Best ERP Solutions in India (2025): A Guide for Small Businesses and Startups

For Indian small businesses, startups, retailers and even specialty shops (supermarkets, jewellery stores, etc.), choosing the right ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system can be daunting. Today’s options range from lightweight cloud billing tools to full-fledged enterprise suites. This blog reviews the leading ERP/POS solutions available in India – Zoho Inventory/Books, TallyPrime, Busy Accounting, Marg ERP, QuickBooks Online, SAP Business One, Oracle NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365 (Business Central) – and Caddayn Biller (a startup-friendly solution). For each we highlight key features, ideal use cases, pricing/free trial info, and India-specific strengths (GST support, POS integration, offline access, etc.). All of these systems now claim GST compliance, but the details differ. No single platform is “best for all”, so we compare them constructively. (Caddayn is included as a recommended, budget-friendly option, but it’s one of many solutions here.) Key terms: ERP software for small businesses, inventory management software, POS and ERP integrated software, GST-compliant billing, startup ERP.

What is erp

ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning – an integrated system that manages your finance, inventory, sales, HR and more in one place (link)

Zoho Inventory / Zoho Books

Zoho’s cloud suite combines Inventory management and Online Accounting. Zoho Inventory handles stock, orders and warehouse management (barcode tracking, multi-location), while Zoho Books covers invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation and reporting

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. Together they form an integrated ERP ecosystem. Features: invoicing (GST-ready), multi-currency, purchase orders, vendor management, automated bank feeds, financial reports and mobile apps. Zoho has a rich app ecosystem (CRM, POS, e-commerce connectors). Ideal for: small-to-midsize retailers, distributors or e-commerce firms that want a cloud solution. Zoho offers a free plan (up to 1 user) with basic accounting/invoicing, plus 14-day free trials of paid plans

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. Paid plans start modestly (roughly $10–30/user/month) for higher limits. Notably, Zoho Inventory is fully GST-compliant: you can save GSTINs/HSN codes and every invoice auto-includes all 16 mandatory GST fields

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. (Zoho also has its own POS app that integrates with Inventory.) Offline access is limited to mobile apps – the core is cloud-only.

Key strengths: Cloud deployment; seamless integration between accounting & inventory; built-in GST support
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; forever-free tier for startups
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; extensive app integrations.
Pricing & trial: Tiered monthly plans; free 14-day trial and a free basic version
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.

TallyPrime

TallyPrime (from Tally Solutions) is India’s long-time leader in small-business accounting. It’s a desktop-first ERP system (also offered with optional cloud access) covering Accounting, Inventory, Compliance (GST/e-invoicing), Payroll, Banking and more

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. TallyPrime shines in bookkeeping and regulatory compliance. Features: multi-currency ledgers, integrated inventory & manufacturing modules (BOM, reorder levels), over 400 built-in reports, VAT/GST returns, e-Invoice/e-Way Bill support, multi-company/branch consolidation. The interface is text-based but very fast (TallyVault encryption and user permissions are available). Ideal for: micro, small and mid-size businesses (retail shops, trading firms, manufacturers) that want a rich on-premises solution. Tally is especially popular among SMEs and chartered accountants. Multi-user (Gold) and single-user (Silver) editions exist. For example, a rental subscription can be as low as ₹885/month (TallyPrime Silver)

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, or perpetual licenses (₹48,600 for Gold per year as of last published pricing). A monthly rental plan includes built-in GST invoicing, automated GSTR filings and bank reconciliation

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Key strengths: Comprehensive accounting/GST engine; offline desktop operation (with optional remote cloud sync); established in India. Tally Prime handles everything from day-book to manufacturing journals
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. Supports GST tax rates, HSN codes, and “financial year” accounting out of the box, so local tax filing is straightforward.
Pricing & trial: Licensed per user (Silver vs Gold); subscription (rental) or perpetual. For example, Gold can run ~₹7000/month (billed annually) with first-year discounts. Trial versions are downloadable from Tally’s website (usually 7–15 days).

Busy Accounting Software

BUSY is an Indian ERP for MSMEs, marketed as “integrated accounting and management” software. It covers Financial Accounting + Inventory + Multi-Branch/Multi-Currency + Payroll

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. For example, it automates ledger posting, supports multi-branch locations and offers modules like invoicing, manufacturing orders and stock transfers. Busy’s features include auto-GST calculation (it “automatically calculates and adjusts CGST/IGST/SGST” on each transaction) and consolidated GST reports

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. Busy also supports order processing, user-defined alarms, and a built-in helpdesk for queries. Ideal for: small traders, wholesalers and distributors who need multi-company/warehouse accounting. Busy is modular (Express – free basic edition – up to Enterprise). The Busy Basic edition starts around ₹9,000 (single-user) in India, with multi-user plans for larger teams

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. There is typically a free demo or 30-day trial. Busy also offers a web/cloud version (“Busy On Cloud”) and a mobile app.

Key strengths: Local product tailored to Indian SMEs; multi-location inventory; strong GST support (auto tax calculations, summary reports
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); on-premise or cloud deployment.
Pricing & trial: Tiered plans (Basic, Standard, Enterprise) starting at ~$100/year (approx ₹8-9K)
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. A 30-day trial/demo is generally available.

Marg ERP 9+

MARG ERP 9+ is another popular Indian ERP focused on retail, distribution and specialized shops. It offers modules for Sales/Purchase, Inventory, Finance, Manufacturing and Retail POS. Marg is well-known in retail segments like supermarkets, pharma and jewellery (it even has specialized “Jewellery Billing” and “Pharmacy Billing” variants). Features: multi-location stock and godown management, multi-currency, multi-company support, SMS/email alerts, and export to GST returns (JSON/CSV/XLS formats)

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. It integrates barcode scanning and supports POS billing with customization. Ideal for: retail chains, small manufacturers, pharmaceutical outlets or jewelers in need of a simple billing+stock system. Pricing is very affordable: the Nano edition is ₹2,340 (one-time) for a 2-user package, Silver ≈₹4,640 (per year), and Gold (multi-user) around ₹9,270 (plus GST)

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. Support & updates (ARC) are extra. Marg’s desktop software is offline-capable (with optional net-backup) and now includes GST invoice features.

Key strengths: Extremely low entry-cost; specialized for retail/pharma/jewelry POS; offline desktop use. Marg supports HSN/Barcode billing and can generate GST invoice data (JSON)
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.
Pricing & trial: Modular: free trials or demos via partners. Basic edition license around ₹4,000–5,000, Gold up to ₹9,000+ (plus support fees) for full features
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.

QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online (by Intuit) is a well-known cloud accounting/ERP for small businesses worldwide. It offers cloud-based bookkeeping, invoicing, expense tracking, and banking integration through a clean, user-friendly interface. You can send GST-inclusive invoices and track bills/payments. Features: automated bank feeds, project time tracking, multi-currency, and a library of apps (PayPal, Shopify, etc.) that sync transactions. QuickBooks Online is especially popular with freelancers, services and small shops. Ideal for: service-oriented SMBs or startups that prefer a global SaaS with minimal IT overhead. In India, it’s fully online (no offline app) and provides GST features: you can enable GSTIN, add GST on sales/purchase, and it will auto-calc GST on invoices

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. (However, note that as of 2025 QuickBooks requires a separate workaround to file e-Invoices/GST returns; it mainly exports data that you must upload on the government portal.) QuickBooks Online pricing is subscription per user (e.g. from ~$15–30/user/month), with frequent promotional discounts and a 30-day free trial.

Key strengths: Intuitive UI (“easy to manage almost every part of our business”
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); anywhere access (web/mobile); strong bank reconciliation and reporting; large support community.
Pricing & trial: Tiered plans (Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, etc.); roughly $10–$50 per month; usually offers a 1-month free trial.

SAP Business One

SAP Business One is an enterprise-class ERP targeted at small to mid-size companies. Unlike the above, it’s a full-scale all-in-one ERP covering finance, supply chain, manufacturing, sales and CRM. SAP itself calls it “affordable ERP for small businesses” that includes accounting, purchasing, inventory, sales and reporting

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. Features: general ledger, branch consolidation, multi-currency/multi-location, bill of materials, CRM, HR, plus BI analytics. It can run on-premises or in the cloud (often on SAP’s HANA DB). Ideal for: medium-sized enterprises needing deep functionality (manufacturers, distributors, import-export firms) and often international operations. Unlike simpler tools, SAP B1 requires consultants and is heavier to implement. Pricing reflects that: a “Professional” full-user license is roughly $108/user/month, and a “Limited” license (restricted functions) ~$56/user/month

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. An example total might be ₹10 Lakh+ for a 5-user startup system (with training/support)

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Key strengths: Truly integrated enterprise features (no silos); strong reporting and dashboard; global support. SAP B1 does support Indian localization (including handling HSN codes and GST return formats if properly set up).
Pricing & trial: Generally sold via partners. Costs: ~$60–100/user/month (or large upfront perpetual licenses). Proof-of-concept demos can be arranged.

Oracle NetSuite

Oracle NetSuite is a leading cloud ERP for fast-growing mid-size and large companies. It combines ERP, CRM, e-commerce and BI in one SaaS package. Features: financials, order management, inventory, HR, project accounting, etc., all in the cloud. It’s highly scalable and multi-subsidiary (great for global companies). Ideal for: high-growth startups or enterprises that need a unified system (especially multi-national or with omnichannel sales). NetSuite can be customized to handle Indian GST, though out-of-the-box it’s a US product (many Indian firms do use it). A major drawback is cost: licensing starts in the tens of thousands of dollars per year (plus implementation fees). It does not generally offer a public free trial.

Key strengths: Robust and comprehensive (unifies ERP+CRM+commerce); web-based with frequent updates; strong for multi-currency/multi-entity. Users praise its intuitiveness once set up (“highly intuitive… easy to learn”
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).
Pricing & trial: Very high-end. You pay a base platform fee plus per-user fees (often over $100/user/month); implementations often cost 6-figures. Typically requires contacting Oracle for a quote.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 (Business Central)

Dynamics 365 Business Central is Microsoft’s cloud ERP for small to mid businesses. It offers modules for Finance, Sales, Inventory, Service and Project Management. Think of it as the successor to “NAV” and tightly integrated with Office 365 and Power BI. Features: general ledger, order processing, MRP, multi-warehouse, and a role-tailored user interface. Business Central can be deployed in the cloud or on-premises. Ideal for: SMEs already using Microsoft tools, distributors and manufacturers looking for a fully integrated ERP in the Microsoft ecosystem. Microsoft has localized Business Central for India: it supports GST taxation (with fields for HSN/SAC, SGST/CGST/IGST, voucher series, etc.) and handles tax hierarchies and set-off rules

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. It also supports TDS and other local requirements. Offline access is via mobile or web (some offline capability via the Windows client). Pricing is subscription: Essentials ~$70/user/month, Premium ~$100/user/month (with a 30-day trial available on Microsoft’s site).

Key strengths: Modern interface; deep integration with Excel/Office; strong analytics; robust Indian localization (GST setup wizard with HSN/SAC, tax matrices
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). Good POS options exist via third-party connectors.
Pricing & trial: Per-user/month (Essentials or Premium packages); 30-day free trial through Microsoft.

Caddayn Biller

Caddayn Biller is an Indian cloud ERP/retail POS platform that’s newly gaining attention. It’s designed as a startup-friendly, “simple, cheap and powerful” system for small retailers and chains. Caddayn combines billing, inventory and reporting in one place. Features: easy invoicing/POS with GST labels, inventory tracking by location, analytics/dashboards and 24×5 support. It offers a web interface plus mobile apps (and integrated POS hardware support). Ideal for: very small shops, grocery chains, boutiques and any startup that wants a ready-to-run ERP+POS without a big budget. In fact, one review says Caddayn “sets itself apart with a clean, intuitive interface that requires minimal training”

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. It includes features like simple budgeting tools, streamlined inventory management and CRM features tailored to small enterprises

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. Customer support is noted as a strong point, helping new businesses onboard smoothly

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. Caddayn’s pricing is competitive: plans start low (comparable to Busy or Marg) and even small businesses can get a live system for under ₹10,000/year. A free trial or demo is usually available on request.

Key strengths: Built-for-India startup focus; integrated POS and GST billing; user-friendly (minimal training)
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; very cost-effective
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. It emphasizes excellent hand-holding/support for new users
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.
Pricing & trial: Affordable tiered plans (monthly or annual); free/demo accounts on request. Especially budget-conscious startups often choose Caddayn as a first ERP.

Choosing the Right ERP

No one-size-fits-all solution exists. Use this guide to match features to your needs:

Very small retailers / startups: Solutions like Zoho, Busy Express, Marg Nano or Caddayn offer low cost, easy setup and mobile/cloud access. They handle basic billing, inventory and GST.
Local shops & franchises: TallyPrime and Marg are tried-and-true in India (offline mode, strong GST compliance). Caddayn and Busy are also designed for multi-outlet retail.
Growing SMEs: Zoho, Busy, QuickBooks, Dynamics 365 Business Central all scale well. Consider if cloud vs offline matters.
Specialty retailers (supermarket, pharmacy, jewellery): Marg ERP has dedicated features (barcode billing, GST-compliant schemes). Busy and Caddayn also support barcode/POS workflows.
Mid-market / manufacturing: SAP Business One, Oracle NetSuite, Dynamics 365 provide full ERP, but at higher cost and complexity. They excel if you need MRP, multi-branch consolidation or advanced reporting.
Startup focus: Caddayn is a top pick for very small chains needing integrated ERP+POS on a tight budget. Zoho and Busy also actively court startups with free tiers or low entry pricing
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.

Each vendor offers a trial or free tier – try a few to see which UI and workflow suit you. Importantly, all of the above handle GST-tax invoicing and filing (e.g. Zoho and Busy auto-calc SGST/CGST/IGST

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). Many have POS modules or integrations, so you can scan barcodes at the counter. We’ve avoided negative comparisons: every system has fans. Rather, focus on your requirements (budget, industry, offline vs cloud, integrations) and pick accordingly. Caddayn Biller deserves consideration for new startups or retail chains, but be sure to compare it with other options like Zoho or Tally to find the best fit for your business.

Citations

Powerful Accounting Software for Your Business | Zoho Books

https://www.zoho.com/us/books/

Powerful Accounting Software for Your Business | Zoho Books

https://www.zoho.com/us/books/

GST Compliant Inventory Software | Zoho Inventory

https://www.zoho.com/in/inventory/gst-compliant/

TallyPrime | 2025 Pricing, Features, Pros and Cons

https://softwareconnect.com/reviews/tallyprime/

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