Enterprise resource planning is a business management system that integrates all facets of the business, including planning, manufacturing, sales, and marketing. As the ERP methodology has become more popular, software applications have emerged to help business managers implement ERP in business activities such as inventory control, order tracking, customer service, finance and human resources.

Small business are usually family enterprises and hence not too many of them use ERP software as they have an accounting system in place. Many companies provide ERP solutions to small-sized business houses. Few players in this field are Microsoft Business Solutions, NetERP, Compiere, and The Intuitive Enterprise Solution.

Microsoft Business Solutions has recently offered to provide ERP solutions to small and medium sized businesses. This would connect the small and medium sized businesses with large organizations, their employees, customers and suppliers for improved efficiency.

NetERP is an ERP solution from NetSuite. It is a business application that supports back-office operations. This can manage financials, purchasing, inventory, Web presence and payroll with the ERP components that are compactly integrated.

Compiere is an Open Source ERP software that suits small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the global marketplace. It covers different areas like Customer Management, Supply Chain Management and accounting.

The Intuitive Enterprise Solution is an ERP software application that helps small and mid-size manufacturing businesses achieve increased productivity and at the same time, lower costs. Intuitive ERP focuses to build flexibility and control, organizes information and also automates business processes across an enterprise. This product offers complete integration of planning and materials management and procurement. It also facilitates reduction in cost of manufacturing and financial business processes and thereby improves productivity, quality and control.

It is believed that accounting systems can manage a small-scale business effectively. However, the trends are changing today with many small enterprises investing in ERP, as it is cross-functional and enterprise wide.

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There are many people who want to start their own businesses. There are many franchisers too, who are advertising their franchise opportunities. These also promise that you will get into business very fast.

If you are planning to start your own business, do keep in mind, that it will be long and difficult process. There will be a lot of pitfalls and traps especially if you are a novice entrepreneur. There are many examples of businesses which don’t reach the break-even stage.

Buying a franchise has many benefits. It helps you shorten the learning time period and also reduces the amount of time, your business needs to actually start making money. It also lets you work under the name of an established brand. It is very obvious that if that business is successful now, it’s business processes are mature and they have a sound business concept. So by buying a franchise opportunity, you will also be benefiting from their business processes and from their success.

There are some situations in which, buying a franchise does not seem to be the right option.

One of the reasons is that it is often more costly than starting a new business from scratch. You have to pay certain fees like franchise fee, franchise marketing fees, and you also have to pay for franchise training program. A minimum amount of working capital may also be required. There may be some other restrictions from the franchiser. But seen from an another angle, these high costs and restrictions prove helpful for the business growth.

Some franchises also have the requirement of territory. This also leads to success for a new franchisee. Normally the territory will not have much competition. But owning a franchise territory also needs better franchise management to reach certain milestones.

There are many things that you have to think about, when deciding about buying a franchise or starting a new business. But buying a franchise will be a better choice for many, since they will be getting sound business model and guidance from an established business.

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