Investing in a large ERP when all you really need is better accounting software is like buying a timeshare when you just want a two-week vacation.
Yes, the timeshare includes concierge service, access to 10 properties, and a yacht club membership—but you’re still stuck with the costs, maintenance, and the restrictions for years.
If you’re running a multi-entity business or a portfolio of operating companies, you likely don’t need the overhead of an enterprise ERP. You need user-friendly, multi-entity accounting software that scales with you.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems like NetSuite promise end-to-end business management — from inventory and CRM to finance and HR.
But more CFOs and accounting professionals are realizing NetSuite may be too much for their company’s needs. Here’s why.
1. Lengthy implementation timelines
One of the most common complaints in G2 reviews of NetSuite is the implementation timeline. While simple deployments might take around six months, more complex implementations, especially with custom modules, can stretch to 12 months or even longer. Users often report delays, additional consulting fees, and limited accountability after the initial rollout.
Compare that to Gravity Software, which can often be implemented in as little as 90 days. With faster time to value, less disruption, and an intuitive user interface built on the Microsoft Power Platform, mid-sized multi-entity businesses can start seeing results much faster.
2. Too complex for most mid-sized companies
NetSuite’s comprehensive features may seem like a benefit, but for small to medium-sized companies with multiple entities, it’s more than they’ll ever use.
Many users report having to navigate through unnecessary features, which contributes to frustration and extended training time. In G2 reviews, common phrases include “overwhelming,” “clunky,” and “not intuitive.” These extra features, while potentially useful for larger enterprises, often lead to a cumbersome user experience for mid-sized businesses.
Gravity Software was built specifically for multi-entity accounting, offering a focused solution that eliminates the need for navigating through excessive features that your company will never use. It empowers CFOs, controllers and franchise owners with the tools they need to automate intercompany transactions, simplify accounts payable using AI-powered invoice processing, and consolidate financial reporting across entities in real time – all from an intuitive interface designed for accounting professionals.
It’s a user-friendly solution that doesn’t come with the baggage of a large ERP.
Learn more about why ERP systems are wrong for small and mid-sized businesses.
3. High total cost of ownership
A basic subscription to NetSuite starts at nearly $1,000 per month and an additional $100-200 per user, according to ERP Research. This doesn’t include advanced financials or inventory, which cost an additional $400-800. The price tag also doesn’t end with licensing fees; you’ll pay separately for implementation, which can run anywhere from $20,000 to $100,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the system, customizations, and integrations required.
Additionally, you’ll incur costs for data migration, training, and premium support. Many companies also need to hire consultants to configure the platform, integrate it with their existing technologies, customize reports, and maintain their system over time.
All these costs quickly add up, diminishing the return on investment. On average, G2 users said it took almost two years (23 months) for NetSuite to pay for itself.
Gravity Software offers a more predictable, cost-effective alternative, with transparent pricing . The cost is $375 per month for the first user and $275 for additional users, which includes most of the essential features needed to simplify accounting for multiple businesses. These prices are for businesses that are not already on the Microsoft Power Platform. However, for companies that are already using Dynamics 365 Sales, the price is reduced by $20 per user.
While Gravity Software clients also pay for implementation, the timeline can be as short as 90 days for less complex implementations. However, more complex setups, the process can take six to 10 months, depending on the specific needs of the business. Additionally, Gravity Software offers special pricing for qualified nonprofits, providing even more savings for organizations in that category. Many users also only need read-only licenses, resulting in significant savings.
4. Limited flexibility and customization
Many NetSuite users report being frustrated with the difficulty of customizing forms, reports, or workflows without help from a developer or NetSuite partner.
“Anytime you need something changed or added, you have to call them, rather than just being able to change it yourself,” one user wrote. “It takes forever to get a response back, and they charge you every single time.”
Because Gravity Software is built on the Microsoft Power Platform, it uses Power BI for its reporting, Power Automate for workflows, and Microsoft’s built-in AI tools for automation. This means the transition will be easier if your company already uses Microsoft, and it’s much easier to personalize the system to support your unique business processes.
For instance, there are three ways to manage approval workflows for expenses.
You can also define your reporting structure for advanced financial reports, tagging expenses by specific categories like properties or projects. This is especially helpful when you’re creating budgets too.
Testimonial
"It’s changed our reporting timetable massively,” said Shila Singh, Head of Finance for The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII). “We can spin out consolidated reports very quickly. You also removed working time from not having to log in and out of entities. With Gravity, you just select the entity you want to look at and carry on working. If you’re doing customer invoicing, it’s seamless."
5. A user experience that isn’t intuitive
The user interface in NetSuite has been another point of concern among G2 reviewers. Many describe the system as non-intuitive, requiring extensive training to navigate even basic functions.
“We can only get onboarding support if we pay for it,” one user wrote,” so we are struggling to figure out best practices and best ways to make the software work for us. Right now it feels like more work than less.”
Gravity Software prioritizes the user experience with a clean, modern interface designed for accounting professionals — not ERP consultants. Whether you’re processing invoices, reviewing intercompany balances, or reconciling bank transactions, the user interface is designed to make it easy to find what you need quickly, with minimal training.
Because it’s a true cloud platform, your team can securely access it from any connected device.
Gravity Software: An ideal NetSuite alternative
Gravity Software has much of the same functionality as ERP systems, but it’s tailored to small to mid-sized businesses and focuses on accounting, rather than trying to take on everything.
It’s ideal for companies that have outgrown entry-level accounting software like QuickBooks but aren’t ready to take on the complexity or costs of a large ERP like NetSuite.
Gravity was designed from the ground up to support multi-entity accounting, allowing finance teams to manage dozens of entities from a single system without logging in and out of multiple databases and copying and pasting data from each of them. Its real-time consolidated reporting gives CFOs the insight they need across all businesses at a glance while making intercompany transactions simple.
What used to require hours of manual journal entries is now just a few clicks. This means processes that used to take weeks, like closing the books each month, can be done in just days.
The reviews reflect its usability, strong support, and ability to simplify accounting for businesses managing multiple entities.
“Gravity is perfect for businesses that have multiple entities and deal with multiple currencies, as well as family or private offices,” one user wrote on G2. “I love that transactions that are inter-company do not require additional work and that journal entries are created for you in the back end. No more double entry!”
Another user said Gravity Software has made a “huge difference” in their ability to track sales and revenue by business lines. The company uses the subscription billing feature to automate recurring invoices, which saves significant time.
The user added, “We will never go back to QuickBooks!”
Make the smarter move today
If your company is struggling with NetSuite’s long implementations, steep learning curve, or sky-high support costs, it’s time to consider a smarter, faster, more flexible alternative.
Gravity Software helps organizations end the copy-paste chaos and embrace a more intuitive, cost-effective way to manage accounting across multiple entities.
Ready to see how it compares?
Schedule a demo today and discover why so many users are considering Gravity Software as an alternative to NetSuite or another ERP.
Gravity Software
Better. Smarter. Accounting.
