“How much does an ERP cost?” is the first question almost every business leader asks us. The honest answer: it depends less on the software than on your scope. Here are the cost items to plan for, orders of magnitude and the pitfalls that blow up a budget.
The 6 cost items of an ERP project
1. Licences
Proprietary ERPs are charged per user, monthly or yearly. An open-source ERP like Dolibarr has no licence: this item drops to zero, whatever the number of users.
2. Hosting
A professional server or hosting plan, with backups and an SSL certificate. It is usually the smallest item, paid monthly or yearly.
3. Configuration
Company details, VAT, ICE, numbering, quote, delivery note and invoice templates, user rights: this is what turns generic software into a tool that follows your rules.
4. Custom modules
Needs specific to your business: site tracking, retention money, fleet management, partial payments on delivery notes… Often the most variable item.
5. Data migration
Customers, products, opening stock, properties: importing your existing Excel files cleanly requires cleaning and checks.
6. Training and support
Training teams on their real cases, then providing updates, fixes and day-to-day assistance.
What orders of magnitude?
At Continuum Solutions, every project gets a detailed quote after an assessment. As a guide:
- Dolibarr business ERP with custom modules: usually between MAD 15,000 and 35,000 depending on scope.
- Monthly support: a support contract guarantees continuity of service (updates, backups, assistance).
- Licences: MAD 0 with Dolibarr, whatever the number of users.
These amounts are indicative and do not constitute an offer: only a signed quote based on your actual scope is binding on both parties.
Open source vs licensed ERP: compare over 3 years
The purchase price is not enough. Compare the total cost over three years: cumulative licences, expected number of users, cost of customisations and support. A licensed ERP may look affordable at first, then become expensive with every new hire or specific development. With an open-source ERP, you invest in configuration and modules, and the cost of each additional user stays at zero.
Pitfalls that blow up a budget
- A vague scope that grows during the project without a written amendment.
- Trying to deploy everything at once instead of moving module by module.
- Underestimating data migration and Excel file cleaning.
- Forgetting training: a tool nobody adopts is a wasted investment.
- Choosing on price alone, with no support after go-live.
How to build a realistic budget
- List your priority processes (sales, stock, invoicing, sites…).
- Get a quote for a useful first phase delivered quickly, then for later improvements.
- Require a written scope, a schedule and payment terms in the contract.
- Plan the training and support budget from the start.
- Measure the return: time saved, errors avoided, unpaid invoices recovered.
A well-deployed ERP often pays for itself through what it saves: less re-keying, fewer stock discrepancies, unpaid invoices chased on time. Read also our complete guide to choosing an ERP in Morocco and our article on Dolibarr support and maintenance.
Frequently asked questions
Is an ERP profitable for a small business?
Yes, as soon as several people share the same information (quotes, stock, invoices). The time saved and fewer errors often cover the investment.
Can an ERP be paid in instalments?
With us, a 50% deposit starts the project and the balance is paid on approved delivery. The exact terms are set out in the contract.
How long before the first results?
With a staged rollout, the first modules are used quickly: gains appear within the first weeks of use.
Discover our Dolibarr business ERP offer.
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