NetSuite Alternative for Multi-Entity Accounting | Gravity Software

Why consider NetSuite alternatives?

Why consider NetSuite alternatives?

NetSuite is a comprehensive cloud ERP platform that can support accounting, financial management and a wide range of operational processes. For organizations that need that breadth of functionality, a full ERP may be the right choice.

But some growing and mid-sized organizations have a different challenge. They've outgrown entry-level accounting software and need more sophisticated financial management, but they don't necessarily need a broad ERP spanning every area of the business.

If your priorities include multi-entity accounting, consolidated financial reporting, intercompany transactions, multi-currency accounting, automation and integrations, it may be worth comparing NetSuite alternatives that are more focused on the needs of the finance team.

Cost and total investment

When comparing NetSuite alternatives, look beyond the software subscription. The total investment can also include implementation, consulting, customization, additional modules, integrations, training and ongoing administration.

The more important question is whether you're paying for capabilities your organization actually needs.

A broad ERP can make sense when finance, inventory, operations, CRM and other business processes need to run within one platform. But if your primary requirements are financial management, reporting and multi-entity accounting, a more focused solution may provide the capabilities you need without requiring the investment associated with implementing a broader ERP environment.

Gravity Software takes a modular approach. Core financial management capabilities can be expanded with additional functionality as your requirements evolve, allowing organizations to build around the financial processes they actually need.

ERP complexity

More functionality isn't always better if your finance team only uses a fraction of it.

Organizations considering alternatives to NetSuite should evaluate how much of an ERP's functionality they expect to use and how that functionality affects everyday accounting processes. This is particularly important for multi-entity organizations, where seemingly simple tasks such as allocating an expense across companies or recording an intercompany transaction can have an impact on efficiency at month-end.

Don't simply ask whether a system supports a particular capability. Ask to see the entire workflow.

For intercompany accounting, for example, consider whether the system can automatically create and balance due-to and due-from entries, allocate expenses across entities and create corresponding transactions between companies without introducing unnecessary steps.

Gravity is designed around these multi-entity financial processes, giving finance teams advanced accounting capabilities without requiring a broad operational ERP.

Financial capabilities

Choosing a more focused alternative to NetSuite shouldn't mean giving up the financial capabilities your organization needs.

Growing organizations may still require multi-entity accounting, multi-currency transactions, foreign currency revaluation, consolidated financial reporting, dimensional reporting, automated intercompany accounting, AP automation, allocations and other advanced financial capabilities.

The question is not simply whether an alternative is easier to use. It's whether it can simplify your accounting environment while preserving the financial controls, reporting and automation your organization requires.

This is particularly important for organizations managing multiple legal entities, currencies, locations, investments or business units. As complexity increases, the accounting platform should make financial management easier to scale rather than adding more manual processes.

Integrations and flexibility

Integrations are another important consideration when comparing NetSuite alternatives, especially if your organization already relies on specialized applications for billing, payments, banking, reporting or other business processes.

Don't evaluate an accounting platform based solely on the number of integrations it advertises. Consider how data actually moves between systems. Is the process automated? How frequently does data synchronize? Are spreadsheets still required? Can you use an open API? Who maintains the integration?

Gravity Software is built on the Microsoft Power Platform, providing access to Microsoft technologies including Power BI and Power Automate as well as APIs for connecting financial data with other business applications.

This approach also gives organizations greater flexibility as their requirements change. Instead of replacing every system when you replace your accounting software, you can build a financial management environment that connects Gravity with the applications your business already depends on.

NetSuite vs. Gravity Software

NetSuite vs. Gravity Software

Gravity stores financial information for multiple legal entities in a single database while maintaining separate books and financial reporting for each entity. This architecture helps finance teams manage increasingly complex organizations without maintaining separate accounting databases for every company.

With Gravity, organizations can:

Manage multiple legal entities within a single financial system
Automatically create and balance due-to and due-from entries for intercompany transactions
Consolidate financial reporting across entities without manually combining separate company files
Manage transactions and reporting across multiple currencies
Allocate expenses across entities, departments and other dimensions
Automate accounts payable and approval workflows
Analyze financial information with Microsoft Power BI
Automate workflows using Microsoft Power Automate
Connect financial data with other business applications through APIs and the Microsoft ecosystem

Gravity connects financial management with Microsoft technologies that many organizations already use across their business. Microsoft Power BI supports analytics and dashboards, while Microsoft Power Automate can automate workflows, system connections and data movement. APIs provide additional options for connecting Gravity financial data with other business applications.

This connected Microsoft environment also creates opportunities to use Microsoft 365 Copilot with financial data across applications such as Outlook, Teams and Word, helping users access information and complete certain accounting tasks without continually moving between Microsoft 365 and their accounting system.

When Gravity may be a better fit than NetSuite

Gravity may be worth considering if your organization:

Manages multiple legal entities, subsidiaries, holding companies or related organizations
Needs consolidated financial reporting and automated intercompany accounting
Requires sophisticated financial management without a broad operational ERP
Wants to reduce accounting processes performed outside the financial system
Uses Microsoft technologies and wants accounting data connected with the broader Microsoft ecosystem
Needs a financial platform that can expand as additional entities and financial requirements are added

Gravity Software vs. NetSuite at a glance

Gravity Software®

NetSuite

Multi-entity accounting

Multi-entity accounting in a single database

Multi-subsidiary financial management

Consolidated reporting

Real-time consolidated financial reporting across entities

Consolidated financial reporting across subsidiaries

Intercompany accounting

Automated intercompany transactions with balancing due-to/due-from entries

Intercompany accounting and transaction management

Multi-currency accounting

Multi-currency transactions, reporting and consolidation

Global multi-currency financial management

AP automation

AP automation with invoice capture, approvals and payment options

AP automation and payment workflows

Microsoft technology foundation

Built on Microsoft Power Platform and Dataverse, supported by Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure

Integrates with Microsoft applications and services

Microsoft ecosystem

Microsoft 365, Power BI, Power Automate, Teams and Copilot

Microsoft integrations available

AI capabilities

Microsoft Copilot can work with Gravity financial data and Microsoft 365

AI capabilities within the NetSuite ERP ecosystem

Platform focus

Financial management focused on multi-entity organizations

Broad ERP spanning finance and business operations

Best fit

Organizations needing sophisticated multi-entity financial management without a broad ERP

Organizations needing comprehensive ERP capabilities across finance and operations

NetSuite vs. entry-level accounting software

NetSuite vs. entry-level accounting software

Comparing NetSuite with entry-level accounting software

Entry-level accounting solutions can be a good fit for small businesses with relatively straightforward financial requirements. Products such as QuickBooks Online, Xero and Sage 50 provide core accounting capabilities without the cost and complexity of implementing a comprehensive ERP such as NetSuite.

The challenge often comes as an organization grows more financially complex. Adding legal entities, subsidiaries, currencies, intercompany activity and more sophisticated reporting requirements can create processes that entry-level accounting systems weren't designed to manage efficiently.

QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online is widely used by small and growing businesses for everyday accounting, including invoicing, expense management, bank reconciliation and financial reporting. Its broad ecosystem of integrations and accounting professionals also makes it accessible for organizations with relatively straightforward financial requirements.

As organizations add legal entities, however, finance teams may need more sophisticated capabilities for consolidated reporting, intercompany accounting, shared financial data and centralized multi-entity management. Processes that were manageable with only a few companies can become increasingly manual as the organization grows, particularly when accountants need to work across companies, allocate expenses between entities or combine financial information for consolidated reporting.

Xero

Xero is a cloud accounting platform designed primarily for small businesses. It offers core accounting functionality, multi-currency capabilities and a large ecosystem of third-party applications.

Organizations with increasingly complex entity structures should consider how consolidation, intercompany transactions, entity-level reporting and other multi-entity processes will be managed as the business grows.

Sage 50

Sage 50 provides traditional accounting capabilities for small and growing businesses, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash management and financial reporting.

As organizations add legal entities and their financial requirements become more complex, however, managing separate companies, consolidating financial results and handling intercompany activity can require additional manual processes. Organizations may also begin looking for more advanced automation, real-time reporting and a financial system that can support multiple entities within a more connected environment.

For businesses that have outgrown Sage 50 but do not need the breadth of a full ERP such as NetSuite, Gravity provides a path to more sophisticated multi-entity accounting, consolidated financial reporting, intercompany automation and financial management within a single system.

As with any entry-level accounting platform, businesses managing multiple legal entities should evaluate whether the system can support their long-term requirements for consolidation, intercompany accounting, financial controls and reporting.

When is entry-level accounting software the better choice?

An entry-level accounting solution may be a better NetSuite alternative if you operate a relatively straightforward business, don't require sophisticated multi-entity accounting and primarily need core accounting capabilities.

But if you've outgrown entry-level accounting software, moving directly to a broad ERP isn't your only option.

Gravity Software provides another path. It delivers sophisticated multi-entity financial management, consolidated reporting, automated intercompany accounting, multi-currency capabilities and financial automation without requiring organizations to implement a broad operational ERP.

“We weren't simply replacing QuickBooks—we were building the financial foundation for a growing healthcare network. Gravity gave us the flexibility to start where we were while supporting the direction we wanted to take the business.”

Dennis Steckler
Managing Member & COO, InsurHealth Affinity Group

Read the InsurHealth Affinity Group customer story →

NetSuite vs. Sage Intacct

NetSuite vs. Sage Intacct

Sage Intacct is a cloud financial management platform designed for organizations that need more sophisticated accounting capabilities than entry-level accounting software can typically provide. Like NetSuite, it can support growing organizations with requirements such as multi-entity accounting, consolidated financial reporting, multi-currency accounting, automation and integrations.

The two platforms differ in scope. NetSuite is a broader ERP platform that extends financial management into operational areas of the business, while Sage Intacct is more focused on accounting and financial management.

For organizations evaluating NetSuite alternatives, Sage Intacct may be worth considering when the primary need is sophisticated financial management rather than a broad operational ERP.

How does Gravity compare with Sage Intacct?

Gravity Software is also focused on sophisticated financial management, particularly for organizations managing multiple legal entities. Its multi-entity architecture brings financial information together in a single database while maintaining separate books and reporting for each entity.

For organizations comparing Gravity with Sage Intacct, the evaluation often comes down to how each platform approaches multi-entity accounting, intercompany transactions, consolidated reporting, automation, integrations and the organization's broader technology environment.

How multiple legal entities are managed
How intercompany transactions are created and balanced
How consolidated financial reporting is produced
How multi-currency transactions and consolidations are handled
How workflows and approvals are automated
How financial data connects with other business applications
How reporting and business intelligence are delivered
How AI can interact with financial information and accounting workflows
How the platform fits your existing technology environment
What implementation and ongoing administration will require

When Gravity may be a better fit

Gravity may be worth considering if your organization needs sophisticated multi-entity financial management and wants accounting to fit within its broader technology environment. This can be particularly relevant for organizations already using Microsoft 365, Power BI, Power Automate or Microsoft 365 Copilot that want to connect financial reporting, workflow automation and business processes rather than managing accounting as a separate technology ecosystem.

What to look for in a NetSuite alternative

What to look for in a NetSuite alternative

Choosing a NetSuite alternative isn't simply about comparing feature lists. The right financial management platform should support the complexity your organization has today while giving you room to add entities, automate processes, connect business applications and improve access to financial information as your needs evolve.

As you compare NetSuite alternatives, consider how each platform handles the financial processes your team relies on every day—not just whether those capabilities appear on a checklist.

1. Multi-entity accounting architecture

Not all accounting platforms approach multi-entity accounting the same way. If your organization manages multiple legal entities, subsidiaries, holding companies or related organizations, look beyond whether a solution simply lists multi-entity accounting as a feature.

Consider how the system is structured. Can finance teams manage multiple entities from one financial system while maintaining separate books and reporting for each company? Can financial information be shared across entities when appropriate? And can new entities be added without creating another disconnected accounting environment?

A centralized multi-entity architecture can reduce duplicate data entry, simplify reporting and give finance teams greater visibility across the organization as the number of entities grows.

Gravity Software was designed around multi-entity accounting. Multiple legal entities can be managed within a single database while maintaining entity-level books, reporting and security, giving finance teams one financial system for managing individual companies and the organization as a whole.

Questions to ask

Are multiple legal entities managed within one financial database?
Can each entity maintain its own books and financial statements?
Can financial data and master records be shared across entities?
Can users report on individual entities and consolidated groups?
How easily can new entities be added?
Can access and security be controlled by entity?

Automating intercompany accounting across multiple entities

2. Intercompany accounting and automation

Intercompany accounting can become one of the most time-consuming parts of managing multiple entities, particularly when finance teams need to allocate expenses, record transactions between companies and keep due-to and due-from accounts balanced.

Don't simply ask whether a NetSuite alternative supports intercompany accounting. Ask the provider to demonstrate the complete workflow.

Look at how many steps are required to record a transaction, whether corresponding entries are automatically created in the other entity and how the system keeps intercompany accounts balanced.

With Gravity, intercompany transactions can automatically create balancing due-to and due-from entries, reducing the manual work required to keep related entities in balance.

Questions to ask

Are due-to and due-from entries automatically created and balanced?
Can expenses be allocated across multiple entities?
Can one entity pay an expense on behalf of another?
Can a transaction automatically create the corresponding entry in another entity?
Are additional processes or modules required?
How are intercompany transactions handled when entities use different currencies?

3. Consolidated reporting and multi-currency accounting

Moving away from a broad ERP shouldn't mean giving up sophisticated financial reporting.

Organizations operating across multiple entities may need consolidated financial statements, entity-level reporting, dimensional analysis and the ability to drill into financial information without manually combining reports from separate company files.

International organizations may also need to transact and report in multiple currencies, manage exchange rates, account for realized and unrealized gains and losses and consolidate entities with different reporting currencies.

Evaluate how much of this process happens inside the financial system and how much still requires spreadsheets or other external tools.

Questions to ask

Can financial statements be consolidated across multiple entities?
Can users report on individual entities as well as consolidated groups?
Can reports be analyzed by dimensions such as department, location or business unit?
Does the platform support multiple transaction and reporting currencies?
How are foreign exchange rates and currency revaluations handled?
Can users drill from consolidated results into underlying financial activity?

4. Integrations and access to financial data

The number of integrations a software provider advertises doesn't necessarily tell you how well those integrations will support your business.

Consider how information actually moves between the accounting platform and your banking, billing, payment, reporting and other business applications. An integration that still requires monthly spreadsheet manipulation may not provide the automation or real-time visibility your finance team expects.

Also consider whether the platform provides APIs and workflow tools that allow your organization to connect specialized or proprietary applications as requirements change.

Gravity can use Microsoft Power Automate to support workflows, system connections and data automation. APIs provide additional flexibility for connecting Gravity financial information with other business applications as an organization's requirements evolve.

Questions to ask

Does data move automatically between systems?
How frequently does information synchronize?
Will employees still need to export, manipulate or import spreadsheets?
Is an API available for proprietary or specialized applications?
Who configures and maintains integrations?
What happens if a connected application's API changes?
Are additional licenses or fees required for connectors?

5. AI and financial automation

AI capabilities are becoming more common in financial software, but buyers should look beyond whether a platform simply advertises AI.

Consider what the AI can actually do with financial information. Can users ask questions about financial data using natural language? Can AI help complete accounting tasks? Can employees access financial information from the applications where they're already working? And are existing security permissions maintained when AI accesses financial information?

Microsoft 365 Copilot can work with Gravity financial data from familiar Microsoft applications, helping users access information and complete certain financial tasks without continually moving between Microsoft 365 and the accounting system. This extends AI into the applications employees already use while maintaining the security and permissions that govern access to financial information.

Questions to ask

Can AI answer natural-language questions about financial information?
Can it assist with accounting tasks as well as retrieve information?
Where can employees access the AI capabilities?
Can AI work with financial data from Microsoft 365 applications?
Are user permissions maintained when AI accesses financial information?
Can AI combine accounting information with other authorized business data?

6. Technology foundation, security and scalability

Your next accounting platform should support more than today's requirements. Consider what happens as your organization adds legal entities, users, currencies, integrations, reporting requirements and automation.

The underlying technology platform can also influence how easily financial information connects with the rest of your business technology.

Gravity's technology foundation includes Microsoft Power Platform and Dataverse, supported by Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure. For organizations already using Microsoft 365 and other Microsoft technologies, this provides a connected foundation for financial management, reporting, automation, integrations and AI as requirements evolve.

Financial data security should also be part of the evaluation. Consider where financial data is stored, how users are authenticated, how access is controlled and which third-party services may handle company information. Security should extend to integrations and AI capabilities as well as the accounting platform itself.

Questions to ask

How easily can new entities and users be added?
Can the platform support increasing financial complexity without requiring separate systems?
What cloud infrastructure supports the financial system?
Where is financial data stored and hosted?
How are user access and permissions controlled?
How are integrations and AI access to financial data secured?
How does the platform fit your existing technology environment?
Can workflows, reports and integrations evolve as requirements change?
Will the platform support your organization's expected growth over the next five to ten years?

See how multi-entity organizations are simplifying financial management

See how multi-entity organizations are simplifying financial management

Choosing a NetSuite alternative is ultimately about improving how your finance team works. See how organizations have used Gravity Software to reduce manual accounting processes, simplify multi-entity financial management and gain faster access to consolidated financial information.

From QuickBooks Desktop to Gravity Software

The destination management company was experiencing inefficiency and duplication of data entry. They were already using Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM for customer relationship management, so utilizing Gravity Software for the back-end financials made perfect sense. Since switching from QuickBooks Desktop, they've eliminated much of the duplicate data entry that was slowing down their accounting processes, and intercompany transactions are no longer a hassle.

Read the 360 Destination Group case study →

From Sage 50 and AccountsIQ to Gravity Software

After managing accounting across Sage 50 (formerly Peachtree) and AccountsIQ, the 47-entity Sunray Companies moved to Gravity Software to simplify its multi-entity accounting processes. By working with a partner to customize Gravity, Stephanie Welborn was able to reduce the time spent on intercompany transactions from multiple days to about 30 minutes.

Read the Sunray Companies case study →

From QuickBooks Enterprise to Gravity Software

By switching from QuickBooks Enterprise to Gravity Software, the screen time needed to complete this tribal holding company's accounting functions has been cut in half. The push of a button now produces a comprehensive report on all the organizations involved, and that happens by the fourth day of each month – without requiring users to pull together 17 different balance sheets for 17 different entities.

Read the OneFire Holding Co. case study →

From Xero to Gravity Software

When the private equity firm switched from Xero to Gravity Software, they cut days off their report compilation time. They’ve also made use of Gravity's investment management software to automate many investment-related tasks, freeing up “accountants to be accountants,” said CFO Amy Perkin, “not data entry people.”

Read the Brandon Capital case study →

What Gravity Software customers say

What Gravity Software customers say

With all the time we’re saving on bank reconciliation, month-end close, and other routine tasks, we can do more financial analysis, budgeting, and providing valuable feedback to the company on strategic direction.”

Tera Carpenter

VP of Finance & HR, Dr. Tavel Family Eye Care

The multiple entities and reporting aspect of Gravity Software’s financials with Microsoft Power BI allowed us to tap into key data and put various dashboards into visuals. You can do it all within Gravity!”

Shawna Bailley

Director of Accounting, 360 Destination Group

It’s changed our reporting timetable massively. We can spin out consolidated reports very quickly without having to log out and log back into a different entity every time.”

Shila Singh

Head of Finance, British Institute of Innkeeping (BII)

Why multi-entity organizations choose Gravity Software

See why multi-entity organizations choose Gravity Software

Choosing the right financial management platform comes down to more than comparing features. It comes down to finding a solution that supports how your organization operates today and where it plans to go next.

Gravity Software is designed for organizations that need sophisticated multi-entity financial management without implementing a broad operational ERP. Manage multiple legal entities in a single financial system, automate intercompany accounting, consolidate financial reporting, support multiple currencies and connect financial data with the Microsoft technologies your organization already uses.

See Gravity Software highlights in 11 minutes

See how Gravity Software helps organizations manage sophisticated financial operations across multiple entities from a single financial management platform.

In this 11-minute demo, you'll get a quick look at key capabilities including multi-entity accounting, consolidated financial reporting, intercompany accounting and financial management within the Microsoft ecosystem.

The best way to determine whether Gravity is the right NetSuite alternative for your organization is to see it in action. Schedule a demo to discuss your requirements and see how Gravity can support your multi-entity financial operations.

Frequently asked questions about NetSuite alternatives

Frequently asked questions about NetSuite alternatives

Choosing a NetSuite alternative often raises questions beyond features and functionality. Implementation, training, flexibility, ongoing support and pricing can all affect which financial management platform is the right fit for your organization.

Here are answers to common questions organizations may have when considering Gravity Software as an alternative to NetSuite.

How does Gravity Software help with implementation?

You don't have to implement Gravity Software on your own. Gravity works with experienced Premier Partners who use a structured implementation methodology to help organizations transition to Gravity, including project planning, system configuration, data migration, testing and user training.

Implementation requirements vary depending on factors such as the number of entities, data migration needs, integrations and the financial processes your organization needs to support.

What training and support are available after going live with Gravity Software?

Gravity Software provides several ways to get help after implementation. Users can access AI-powered Help within Gravity for answers to product questions, while additional training can be provided when teams need more in-depth guidance.

Gravity customers can also contact the Gravity Software team for product support and questions as their financial management requirements evolve.

Can Gravity Software accommodate our company's unique financial processes?

Gravity Software is designed to support organizations with complex financial requirements across industries including family offices, healthcare, hospitality, investment firms, holding companies, renewable energy and other multi-entity businesses.

Organizations can also use Microsoft Power Automate, Power BI and APIs to extend workflows, reporting and connections with other business applications as their financial and operational requirements evolve. AI tools for multi-entity accounting can further help finance teams access financial information, automate certain processes and work more efficiently across complex organizations.

How does Gravity Software pricing compare with NetSuite?

The cost of financial management software depends on factors such as the number of users, entities, modules, implementation requirements and additional services an organization needs.

Gravity Software publishes its software pricing so organizations can better understand the potential investment before beginning an evaluation. View Gravity Software pricing or schedule a demo to discuss the requirements and estimated investment for your organization.

Is Gravity Software a good alternative to NetSuite?

Gravity Software may be a NetSuite alternative for organizations that need sophisticated financial management without the breadth of a full operational ERP. Gravity is particularly well suited for businesses managing multiple legal entities that need consolidated financial reporting, automated intercompany accounting, multi-currency capabilities, financial automation and integration with the Microsoft technology ecosystem.

Organizations that require a broad ERP spanning financial management and extensive operational processes may find NetSuite better aligned with their requirements.

Ready to see if Gravity is the right NetSuite alternative?

Ready to see if Gravity is the right NetSuite alternative?

Gravity Software G2 Users Love Us award

Choosing financial management software is a significant decision. If your organization needs sophisticated multi-entity accounting, consolidated reporting, intercompany automation and a financial platform built on Microsoft technology, see how Gravity Software could fit your requirements.

Schedule a personalized demo to explore your financial processes, ask questions and see Gravity Software in action.

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