiring a complete overhaul. Moreover, SYSPRO’s reporting and analytics capabilities enable you to generate detailed reports, analyze trends, and make data-driven decisions. This feature is helpful for small distributors that need to optimize their operations and stay competitive.
Epicor Kinetic - Best for Manufacturing
Epicor Kinetic has industry-specific features that include compliance management, planning and scheduling, supply chain management, quality assurance, and maintenance management. Tools like a product configurator, advanced planning and scheduling, and quality assurance make it ideal for businesses in this sector.
In addition to a focus on discrete manufacturing, Epicor Kinetic delivers extensive customization capabilities. Its low-code customization allows you to tailor the ERP to your unique processes without modifying the source code, providing a flexible and adaptable solution as the business grows. Finally, Epicor Kinetic offers an extensive financial management module with features like general ledger, accounts receivable/payable, and financial planning, as well as a sales management module that supports the entire order-to-cash cycle.
Striven - Best for Project-based Businesses
Striven’s cloud-based platform combines various business management tools into one cohesive system, including accounting, CRM, project management, HR, and inventory management. This integration enhances productivity and collaboration across different departments.
Striven integrates seamlessly with third-party systems like Google, Microsoft, and various payment processing gateways. With automated workflows and a mobile responsive design, the platform offers customizable portals for vendors, customers, and candidates to improve external communications and operations. Striven’s pricing is also competitive, making it an affordable option for small businesses looking to leverage ERP functionalities without a hefty price tag.
ERPNext - Best for Global SMEs
ERPNext multilingual support makes it a fitting choice for companies with a diverse workforce or those operating in multiple countries.
With a free, open-source version and affordable managed hosting options, ERPNext provides an avenue for scaled operations without incurring significant software costs. The software handles accounting, CRM, HRM, manufacturing, and project management functions, all designed to meet the complex needs of SMEs in various sectors.
What is Small Business ERP Software?
Small business ERP is a software system that integrates key business functions, such as accounting, sales, and inventory, to streamline operations in small businesses. Enterprise resource planning or (ERP software) specifically built for small businesses provides an affordable, easy-to-use, and secure way to manage business processes, financials, and sales in real-time. Software streamlines your work across multiple areas, from back-office accounting to front-end customer support. Both small and midsize companies can benefit from using one ERP software solution to cover a variety of business operations.
Read more: What is ERP?
Running a small business is no easy feat. Depending on your industry and market, there might be a lot of behind-the-scenes tasks you need to complete yourself. Fortunately, ERP systems typically include customizable modules you can use to meet your specific workflow needs. For smaller businesses and startups, it’s important only to choose the modules you really need to cut down on costs - you can always add more functionality later on as your business grows.
Key Features
| Feature | Function |
|---|---|
| Human Resources (HR) Management | Automate payroll processing, track time and attendance, and manage employee records like performance reviews, payroll benefits, and scheduling. Self-service HR functionalities allow employees to request time off or view their attendance records. |
| Financial Management](/financial-management/) | Track income and expenses through recorded transactions and account structures to forecast profit and loss. |
| Inventory Management | Record information on items you build, store, buy, or sell. Keep up-to-date stock records to avoid running out of items or buying items unnecessarily. |
| Customer Relationship Management (CRM) | Manage customer contact info, order histories, invoices, and quotes. |
| Supply Chain Management | Manage the flow of goods and services from raw material acquisition to delivery of the finished product to the customer. |
| Analytics and Reporting | Measure key performance indicators (KPIs) like income (Accounts Receivable) and expenses (Accounts Payable), top performing products, or open orders over a set period of time. |
Benefits
The primary benefit of implementing an ERP at your growing company is the ability to streamline many separate business functions into one solution. Both on-premise and cloud-based ERP platforms can help your business in a variety of ways:
- Streamline workflows and processes across a common interface and database
- Visibility and transparency into business management workflow to increase optimization
- Better decision-making by analyzing data by region, location, profit center, employee, and more
- Improve data security to ensure key company information is not compromised
- Increase opportunities for interdepartmental collaboration on documents, files, audio and video media
- Scale operations to match your expanding business needs as you grow
Additional benefits vary depending on the exact nature of your work, your industry, and projected growth.
Price Guide
ERP pricing varies greatly due to various cost factors, including the number of concurrent users, add-on modules, implementation fees, maintenance, and employee training. Some plans are available for as low as $20 per month per user, while others start at over $5,000 monthly. Over the course of ownership, expect to invest between $25,000 and $150,000 on an ERP system for your small business.
Hidden ERP Costs
Be aware of hidden costs, which can make ERP software much more expensive. You might think you’ve found a cheap SaaS solution for a few dollars a month, only to be hit with implementation or onboarding fees. The ERP vendor you choose should be able to help you narrow down the functionalities you need to ensure your solution is as cost-effective as possible.
Free Software Options
When running a small business, your operating budget is likely small, at least to start. Luckily, there are many cheap and affordable ERP solutions for SMBs. Some are even free, though sometimes this is limited to a short-term trial of services. However, there are usually some additional costs associated with these systems, such as installation fees, training, maintenance, and any add-on functionality.
Some examples of free and open-source small business ERP software include:
- Odoo: The free SaaS plan, Odoo Community, is an open-source ERP software including one app of your choice (some examples include CRM, invoicing, expense tracking, eCommerce, appointment scheduling, and POS). You can add on additional apps ranging in price from $12 per month to $72 per month. Integrations with eBay or USPS will increase costs to another $36 to $72 per month.
- Dolibarr: A free, open-source ERP system featuring CRM, HR, CMS, inventory control, marketing automation, and project management. Free and purchasable add-ons are also available.
Integrations
When evaluating ERP solutions, don’t rush into implementing a system because it fits now - think about what you’ll need in the coming years. You might hire more employees, open another location, or expand your professional services. As your business brings in more sales, you’ll need a more comprehensive system for order management, multi-location inventory, and more.
Many small business ERP systems allow you to add and remove modules as needed and provide integration with other management systems. Some standalone software like business intelligence (BI) systems, CRM, and manufacturing execution systems (MES) might not be required for you business now, but could play an important role as you grow in the next few years. You can purchase a standalone system when ready and integrate it with your ERP system without much trouble.
Other Small Business Software Solutions
Is a full ERP still too much for your growing business or startup? As mentioned before, there are specific small business ERP alternatives for different business processes:
- Small business accounting software
- Human resources software
- Invoicing software
- Small business manufacturing software
- Payroll sofware
- Recruiting software
With the right ERP software, you can help your SMB grow into a medium- or enterprise-level business.
Types of Small Business ERP
Some ERP solutions are marketed as being only for small businesses. These solutions can be on-premise or cloud-hosted, with web-based SaaS options being more popular due to the lower upfront cost. ERP software exclusively for small businesses is less complex than more expansive systems, with limited scalability to cut costs and tailor to the needs of smaller companies.
Going with a small business-specific ERP means you’re not paying for features you don’t want or need. For instance, if you operate a local store with no eCommerce capabilities, you won’t need a full-scale ERP to handle multiple currencies and exchange rates. A small solution will cover what you need without charging you more for what you don’t.
Industry-Specific ERP Options
Many companies, regardless of size, prefer to use industry-specific ERP solutions to cater to their unique business needs without paying for extra customization. For instance, small business manufacturers should seek ERP with supply chain management functionality, while construction contractors would want a solution with project management capabilities.
Examples of some well-known industry-specific ERP software include BatchMaster ERP for process manufacturers and abas ERP for general manufacturing. Remember, these may be designed for companies of all sizes and may be more expensive.
