You know that feeling when you're trying to manage financial data across multiple companies and you're drowning in spreadsheets? Yeah, we've all been there. The good news is that there are some solid ERP solutions out there that can actually handle multi-entity accounting without making you want to pull your hair out.
Today, we're diving into one of the most common questions I hear from growing businesses: should you go with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or consider alternatives like Gravity Software? And honestly, the answer might surprise you.
Looking for a broader Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central alternative? Explore our guide to when switching makes sense and what to expect.
The ERP market has gotten incredibly competitive lately. The top three of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central's competitors in the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) category are Microsoft Dynamics with 25.07%, Workday with 15.93%, SAP ERP with 9.65% market share. As of September 2023, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central dominates the global enterprise resource planning (ERP) software market, with a share of over 87 percent and over two million domains.
But here's the thing – while everyone's talking about these big names, there are some specialized solutions that are quietly solving problems that even the giants struggle with. Around the world in 2025, over 5,896 companies have started using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central as ERP tool. Companies using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central for ERP are majorly from United States with 1,416 customers.
The global ERP market is projected to reach $78.40 billion by 2026, driven by the need for cost-effective solutions and increasing digitization. But market share doesn't always tell the whole story, especially when it comes to specialized needs like multi-entity accounting.
Let me paint you a picture. You've got a holding company with three subsidiaries, maybe a few LLCs, and you need to see both consolidated reports and individual entity performance. Traditional ERP systems... well, they weren't really built for this complexity.
This is where Gravity Software comes in. Built specifically on the Microsoft Power Platform, it's designed from the ground up for organizations that need to manage multiple entities without the usual headaches. Think consolidated financial reports, automated intercompany transactions, and real-time visibility – all from a single database.
When we're looking at the best alternatives to Microsoft Business Central, especially for multi-entity operations, here's how the landscape actually looks:
Market-share league tables are interesting, but they don’t answer the question multi-entity finance teams actually have: which architecture reduces instances, services, and close time? Single-database, multi-entity platforms like Gravity eliminate separate-company silos and intercompany workarounds common in generalist ERPs—often yielding faster closes and lower total cost of ownership.
Don't get me wrong – Business Central has its merits. The majority of Microsoft Dynamics 365 BC (Business Central's) customers for the ERP category fall in the company size of 100 - 249 employees (1,623 companies), which shows it serves the mid-market well.
Here's where things get interesting (and a bit frustrating). Business Central is a mainstream solution trying to be everything to everyone. When you need specialized multi-entity capabilities, you often end up with:
Gravity Software takes a completely different approach. Instead of trying to be a jack-of-all-trades, it focuses obsessively on one thing: making multi-entity accounting actually work the way it should.
When I say "built for multi-entity," I mean it. You get:
Let me break this down in practical terms. With Gravity Software, you can:
| Feature | Gravity Software | Business Central | Traditional Alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-Entity Native Support | Single database | Separate instances | Requires customization |
| Intercompany Automation | Built-in | Manual processes | Third-party tools |
| Real-time Consolidation | Native | Custom reports | End-of-period only |
| Microsoft Integration | Power Platform | Full ecosystem | Limited |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Lower for multi-entity | Higher with customization | Varies widely |
When evaluating the best Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central alternatives, it's important to understand what each solution actually delivers:
Built specifically for this purpose, Gravity Software stands out because it solves the exact problems mainstream ERP suites struggle with. As a cloud-based, multi-entity accounting solution built natively on the Microsoft Power Platform—with a single-database architecture—it delivers the enterprise-grade functionality and security you’d expect, without the complexity.
NetSuite offers broad functionality but can be overwhelming and expensive for mid-market companies. While it handles multi-entity operations, the complexity often requires significant consulting hours.
Solid cloud functionality with multi-company features, but achieving true multi-entity consolidation often requires expensive customizations and longer implementation timelines.
Sage Intacct excels at core finance—GL, AP/AR, cash, purchasing, and order management—and is popular with finance-led teams. For broader ERP domains such as manufacturing, advanced supply chain, or native CRM/HCM, Intacct typically relies on extended capabilities (e.g., SDMO) and integrations (e.g., Salesforce) rather than a single, all-in-one suite
The proof is in the results. One multi-entity client shared: "QuickBooks and Sage 500 couldn't handle our multiple entity needs. We had to log in and out of different applications to get the needed data and wanted to run consolidated financials. With Gravity, our month-end and year-end audits provide us with one database to manage. This solution fills a void for mid-sized companies needing accounting software. It provides us with ERP functionalities at an affordable price."
Another client managing 17 separate companies noted: "The ability to create and prepare reports that roll up all 17 of our separate companies with ease. Working remotely, especially during the pandemic has been phenomenal!"
If you’re still comparing options beyond multi-entity needs, see our Business Central alternative overview.
Choose Gravity Software when:
Here's what I've learned after helping dozens of companies make this decision – implementation time and complexity matter more than most people realize.
Business Central usually takes longer for multi-entity because it relies on customizations and third-party tools to handle intercompany and consolidations. Gravity has these capabilities baked into a single database, so there’s less configuration, fewer add-ons, and a simpler path to accurate reporting.
The key differentiator? Gravity's single database architecture means your multi-entity processes work seamlessly out of the box, rather than requiring complex workarounds that break with every system update.
Before you make this choice, ask yourself:
Look, both Business Central and Gravity Software have their place in the market. But if you're dealing with multiple entities and complex consolidation requirements, the choice becomes much clearer.
Business Central is like a Swiss Army knife – it does many things pretty well. Gravity Software is like a precision instrument designed for exactly what you need. When you need multi-entity accounting that just works, precision wins every time.
The ERP decision isn't just about today – it's about where your business is heading. If multi-entity growth is in your future, choosing a platform that handles it natively (like Gravity Software) will save you significant time, money, and frustration.
Need the full picture beyond multi-entity? Read our Business Central alternative guide, then talk with a specialist.
Ready to see how Gravity Software can transform your multi-entity accounting challenges? Schedule a personalized demo today and discover why growing businesses choose purpose-built solutions over one-size-fits-all alternatives. Don't settle for software that treats multi-entity as an afterthought – choose the platform designed to make it your competitive advantage.
Gravity Software.
Better. Smarter. Accounting.