How much does an ERP system cost? A custom ERP built for your enterprise processes starts at $8,000 one-time. Boxed systems and SaaS subscriptions can be a quick start, but often need separate configuration, integrations, and adaptation to real business processes. At Artbrain, we build custom ERP systems from $8,000; exact scope and timeline are agreed after the brief. We roll out in phases – each module is delivered and reviewed separately so the business keeps running. This article compares approaches, modules that affect the budget, and our experience building business systems.
Off-the-Shelf ERP vs Custom – Real Cost Comparison
An ERP system is not a one-time purchase – it is a long-term investment. The right comparison is total cost of ownership (TCO) over 3 years. Here are real figures for an enterprise with 20 users:
| Criterion | Boxed ERP | Accounting system | SaaS ERP | Custom ERP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| License / Development | Depends on license | Depends on configuration | Monthly subscription | from $8,000 one-time |
| Implementation | Separate budget | Integrator budget | Setup and add-ons | Included in price |
| Monthly fees | Licenses and support | Integrator support | Per-user billing | $0 |
| 3-year TCO (20 users) | Depends on licenses | Depends on customizations | Depends on plan | from $8,000 |
| Flexibility | High (expensive) | Medium | Medium | Full |
| Code ownership | No | Partial | No (SaaS) | Yes, 100% |
| Implementation timeline | 6–18 months | 3–12 months | 2–6 months | 2–4 months |
Key takeaway: a custom ERP from Artbrain starts at $8,000; exact scope and timeline are agreed after the brief. You get a system built specifically for your processes, with no monthly fees from us and no dependence on someone else's product logic.
When off-the-shelf ERP is the right choice
- Corporation with 200+ employees and an IT budget of $100,000+/year
- Standard business processes matching industry templates
- Compliance requirements (SOX, IFRS)
- In-house IT department for maintenance and administration
When custom ERP pays for itself
- Mid-size business with 10–100 employees – off-the-shelf solutions are too expensive or overkill
- Manufacturing with non-standard processes that don't fit ready-made system templates
- Deep integration needed with local services: banking APIs, shipping providers, tax reporting
- Growing business that needs a system expandable gradually, without full rebuilds
- Data control is important – no dependence on cloud providers
Custom ERP Module-by-Module Pricing
Custom ERP pricing depends on the module set. You don't need everything at once – we implement in phases, starting with the most critical. Use our cost calculator for a preliminary estimate.
| Module | What's Included | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Finance & Accounting | Invoices, payments, AP/AR, P&L, tax documents, bank statements | Included in base |
| Warehouse & Logistics | Receiving, shipping, inventory, minimum stock levels, serial tracking | Included in base |
| Sales & Orders | Quotations, orders, sales funnel, sales analytics | Included in base |
| Procurement | Purchase requests, supplier comparison, contracts, auto-ordering | +$1,000–2,000 |
| Production | BOM, manufacturing orders, capacity planning, quality control | +$2,000–4,000 |
| HR & Payroll | Staffing, time tracking, payroll calculation, leave management | +$1,500–3,000 |
| Analytics & Dashboards | KPIs, charts, consolidated reports, forecasting, management dashboards | +$1,000–2,000 |
| 1C Integration | Document exchange, catalogs, stock levels – automatic sync | +$1,000–2,000 |
| Banking Integration | Automatic bank statement import, payment reconciliation | +$500–1,000 |
| Logistics Integration | Nova Poshta API, shipping labels, tracking, delivery cost calculation | +$500–1,000 |
An ERP system at Artbrain starts at $8,000. Exact scope and timeline are agreed after the brief: they depend on modules, integrations, data migration, and automation depth. See full capabilities on our ERP systems page.
Who Needs an ERP System
Over 8 years of building business systems, we've found ERP is most needed by five types of enterprises:
Manufacturing
Production planning, raw material tracking, BOM (bill of materials), quality control at every stage. When Excel can't handle hundreds of SKUs and dozens of production orders per week – you need ERP.
Wholesale & Distribution
Multi-location warehouse management, procurement with automatic ordering, regional delivery routing. ERP unifies sales, warehouse, and logistics into one system instead of three separate spreadsheets.
Agriculture & Food Industry
Batch tracking with expiration dates, quality control, tracing the chain from raw materials to finished goods. This is a regulatory requirement, not a luxury.
Service Companies
Project accounting, resource allocation, financials – from estimation to signed completion act. If managers regularly update spreadsheets by hand, ERP automates routine work and reduces team workload.
E-commerce with Own Warehouse
Online store integrated with warehouse accounting, automatic stock updates across marketplaces, shipping label generation. If you have 500+ SKUs, you're losing money on inventory errors without ERP. For online stores, also see our e-commerce development service.
Development Stages and Timelines
Custom ERP development at Artbrain follows 7 stages. Total timeline: 2–4 months for base configuration, 4–6 months for a complete system.
- Business process audit (1–2 weeks) – free. Interviews with each department: finance, warehouse, sales, production. We document data flows, bottlenecks, and priorities
- System architecture (1–2 weeks). Module selection, connection design, data model, user roles. We align every detail with you
- Base configuration. We build the core: finance, warehouse, sales. Each module is delivered and reviewed separately before moving to the next
- Iterative module development (4–8 weeks). We add production, procurement, HR, analytics – one module at a time. You verify each module before we move to the next
- Integrations (2–3 weeks). We connect accounting software, banking, shipping providers, marketplaces – everything needed for full operation
- Data migration & training (1–2 weeks). We import master data, inventory balances, financial history. Each department gets separate training
- Phased rollout. Go-live by department, parallel running with the legacy system, full transition. First month of support – free
We use a phased approach: the client reviews each module separately, gives feedback before the next stage, and sees the system being assembled around real processes. We applied this approach on large-scale projects, including our enterprise HRM system (17 modules, 93K LOC).
How to Choose Between CRM, ERP, and WMS
This is the most common question from clients. The answer is straightforward:
- Need only customer and sales management? → CRM from $3,000
- Need warehouse accounting and logistics? → WMS from $2,500
- Need HR, KPI tracking, payroll? → HRM from $3,500
- Need EVERYTHING – finance, production, warehouse, sales, HR? → ERP from $8,000
For a detailed comparison of all system types, read our article CRM, ERP, HRM, WMS: Which System to Choose.
Common ERP Implementation Mistakes
- Implementing everything at once. Trying to launch all ERP modules simultaneously guarantees chaos. Employees can't adapt, errors multiply, business suffers. Implement in phases: finance and warehouse first, then production, then HR
- Choosing by brand, not by fit. A ready-made enterprise system can be excessive for a smaller manufacturer: expensive, complex, and slow to adapt
- Ignoring data migration. Moving 5 years of history from Excel and legacy systems into a new ERP is a project in itself. Budget time and money for it, or the launch will drag on for months
- Not involving end users. An ERP designed only by the CEO won't be convenient for the warehouse worker or accountant. Each department must test their module before go-live
- Skimping on training. Without proper training, employees bypass the system and revert to old methods. Training investment pays for itself in the first month
More on common automation mistakes in our article 5 Mistakes When Automating Business.
How to Order ERP and Calculate the Cost
Ready to calculate ERP cost for your enterprise? Use our cost calculator for a preliminary estimate or submit a request for a free consultation. See our ERP system capabilities, portfolio of completed projects, and business system comparison guide.
FAQ
How much does custom ERP development cost?
Custom ERP at Artbrain starts from $8,000. Exact scope and timeline are agreed after the brief: they depend on modules, integrations, data migration, and automation depth. The price includes process audit, development, data migration, team training, and 60 days of support. Milestone-based payment.
How is custom ERP different from ready-made systems?
Ready-made ERP and SaaS platforms launch faster, but often require process adaptation, integrations, and recurring payments. Custom ERP from Artbrain starts from $8,000 one-time, is built around your logic, and does not lock you into someone else's product.
How long does custom ERP implementation take?
ERP timelines depend on module count, integrations, and data migration. We implement in phases: each module is delivered and reviewed separately before moving to the next.
What business is custom ERP suitable for?
Custom ERP is ideal for mid-size businesses with 10–100 employees: manufacturing, wholesale, distribution, agriculture and food industry, e-commerce with own warehouse, service companies. If you only need CRM – CRM from $3,000 is sufficient. If only warehouse – WMS from $2,500.
How do I calculate ERP cost for my enterprise?
Use the calculator at artbrain.com.ua/en/calculator for a preliminary estimate. For an accurate assessment, submit a request for a free business process audit – we will analyze each department's processes, identify required modules, and calculate cost and implementation timeline.
