ERP for Small Business and Startups

Generally speaking, a small business is a privately owned business, partnership, or sole proprietorship with fewer employees and lower yearly income than a corporation or regular-sized business. In terms of being eligible for government assistance and advantageous tax treatment, the meaning of “small” differs by nation and sector. Continue reading this blog and we will elaborate how ERP systems for small business can flourish your business.

Many people have different perspectives about SMB enterprises. In fact, some argue that firms with the complexity of an enterprise’s processes should be referred to as SMEs (small-to-medium-sized enterprises). This gap is crucial since they may be both complicated and substantial. In other cases, they even have additional complexity. Why? because they haven’t standardized their operating procedures, sales channels, marketing strategy, and product mix.

Small business may have distinct obstacles while implementing the same quality management systems as bigger corporations, yet they may frequently do so. For instance, small business typically have less personnel and upfront financial resources to devote to quality efforts. However, in a smaller company, upper management commitment and accessibility may be stronger, and internal communications may be more clear.

Why ERP systems for small business is crucial for your business?

Every business must practice efficiency, therefor, an ERP Systems for small business can helps to improve efficiency. Whether the business has to grow its operations or increase profitability, enterprise resource planning tools are enough. 

Let’s begin by listing the top 10 ERP systems for small business. We have evaluated best ERP systems and their capabilities using publicly accessible data to get the final ranking. Additionally, the expertise of our experts in analyzing various ERP systems for our clients. This post does not aim to endorse these ERP solutions, but to narrow down the right choice for your business.

Top 10 ERP systems for small business

1. NetSuite

One of the top three cloud-native products that were created on the cloud is NetSuite. It has one of the most active ecosystems and integrations out there, notably in the retail, commerce, restaurant, technology, and media sectors, and is used by many bigger enterprises. NetSuite is also known for its flexibility, allowing users to customize the platform to meet the specific needs of their organization.
In comparison to many of the solutions on this list, NetSuite offers support for subscription-based businesses and matrix inventory. NetSuite has extensive internationalization capabilities with over 100 countries and delivers country-specific apps to fulfil the regulatory demands of those nations, in contrast to Acumatica and similarly to SAP Business One and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Features of NetSuite:

• Project management:

Time and expense tracking, project management, and resource management.

• Human resources:

Employee management, benefits administration, and payroll.

• Reporting and analytics:

Real-time business intelligence and reporting, and customizable dashboards.

2. SAP Business One

One of the most widely used ERP software in the market, SAP ERP requires a lot of customization yet has a pretty high learning curve.

In addition to offering flexible and personalized payment plans, SAP Business One is an affordable option for small business ERP software.
For businesses focused on professional services and distribution, SAP Business One is a fantastic offering. These businesses priorities financial control-related capabilities above deeper operational functionality. Additionally, it is the best option for businesses with SAP expertise. They must take this into account because they may eventually decide to switch to S/4 HANA.

Features of SAP Business One:

• Multicurrency capabilities Support:

Multiple payment gateways and maintain currency divisions in designated geographic regions.

• Common function widget:

Create unique shortcuts for each user rather than manually looking up their most-used features.

• Benefits administration:

Create both simple and intricate employee benefit schemes using the same interface. To make HR administration more straightforward, utilize SAP’s payroll module                             and your benefits management.

3. SYSPRO

The numerous menu and navigation options in SYSPRO make it very user-friendly. Because it is a modular system, you can quickly customize the platform to meet your unique company demands without having to spend more money than you can afford.
Small producers and distributors of discrete and processed commodities are given access to deeper operational functionality.
SAP Business One, both locally and internationally. Similar financial features include object hierarchies to enable a range of business models and procedures, comprehensive support for complicated UoMs, and activity-based accounting. Due to the depth of the product, consultation is necessary. Self-serve may be difficult for start-up enterprises.

Features of SYSPRO

• Program list menu:

Get a fast and useful rundown of all the SYSPRO modules and their supplemental tools using the programme list menu.

• Preset dashboards:

View your processes or information using over 380 preconfigured dashboards that include lists, graphs, flowcharts, timelines, gauges, scorecards, and more forms.

• Chart of Accounts for the General Ledger:

To categories and access accounts, you can create up to nine user-definable groups with 35 alphanumeric characters.

4. Rootstock

Rootstock ERP is a cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) software designed for small businesses. Rootstock doesn’t have the same robust last-mile capabilities as Epicor Prophet 21 and isn’t as globally and locally adapted as SAP Business One or MS Dynamics 365 Business Central. However, Rootstock interfaces more effectively with other Salesforce products including Salesforce CRM, field service, and commerce. For businesses that may already be using Salesforce, this seamless connectivity is a major benefit. It also comes pre-equipped with one of the top no-code tools and has a closer relationship with MuleSoft, an enterprise-grade iPaaS.

Features of Rootstock

5. Aptean Ross

Aptean Ross ERP is distinct from the other systems on this list and is geared for process manufacturers and distributors who may have more complex requirements for traceability, formulation, and nutrition support. Aptean Ross ERP has undergone a rearchitected to provide cloud-native features, just like Epicor Prophet 21.
It’s possible that SAP Business One or Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central are more globally and locally integrated than Aptean Ross ERP. But for some industries, it will have more advanced operational functions. In order to meet the demands of mid-size and bigger enterprises, Aptean Ross is not as big as systems like Sage X3 or Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Additionally, it is larger than Odoo or Zoho and will need consulting assistance throughout setup and deployment.

Features of Aptean Ross

• Financial management:

Aptean Ross includes modules for accounting, financial reporting, and budgeting.

• Supply Chain Management:

Aptean Ross includes modules for inventory management, purchasing, and logistics.

• Sales and Distribution:

Aptean Ross includes modules for sales, order management, and customer relationship management (CRM).

6. Method

Your small firm is frequently not prepared for a full-fledged ERP. Instead, combining your accounting software with a potent automation tool is sufficient. hence, with Method, it is indeed the solution.

The two-way, better sync with QuickBooks and Xero that Method is best known for. Through automation that precisely replicates your working style, the product helps users to increase customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Additionally, Method works with over 3,000 third-party programmes, including Outlook and Gmail.

Features of Method

• Complete invoicing:

Use information from sales orders, work orders, and cost estimates to automatically generate invoices. Then, for quicker money collection, send your invoices directly from Method.

• Strong automation:

Using Method’s no-code platform, you may customize the process automation to meet your unique business requirements.

• Boost sales:

Method makes life simple for manufacturing businesses by creating new business, executing orders, and managing customers.

7. Odoo

Odoo is an open-source enterprise resource planning (ERP) software that can be used by small businesses to manage various business operations, such as accounting, inventory, sales, and project management. It is highly customizable and can be tailored to the specific needs of a small business. Additionally, it offers a wide range of integrated apps that can be used to streamline business processes and improve efficiency. Overall, Odoo can be a cost-effective solution for small businesses looking to improve their operations and management.

Odoo has more robust operational features than other cloud accounting systems like QuickBooks, Xero, or FreshBooks, Odoo is one of the easiest tools for businesses to explore. Each app’s business model is fairly reasonable, and it interfaces with the majority of other services like ERPNext or Zoho with ease.

Features of Odoo

• Sales Management:

Manages the sales process, from quotes and orders to deliveries and invoicing.

• Project Management:

  Allows you to plan and manage projects, including tasks, issues, and timesheets.

• Manufacturing:

Helps to manage the production process, including routing, work orders, and bill of materials.

• Human Resources:

Allows you to manage employee information, recruitment, and expenses.

• Website Builder:

Allows you to create and design a website without any technical knowledge.

• Marketing Automation:

Helps to automate and manage marketing campaigns.

• E-commerce:

Allows you to manage an online store, including product listings, orders, and payments.

8. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central ERP systems for small business

Small international distributors manufacturers can benefit greatly from S Dynamics 365 Business Central. Both SAP Business One and MS BC are comparable products, and localizations from the OEM are offered in more than 20 nations. The size of MS Dynamics 365 Business Central, which has multi-entity and multi-ledger capability, is larger than SAP Business One. It is analogous to SAP Business ByDesign, the company’s larger product.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a cloud-based ERP systems for small business. It offers a range of tools to help businesses manage their financials, supply chain, and customer relationships. Dynamics 365 Business Central is known for its flexibility and scalability, which makes it a good choice for businesses that want to grow and expand. It’s also easy to use and navigate, with a user-friendly interface and intuitive navigation.

Features of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

• Built-in intelligence and machine learning capabilities.
• Reporting and analytics.
• Real-time business intelligence and reporting, and customizable dashboards.
• Mobile access.
• Advanced integration capabilities with other Microsoft products such as Office 365, Power BI, and PowerApps.
• Automation of business processes through the use of workflows and Power Automate.
• Built-in intelligence and machine learning capabilities.

9. Acumatica

Acumatica is completely cloud-native and was born in the cloud, just as NetSuite and Sage Intacct. For manufacturing, distribution, construction, and field service, Acumatica features strong multi-branch capabilities and editions that can co-exist in the same database. Acumatica is more adaptable than other narrowly focused solutions on this list like Epicor Kinetic, Epicor Prophet 21, and Infor Cloud Suite Industrial because to these features.

Acumatica only supports a few countries out of the box and has very limited globalization and localization features. Unlike NetSuite, Acumatica also has issues with international operational integration, making it only a viable option for businesses with operations outside of America and the UK.

One of the main strengths of Acumatica is its flexible architecture and open API, which allows for easy integration with other systems and customization to meet the specific needs of an organization. Additionally, Acumatica is known for its scalability, which makes it a good choice for businesses that want to grow and expand.

Features of Acumatica

10. Sage Intacct

Sage Intacct, in contrast to the other products on this list, targets sectors with a focus on services including oil and gas, construction, utilities, non-profits, and media. For sectors with a focus on products, Sage Intacct lacks the robust operational features of NetSuite or Acumatica. But because of its design and intended audience, it features more robust multi-entity capability.

Sage Intacct is a dependable financial management programme when it comes to the top ERP systems for small business.

To help you make better decisions, it focuses on automating tedious financial operations like data input and reporting.

Many people choose Sage Intacct because of its accounting-based features like cash flow management and budgeting, but it is deficient in other crucial functions like e-commerce and human resources.

Features

• Payables account:

Manage different payments, such as bank transfers, checks, credit cards, and cash. Keep track of fines and corrections.

• Budgeting in advance:

To help with future forecasting, include any discrepancies in the actual operational expense report. Get budgeting projections on a monthly or quarterly basis.

• Costing a job:

Tracking your time and expenses will allow you to get precise estimates of future task costs. Note the timetables and milestones for the project accounting.

FAQS

Q: Why do startups and small businesses need ERP?

A: Startups and small businesses can benefit from ERP by streamlining their operations, reducing manual errors and increasing efficiency. It can also help them make better decisions by providing real-time data and insights.

Q: What are some common ERP modules for startups and small businesses?

A: Common ERP modules for startups and small businesses include accounting, inventory management, customer relationship management (CRM), and human resources management.

Q: How much does ERP cost for startups and small businesses?

A: The cost of ERP can vary depending on the specific solution and the number of users. Some ERP systems can be purchased outright, while others are offered as a subscription-based service. Cloud-based ERP systems tend to be more affordable for small businesses.

Q: Can ERP be customized for a startup or small business?

A: Yes, many ERP systems offer customization options to meet the unique needs of a startup or small business.

Q: How long does it take to implement an ERP system?

A: The length of time to implement an ERP system can vary depending on the size and complexity of the organization, as well as the specific ERP solution. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to fully implement an ERP system.