Small and medium manufacturers work in a fast-moving environment where even small gaps in cost tracking or stock control can affect profit. Raw material prices change, production delays occur, labour hours vary, and even minor errors in data entry can lead to major confusion at month end. This is why a strong manufacturing accounting software system is not just helpful but essential.
A reliable tool allows your finance team, store team, and production team to look at the same numbers in real time. When stock levels update automatically and job costs refresh on every change, you get an accurate picture of your true cost of production. With clear numbers, you can plan better, take quick decisions, and improve margins. In short, the right software makes your manufacturing unit more efficient, more stable, and more profitable in the long run. In this blog, we will look
Key Features to Look for in Manufacturing Accounting Software
Here’s what you must look for in your manufacturing accounting software:
Inventory Management
Manufacturers cannot afford blind spots in stock. Every part, material, and batch must be tracked with precision. Good manufacturing accounting software helps maintain real time levels of raw goods, WIP, and finished goods. It also alerts you before stock runs out, prevents overbuying, and keeps valuation updated. With proper stock control, wastage drops and planning becomes smoother.
Costing and Profit Margins
Costing is the core of any manufacturing business. A manufacturing accounting software calculates true cost per unit, including raw goods, labour time, overhead, machine hours and indirect charges, gives a fair view of your profit. When BOM, routings, and job costing work together inside the software, you get a clear view of how each job performs. This helps in pricing decisions, tendering, and long term planning.
Real-Time Reporting
Manufacturers make many decisions each day. Live dashboards and real time reports make this easier. You can see stock movements, job progress, sales orders, cash flow, and cost trends instantly. With updated numbers at all times, you avoid delays, reduce mistakes, and respond quickly to issues on the shop floor or in finance.
Integration with Other Manufacturing Systems
A good manufacturing industry accounting software should not work in isolation. It must connect with sales, purchasing, production planning, CRM, payroll, and shop floor tracking tools. Integration keeps data clean and reduces manual entry. This builds a smooth flow from raw goods purchase to final sales invoice, making the entire supply chain more efficient.
User-Friendly Interface
Even strong systems fail if teams find them hard to use. A clean, simple, clear interface helps your team adapt faster. When screens are laid out well, reports are easy to find, and tasks can be completed with fewer clicks, your staff work with confidence. Cloud access adds even more comfort, allowing team members to check data from anywhere.
Consider these key features when choosing manufacturing industry accounting software.
Grows With Your Buildings
It works for one property or many. Small managers and big firms can use Yardi without extra programs. You do not need a new system when adding more buildings.
Works With Other Tools
It links with leases, upkeep, and investment tools. Data moves by itself. Managers do not need to copy it manually.
With these special features, Yardi cuts mistakes, saves time, and helps managers make better money choices. Managers gain control and can plan for growth without stress.
Top 5 Manufacturing Accounting Software for Small and Medium Manufacturers
Below are five trusted manufacturing accounting software that offer powerful features while staying suitable for small and growing manufacturing companies.
1. MRPeasy
Overview
MRPeasy is designed for small and medium manufacturers who want a simple but powerful cloud-based system. It manages production, stock, costing and accounting under one roof. It is one of the most prominent manufacturing accounting software.
Features
- Clear production scheduling and job planning
- Multi-level BOM support
- Stock and supplier management
- Cost and margin tracking
- Built-in accounting for smaller teams
Benefits
MRPeasy stands out for its ease of use. Small factories can set it up without heavy IT help, and the learning curve is gentle. It offers great value by bringing both production and accounting together in a clean, reliable format.
2. Odoo (Manufacturing + Accounting Modules)
Overview
Odoo is a flexible ERP that fits small units as well as fast-growing ones. It uses modules, so you can start with basic accounting and add manufacturing, CRM, sales, and more when needed. Also, it is one of the most trusted manufacturing accounting software.
Features
- Strong accounting and billing tools
- Manufacturing module with BOM, routings, and work orders
- Stock management with smart warehouse tools
- Sales, purchase, CRM and more
- Cloud or on-site setup
Benefits
Odoo is ideal if you want long term flexibility. It lets you build your system step by step. As your manufacturing unit expands, you can add new modules without changing software, saving cost and effort.
3. SAP Business One
Overview
SAP Business One is a complete ERP system made for SMEs. It offers solid accounting, stock control, reporting and manufacturing add-ons that handle planned and unplanned production tasks.
Features
- Full financial and inventory management
- BOM and production order support
- Material planning and stock forecasting
- Batch and serial number tracking
- Multi-warehouse and multi-currency tools
Benefits
SAP Business One works well for manufacturers with higher complexity or bigger expansion plans. It provides stability and structure, helping you handle bigger teams, multiple locations, and detailed cost analysis.
4. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Overview
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is one of the most reliable manufacturing industry accounting software. It brings together finance, inventory, production and supply chain in a single cloud platform. It is smooth, modern, and fits well with the Microsoft ecosystem.
Features
- Accounting and reporting
- Production planning and job tracking
- Warehouse and stock control
- Sales and purchase workflow
- Real time dashboards
Benefits
It is perfect for growing manufacturers who want a system that stays stable even as operations become larger. Its cloud design and integration with Microsoft tools make it easy for teams to adapt.
5. NetSuite Manufacturing
Overview
NetSuite is an advanced cloud ERP with powerful modules for manufacturing, accounting and supply chain. This manufacturing accounting software is widely used by small and mid-sized companies aiming for strong cost and process control.
Features
- Work orders and advanced planning
- Multi-location inventory
- Full cost and profit analysis
- Real time financials and dashboards
- Linked supply chain and production flow
Benefits
NetSuite gives end-to-end visibility. You can track materials, jobs, overheads, cash flow and sales in real time. Its cloud-first design also makes remote working and multi-unit control easier.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Manufacturing Accounting Software
Choosing manufacturing industry accounting software needs several considerations. To choose the best manufacturing accounting software, consider these factors:
Scalability and Flexibility for Growth
Pick a system that supports more users, more production lines and more locations without needing a total switch. This reduces future cost and protects your data structure.
Industry-Specific Features
Manufacturers need strong production tools. Choose systems that support BOM, job costing, scheduling, WIP, batch control and accurate cost updates.
Cost vs. Value
Cheaper software may look attractive but can cause gaps later. The best software is one that saves time, avoids errors, improves planning and boosts profitability over many years.
Support and Training Options
Good support helps you get the most from your software. Training sessions, troubleshooting help, and setup guidance ensure smooth daily use.
Considering the above-mentioned factors can help you find the most suitable manufacturing industry accounting software.
Common Challenges Manufacturers Face Without the Right Accounting Software
Many small and medium manufacturers struggle when they still rely on old tools or basic spreadsheets. These gaps slow down growth and make it hard to track the true state of the plant floor. One of the biggest issues is the lack of clear cost data. When teams cannot see each stage cost in real time, they end up with wrong price plans and thin margins. It also leads to late decisions because management works with old data and needs more time to check each part of the workflow.
Another challenge is poor stock control. When updates are made by hand, numbers change from one team to another. This creates stockouts or overstock problems that raise the total cost. Many plants also face slow month-end close cycles because the data lives in scattered files. With no link between production, sales, and finance, the accounts team spends long hours fixing errors and tracing entries back to the source.
Compliance becomes tough too. When rule changes come in or you need clear audit trails, manual accounting makes it hard to show how each item moved through the system. This adds stress during checks and can lead to missed claims or wrong filings. The right manufacturing industry accounting software removes these blocks by keeping all data in one shared flow. It helps teams move faster, cut delay, and bring more trust to their numbers.
Meru Accounting: Your Remote Accounting Partner for Manufacturing
At Meru Accounting, we provide remote accounting solutions powered by the best manufacturing accounting software in the market. We help manufacturing clients have clean books, maintain stock accuracy, manage job costing, track overheads, and stay compliant.
We set up and manage tools like MRPeasy, Odoo, NetSuite, SAP Business One and Dynamics 365 based on your factory’s workflow. Our team handles routine tasks, cost analysis, inventory support and timely reporting so you always know your true performance. With our service, manufacturers gain clarity, reduce chaos and focus on growth while we manage the financial side.
Contact us now if you want to integrate the best manufacturing industry accounting software in your business. We specialize in providing manufacturing accounting services using all the industry-leading manufacturing accounting software.
FAQs
MRPeasy and Odoo are popular for small teams due to easy setup, low cost and strong production features.
SAP Business One, NetSuite and Dynamics 365 offer strong scalability and deeper features for expanding operations.
Yes, all top systems include stock control, BOM management and WIP tracking for smooth production.
Most tools come in cloud versions, giving easy access, fewer IT issues and real time updates
Yes, we help select the right software, set it up, and manage daily accounting tasks for manufacturers.
