Best ERP for Small Business: 20+ ERP and Selection Guide

Do you own a small or medium-sized business? Then you know the importance of having the right tools to manage your operations efficiently. Finding software that suits all your needs can be challenging, but Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are designed to do exactly that. ERP can be employed in any business regardless of size, helping you streamline processes, reduce costs, and drive growth.

How an ERP Helps a Business?

An ERP system has several positive impacts on a business. It helps you utilize all your resources effectively, improves operational efficiency, reduces wastage, and enhances management insights across every department. Here are the key ways an ERP system helps your business:

• Easy Management: ERP allows you to plan and manage business processes in advance, giving you complete visibility into operations and enabling proactive decision-making.
• Risk-Handling: With easier management comes better risk mitigation. ERP systems help identify potential risks early and provide data-driven strategies to address them before they impact your business.
• Employee Coordination: When all departments function under one unified system, it increases interaction and collaboration among employees, breaking down silos and fostering teamwork.
• Better Customer Relations: ERP enables you to deliver goods and services in less time by streamlining order processing, inventory management, and fulfillment — leading to happier, more loyal customers.
• Forecasting Demand and Supply: ERP systems help you accurately predict demand and supply trends through advanced statistics and analysis, ensuring you always have the right inventory at the right time.

Benefits of ERP for Small Business

Implementing an ERP system brings numerous benefits that can transform how your small business operates. Here are the primary advantages:

• Faster: ERP fastens critical business processes including procurement, production, sales, and customer service — reducing turnaround times and improving overall throughput.
• Simpler: The system accustoms itself to your team's roles, preferences, and workflows, making daily operations simpler and more intuitive for everyone involved.
• Flexible: A good ERP meets your specific business needs and gives you total control over your data, adapting as your requirements evolve.

Beyond these core benefits, ERP systems also streamline workflows across departments, enhance visibility and transparency into operations, enable better data-driven decision-making, improve data security with centralized access controls, and help you scale operations seamlessly as your business grows.

List of Best ERP for Small Business

Choosing the right ERP can be overwhelming with so many options available. Here are the top 10 ERP solutions for small businesses, each excelling in a specific area:

Overview of Best ERP for Small Business

Let's take a closer look at each of these top ERP solutions, including their standout features and pricing:

Genius ERP — $125/month

Genius ERP is built for custom manufacturers and offers accurate estimating, robust inventory control, and comprehensive order management. It's ideal for businesses that need precise project costing and streamlined production workflows.

DELMIAWorks — $35/month

DELMIAWorks (formerly IQMS) provides end-to-end manufacturing, inventory, sales, and financial management capabilities. At just $35 per month, it offers exceptional scalability for growing manufacturers looking for an affordable yet powerful solution.

SYSPRO ERP — $199/month

SYSPRO ERP stands out for its modular nature and extensive customization options. Businesses can choose only the modules they need, making it a flexible solution that adapts to your specific operational requirements.

Dolibarr ERP CRM — $9/month

Dolibarr combines ERP and CRM functionality into a single platform, making it an excellent choice for small businesses that want both capabilities without the complexity of managing separate systems. Its low price point makes it accessible to virtually any budget.

Versa Cloud ERP — $149/month for 3 Users

Versa Cloud ERP is a cloud-based solution that provides anywhere access to your business data. It's particularly well-suited for inventory-heavy businesses that need real-time visibility into stock levels, orders, and fulfillment across multiple locations.

HoneyBook — $9/month

HoneyBook excels in end-to-end project management with features like electronic signatures, expense tracking, invoicing, and client communication tools. It's perfect for service-based businesses and creative professionals.

Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP — $175/month

Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP offers sophisticated material planning, financial accounting, and supply chain management capabilities. It's designed for businesses with complex supply chain needs that require enterprise-grade functionality.

QuickBooks Enterprise — $140.84/month

QuickBooks Enterprise is the natural upgrade for businesses already using QuickBooks. It adds advanced cost accounting, GAAP-compliant inventory tracking, and enhanced reporting capabilities while maintaining the familiar QuickBooks interface.

NetSuite ERP — $499/month

NetSuite ERP is ideal for businesses with a global presence, offering automated e-commerce integration, comprehensive inventory management, and multi-currency/multi-subsidiary support. It's a robust solution for companies operating across borders.

Odoo.com — $24/month

Odoo is an open-source ERP that helps you streamline your entire business operations. With a vast library of modules covering everything from accounting to website building, Odoo offers unmatched flexibility and a thriving community of developers.

Key Features of ERP

When evaluating ERP solutions for your small business, look for these essential features that drive operational efficiency and business growth:

• Accounting: Comprehensive financial management including general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, and financial reporting to keep your finances organized and compliant.
• Human Resources: Employee management, payroll processing, benefits administration, and workforce planning tools to manage your most valuable asset — your people.
• Inventory Management: Real-time tracking of stock levels, automated reorder points, warehouse management, and multi-location inventory visibility.
• Business Intelligence: Advanced analytics, dashboards, and reporting tools that transform raw data into actionable insights for strategic decision-making.
• Manufacturing: Production planning, shop floor control, quality management, and bill of materials management for manufacturing operations.
• Supply Chain Management: End-to-end supply chain visibility including procurement, logistics, supplier management, and demand planning.
• CRM: Customer relationship management tools for tracking leads, managing sales pipelines, and nurturing customer relationships.
• Automation: Workflow automation that eliminates manual tasks, reduces errors, and accelerates business processes across all departments.
• Analysis and Reporting: Customizable reports and real-time analytics that provide deep insights into every aspect of your business performance.
• Customer Service: Service management tools including ticket tracking, knowledge bases, and customer communication features to deliver exceptional support.

Types of ERP for Small Business

Understanding the different types of ERP systems available will help you choose the right deployment model for your business:

• ERP for Small Businesses Only: These solutions can be deployed on-premise or as web-based applications. They are less complex than enterprise-grade systems, offer limited but focused functionality, and come with reduced costs — making them ideal for small businesses with straightforward operational needs.
• Cloud ERP: Cloud-based ERP has become the most prominent choice for small businesses due to its low upfront costs. The system runs entirely online, requires no hardware investment, and is easy to set up and maintain. Updates are handled automatically by the vendor.
• Industry-Specific ERP: These specialized solutions cater to the unique needs of specific industries such as manufacturing, retail, construction, or healthcare. They come with pre-built workflows and features tailored to industry-specific processes and compliance requirements.

Cost of ERP for Small Business

The cost of an ERP system varies significantly based on several factors including the number of concurrent users, modules selected, implementation costs, ongoing maintenance, scalability requirements, and training needs. Pricing can range from as low as $20 per month per user to $5,000 per month for more comprehensive solutions.

Most small businesses should expect to invest between $25,000 and $150,000 in total for a complete ERP implementation. This includes software licensing, customization, data migration, training, and go-live support. It's important to beware of hidden costs that can arise during implementation, such as additional customization, integration with existing systems, or extended training requirements.

A good vendor should help you choose only the functionalities you need, ensuring you don't overpay for features that won't be utilized. Start with core modules and expand as your business grows and your needs evolve.

Top 5 Reasons to Upgrade to ERP Software

If you're still on the fence about adopting an ERP system, here are the top five reasons to make the upgrade:

• Enhances Customer Service: ERP systems centralize customer data and streamline order processing, enabling your team to respond faster and deliver a superior customer experience that builds loyalty and drives repeat business.
• Reduces Costs: By automating manual processes, eliminating data duplication, and optimizing resource utilization, ERP systems help reduce operational costs across your entire organization.
• Helps Business Grow: A scalable ERP system grows with your business, supporting new products, markets, and operational complexity without requiring a complete system overhaul.
• Provides Real-Time Data: Access up-to-the-minute data on inventory levels, sales performance, financial health, and operational metrics — empowering you to make timely, informed decisions.
• Simplifies Things: ERP consolidates multiple software tools into a single platform, reducing complexity, eliminating data silos, and giving your team one source of truth for all business information.

Verdict

We have listed the major ERP software solutions available for small businesses, covering a wide range of budgets, industries, and operational needs. From free options like Dolibarr to enterprise-grade solutions like Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP, there is an ERP system for every small business.

Refer to the points outlined in this guide — including key features, types of ERP, cost considerations, and the benefits of upgrading — to understand which ERP solution is the best fit for your business. Consider your specific industry requirements, budget constraints, growth plans, and the features that matter most to your operations when making your final decision.