Step 3 · The right decision · Investment

What does an ERP implementation cost, and what will it take from our people?

Cost is driven by scope, data and integrations far more than by the license. Here’s what moves the number, how we price it, and how to build the business case on your own numbers.

By Rob Griffin, Founder and Principal · Updated

The short version
If you only read one thing on this page
  1. 1Six things drive the cost. Data migration is the biggest variable.
  2. 2We implement on a fixed fee after discovery. The one exception is data migration.
  3. 3Build the business case on time, cash, margin and headcount. Your numbers, not ours.

What drives the cost

Ask every partner to price the same six things, in writing.

01ScopeWhich modules, entities and workflows go live, and in what order.
02Data migrationHow many years of history, and how clean it is. The biggest variable.
03IntegrationsField apps, payroll, estimating, banking and document tools.
04CustomizationEvery rebuilt legacy customization adds cost and upgrade risk.
05LicensingPriced by the software company. Acumatica licenses by resources, not per user; Odoo licenses per user.
06Your team’s timeSubject-matter experts pulled from their day jobs for design, testing and training.
Our position

How we price it: fixed fee, one exception

Short answer: After discovery, we implement on a fixed fee. The exception is data migration, because its effort depends on the condition of your legacy data, and we look at that data before we price it.

Fixed fee means we carry the risk of our own estimate. It also means we have no reason to stretch the project, add change orders, or staff it with whoever is available. That’s the opposite of how most of the industry is paid.

Why this matters

At many firms, consultants are measured on billable hours. The incentive is to exceed the budget. Ours is to finish.

Questions to ask about pricing →

Build the business case on four lines

Use your own numbers. We will not put a figure on your return that we have not measured.

Timehours spent re-keying, reconciling and building reports by hand.
Cashdays between work done and money collected, including retainage.
Marginjobs where the overrun was found after it could be fixed.
Headcountback-office hires you would need at the next revenue level.
Finance and operations leaders reviewing a business case

What it will take from your people

The software is the easy half. Plan for these people’s time before you sign, not after.

Owner / PresidentDecisions and sponsorshipA named executive sponsor who breaks ties and protects the team’s time.
CFO / ControllerDesign, data and testingChart of accounts, WIP, billing and migration sign-off.
Operations / PM / FieldWorkflows and adoptionHow jobs, time and costs are entered, and training the crews.

ERP cost questions

How much does an ERP implementation cost for a contractor?

It depends on scope, data migration, integrations, customization, licensing and your team’s time. Dominate Solutions prices implementation as a fixed fee after discovery, with data migration as the one exception because its effort depends on your data.

Why is data migration priced separately?

Because nobody can price it honestly without looking at your data. We examine legacy data and name the risks before you sign.

How much of our team’s time will an ERP implementation take?

Expect your subject-matter experts in accounting, project management, payroll and the field to spend real time in design sessions, testing and training. We tell you who and when before kickoff.

Does Acumatica charge per user?

No. Acumatica is licensed by the resources you use, not per user, so adding field and office users does not add license cost the way per-user systems do.

Start where you are. Six questions, and you’ll know which path fits your business.

Where to go next

Step 3How to choose an ERP partnerThe checklist →Step 415 implementation mistakesRead the list →CompareAcumatica vs OdooCompare →
1aThe other side