Best Business Management Software of 2026

Here's what we'll cover:

What you need to know about business management software

What is business management software?

Essential features of business management software

Benefits and competitive advantages of using business management software

How to choose the best business management software for your needs

Software related to business management

More resources for your business management journey

What you need to know about business management software

Business management software helps businesses control and manage a wide range of business activities from a centralized hub. This, in turn, leads to less time spent onboarding team members to different individual software and reducing data silos, driving overall organizational effectiveness. Generally, you’ll see business management software categorized as project management software or enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. However, business management platforms are more niche and specifically tailored to meet the needs of organizations that handle various business activities. [1]

Such tools allow professionals to streamline operations across accounting, contact management, customer relationship management (CRM), ERP, and human resources. 

Business management software is essential for small businesses that need to perform essential tasks efficiently with limit resources. Besides that, business management software can also help enterprise-level businesses that require extra management.

To give you an idea of the business management market, our site has over 400 business management software products, and we’ve published more than 22,700 reviews for business management software products in the last two years alone. [2] If you run a business that needs a unified platform to manage several daily activities related to your finances, customers, or projects, it’s not a question of whether or not you should have a business management tool; the question is which system is best for you.

Factors like pricing will play a big part in deciding what type of business management software you need. Most business management software solutions on the market are priced on a ‘per user, per month’ basis, and entry-level pricing plans range from $5 to $70+. [3] An enterprise-level business management system that’s priced higher may include additional features such as business process management, inventory control, order management, resource management, sales management, team management, team collaboration, and workflow automation.

First-time buyers should start their business management software journey by evaluating integration capabilities, cost, customer support services, and other relevant factors. Choosing the appropriate business management software is crucial for addressing operational challenges and optimizing processes. Consider posing the following questions to ensure the vendor's software meets your operational requirements:

• How does the software use artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance CRM tasks like customer segmentation and automate resource planning?

• What features assist with managing contacts and improving customer service interactions?

• Does the software offer analytics for tracking employee performance metrics and managing team workloads?

• Can the software support tasks like inventory management and scale to accommodate new business needs?

Because there are so many different vendors, choosing the right option can be a daunting process. In this guide, you will learn more about business management software and how to choose the right system. You’ll also discover tips and advice from an analyst, as well as valuable insights from experienced software advisors Richard Ramsey and Nathan Pozen, together bringing over 13 years of expertise to the table.

What is business management software?

Business management software helps businesses manage and oversee their operations, and includes project management, sales, marketing, finance, and inventory management features. It automates routine tasks and provides a unified platform for daily activities such as tracking finances, organizing customer information, and managing supply chains. Business management tools also support data analysis and reporting, helping businesses make informed decisions.

That said, business management software comes with specific functionality that you won’t find in more general project management or ERP software, such as:

• Calendar management: Track and manage schedules and meetings via an integrated calendar.

• Client management: Manage contact details and communication with clients.

• Inventory management: Track and manage inventory levels to maintain proper supply.

• Scheduling: Plan availability and assign specific time slots for tasks and resources. 

• Workflow management: Create, design, and manage workflows for repetitive tasks

As a buyer advocate and team lead, Nate Pozen frequently speaks with business owners who express difficulty in forecasting their inventory needs or production plans, particularly when they lack a clear understanding of their existing inventory levels. “Business owners will tell me that they’re selling things that they don’t have because they aren’t tracking their inventory well enough.” That’s why inventory management and workflow management are so important for businesses looking for business management software.

When it comes to replacing one project management software with another, advisor Richard Ramsey has found that strong project workflows are one big reason to choose a tool before others. “In my conversations with users, I've found that the biggest challenge they face is finding a tool with collaborative features and a strong project workflow. This is often their top priority when considering a switch.”

Industries that commonly use business management software include information technology (IT), health, wellness, and fitness, construction, marketing, design, and computer software.

We’ll dive into more detail about these features later.

An example of workflow management in business management software | Source

Essential features of business management software

All business management software includes CRM, employee management, project management, and financial management as essential features. Most systems also share several common functionalities, such as access controls/permissions, accounting, activity dashboard, billing and invoicing, and more. We analyzed thousands of reviews and spoke to thousands of business managers to determine what we believe are core features of business management software. [1]

Core business management features

Common business management features

Industry individual needs are an essential factor to consider during the process of choosing a business management software. As Ramsey notes, “Even industry veterans and individuals can benefit from an industry-specific system. It's important to consider the unique needs of your industry and understand why these requirements might lead you to choose such a system.”

Benefits and competitive advantages of using business management software

You’ll find several benefits that come with utilizing business management software that can directly impact your bottom line:

• Improved workflow management. Facilitates the creation and management of workflows for repetitive tasks, ensuring efficiency and consistency.

• Better team collaboration: Enhances coordination and communication through integrated tools, enabling seamless teamwork across business activities.

• Enhanced productivity: Boosts efficiency by providing comprehensive reporting and analytics tools, in addition to automated tasks to optimize performance and resource allocation.

• More efficient project management: Offers robust planning and coordination tools to manage resources, costs, and timelines effectively.

In addition, when talking to professionals, Pozen says they’re often facing challenges in routing purchase requests, causing confusion and limited visibility in procurement.

“In conversations with software users about vendor management, they expressed difficulty in getting purchase requests to the right approvers. They mentioned there was often a breakdown in the hierarchy, leading to confusion about where requests should go and a lack of visibility into the procurement process.”

In general, business management software can streamline vendor management by automating approval workflows, taking some of the manual tasks you’re doing, and streamlining them.

Another important factor to consider that is gaining a lot of popularity is automation through AI. Richard Ramsey points out that in the field of project management, AI is a powerful time-saver:

“Many project management systems are adopting AI to streamline task management, prioritize workflows, and even handle content management. It's cool to see the system can analyze and prioritize tasks or content on its own, saving time and improving project flow.”

How to choose the best business management software for your needs

Step 1: Define your requirements

Before you start your business management software selection process, it’s critical that you define your business’s specific needs, such as task automation, data analysis, and finance tracking. Not only will this guide you to the software tool that meets your current needs—you’ll end up with software that supports your long-term goals as well.

What is the cost of business management software?

The price of business management software is difficult to generalize, because it depends on factors that vary by buyer, such as:

• Number of users

• Required features

• Business size

Most business management software solutions on the market are priced on a ‘per user per month’ basis, and their entry-level pricing plans range from $5 to $70+. That said, entry-level business management software typically provides essential tools like basic accounting, customer data management, simple reporting, and project tracking. Premium plans, however, can offer advanced features such as AI-driven predictive analytics, enhanced workflow automation, sophisticated project management, comprehensive CRM systems, and in-depth analytics.

Based on our analysis of extensive business management user reviews, positive sentiments highlight time and cost savings, with many appreciating features that streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and provide good value for money. Users often commend the ease of use, flexibility, and functionality that these tools offer, making them integral to their business processes.

Conversely, negative sentiments frequently revolve around the high costs associated with premium features, unexpected price increases, and limitations in free versions. Users also express frustration over complex pricing structures, and the need to pay for additional features, which can detract from the overall user experience.

Integration considerations for business management software

Our analysis of over 170 software buyer reviews reveals that business management software users value the its seamless integration capabilities and ability to easily connect with multiple platforms and tools. They praise integration features as intuitive and beneficial for streamlining business processes. On the negative side, users express challenges with limited third-party integrations and the complexity of setting them up. Some also note the lack of integration with specific tools they rely on, which can hinder overall efficiency.

Some popular categories that most often integrate with business management software are project management, accounting, and CRM software.

A business management system can integrate with various tools to optimize business management operations. We looked at thousands of reviews from users of business management software to identify products that users frequently mention integrating with their business management tools:

• Google Calendar is a time-management and scheduling tool. Integrating it with business management software enhances scheduling efficiency, ensures timely reminders for meetings and deadlines, and facilitates easy sharing and coordination of schedules among team members.

• Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet tool used for data analysis, calculation, and visualization. Integrating it with business management software allows for advanced data analysis, custom reporting, and data entry automation, enhancing decision-making and operational efficiency.

• Zapier is a web-based service that connects multiple apps to automate workflows. Integrating it with business management software enables the automation of tasks between different platforms, increasing efficiency, reducing manual work, and simplifying processes without needing custom coding.

• QuickBooks Online is an accounting software. Integrating it with business management software simplifies financial management, enhances invoice and payment tracking, and provides real-time financial insights, improving accuracy and decision-making in financial operations.

• Stripe is an online payment processing platform for businesses. Integrating it with business management software simplifies payment collection, automates billing processes, enhances financial reporting, and provides secure transaction capabilities, facilitating smoother, more efficient financial operations and customer transactions.

Be aware of potential drawbacks

Recent feedback from business management software reviewers highlights the prevalence of issues related to performance speed, pricing complexities, issue management, and email notifications. These challenges can affect the effectiveness when implementing business management software.

To navigate these drawbacks effectively, it’s essential to choose software that is reliable, fast, and able to scale with your business. Select software vendors that offer strong customer support and diligent issue resolution; you can utilize free trials and ensure that the training resources are available to users.

Other potential issues with business management software are: 

• Limited scalability: Business management tools may not accommodate increasing amounts of data, users, or expansion into new markets. This can cause operational bottlenecks and require you to migrate to different software solutions that meet your needs, increasing your overall investment cost.

• Data synchronization errors: Discrepancies when updating or integrating data from different platforms and databases can lead to inaccurate information, which lead to error-prone decision-making and reporting. This can disrupt the flow of accurate, real-time data essential for operations, analytics, and customer service. 

• Steep learning curve: Complex business management tools can require employees to undergo extensive training to learn effective usage. This leads to delays in implementation and reduces operational efficiency. Such challenges can demotivate staff, increase resistance to new systems, and necessitate additional support and resources. 

Step 2: Make a shortlist of business management software

With so many business management software options to choose from, selecting the best one for your business can be challenging, but with the right resources and support, it doesn’t have to be.

Explore our list of business management FrontRunners

You can start compiling your shortlist of business management software with our 2025 FrontRunners report for business management software. Only products that earn top user ratings make this list. You can also check out our full methodology description for more details on how the report is compiled.

For more help creating a shortlist and a free comparison chart, check out our Ultimate Software Vendor Evaluation Guide. This will help you compare software evaluation criteria for each prospective vendor by tracking aspects such as functionalities, support offerings, costs, and deployment options.

Step 3: Pick your best option 

Once you have narrowed down your options, the next step is scheduling vendor demos. These sessions are essential for exploring features, understanding pricing, and ensuring a sound investment decision. However, thorough preparation is essential to maximizing the benefits of these demos.

How to prepare for vendor demos

Here are some questions you should consider asking business management software vendors during demos:

• What kind of customer support do you offer during implementation?

Inadequate customer support and assistance are significant contributors to implementation failures. It's crucial to inquire about the vendor's strategy for supporting you and your team with any doubts you might have throughout the implementation process.

• What customization options are currently available?

The ability to customize existing features in business management software can ensure it meets your specific requirements. A system may offer industry-specific features that aren't relevant to your business, so the ability to tailor the software to your unique needs can enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Ask if the system can be tailored to suit the specific way your team manages different business tasks, from accounting to project management, without requiring complex coding or technical expertise.

• What integrations does your software support?

Getting insight into available integrations is essential for ensuring that the business management software can seamlessly connect with your existing tools. This inquiry allows you to evaluate whether the software will boost productivity by reducing manual data entry and consolidating information across systems.

Step 4: Make the most of your business management software

Once you’ve made your final choice and finalized your business management software purchase, the implementation process will start. Whether you’re switching from one business management system to another or going from an assortment of spreadsheets to your first electronic system, there are some important considerations you’ll need to pay attention to during this process:

• Data migration: Transferring all of your business and employee data from an existing business management tool to a new system can be time consuming, but it’s crucial to get this part of the process right. Communicate with both your old and new business management providers to make sure nothing gets missed and you transfer all the data successfully in this part of the process.

• Training: Once the new business management software is implemented, it’s important to ensure that your team is fully proficient in its use. Ensure that your software provider conducts training sessions and offers training materials. Understand that this process requires time, so schedule multiple training sessions and refresher courses to ensure all staff members are confident about using the new system.

• Communication: Clear and transparent communication is essential to minimize resistance and facilitate a seamless transition for the team. That said, develop a communication strategy that details the implementation process of the business management software, highlights its advantages for the different teams and employees, and explains the adjustments to existing workflows. Ensure that all team members are informed of critical dates, training sessions, and key milestones. 

• Compliance: Investing in a business management system that adheres to industry-specific regulations ensures data security and maintains customer trust. It also helps avoid costly modifications or additional solutions to meet regulatory requirements later. 

• Data visualizing: Data visualizations convert complex data into charts, graphs, and reports that are easier to comprehend. It aids in identifying trends, patterns, and outliers, facilitating quicker, more informed decision-making. Assessing data visualizing capabilities empowers you to fully leverage your data insights.

Software related to business management 

Depending on which business management software you choose, you may need to supplement some features with related software systems in order to cover all your business operations. Some types of software that are closely related to business management, but may or may not be included in your business management system, include:

• Accounting software: These systems assist businesses in managing financial transactions, tracking income and expenses, and generating financial reports.

• Budgeting software: Tools that assist in planning, tracking, and managing budgets, helping businesses allocate resources effectively and monitor financial performance.

• CRM software: CRM systems help manage interactions with current and potential customers, streamline processes, and improve customer service.

• Enterprise resource planning software: ERP systems integrate various business processes, including finance, HR, manufacturing, and supply chain, into a single platform.

• Human resources software: Solutions that focus on managing the overall employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance management.

• Project management software: Tools designed to help plan, execute, and monitor projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget.

More resources for your business management journey

• 5 Powerful Tips To Improve Cash Flow for Your Business

• How Automation Is Transforming Account Reconciliation for Small Businesses

• 3 Tips To Optimize Your Spare Parts Inventory Management

About our contributors

Author

Alejandra Aranda is a content analyst at Software Advice, specializing in technology trends while always on the lookout for strategic insights for small and midsize businesses. Her areas of focus are brand management, performance marketing, and anything related to digital marketing.

Alejandra’s research and analysis is informed by more than 150,000 authentic user reviews on Software Advice and over 15,000 interactions between Software Advice software advisors and marketing software buyers. Alejandra also regularly analyzes market sentiment by conducting surveys of marketing leaders so she can provide the most up-to-date and helpful information to small and midsize businesses purchasing software or services.

Alejandra led the session “Q-Commerce & M-Commerce in Spain 2023: How is consumption evolving thanks to technology” at Universidad Complutense de Madrid and has had research published in Spanish publications such as El Economista, Corresponsables, and El Español.

When she is not on the lookout for new marketing trends, she is probably exploring a bookshop or researching a new travel destination.

Editor

Mehar Luthra is a team lead at Software Advice and specializes in editing reports that cover the latest trends affecting small businesses. With nearly a decade of experience, she has edited a multitude of research articles, top-rated software reports, and thought leadership articles for diverse markets such as Brazil, Japan, Canada, France, Australia, and India. She finds it particularly rewarding to produce content that provides small-business owners with practical tips and helpful advice on topics such as the digitalisation of small businesses, eCommerce trends, and HR developments. Armed with a double bachelor’s in law (LL.B.) and business economics from Delhi University, she won a full scholarship to study for a master’s in creative writing at the National University of Ireland, Galway. In addition, she has written blog articles spanning a variety of topics such as fiction and non-fiction books, mental health and anxiety, the latest restaurants, and more.

Her articles have been featured in Ireland’s national magazine The Village, among other publications. A die-hard journaling fan, she enjoys watching psychological thrillers, reading fiction books, and drinking iced coffee (even in the winter).

Advisors

Richard Ramsey is a software advisor who joined the Software Advice advisor team in 2016 and is based in Austin, Texas.

As a software advisor, Richard works directly with small business leaders seeking to find the right HR, CRM, accounting, project management, and manufacturing software. They connect businesses with best fit software providers by assessing technology needs through one-to-one conversations and providing a short list of potential matches.

Their favorite part of being a software advisor is connecting small businesses with software that helps grow their businesses. They hold a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, and are experienced in retail management and social work.

Nate Pozen is a buyer advocate team leader. He joined Software Advice in 2021 as a software advisor, and now he manages a team of four software advisors. He is based in Austin, TX.

Nate and his team helps small businesses find the right HR, CRM, accounting, project management, and manufacturing software for their needs each year. They’re able to do this through one-to-one conversations designed to narrow down the list of potential tools to only those that are the best fit.

His favorite part of being a Software Advice advisor team manager is partnering with buyers to help them through their entire software journey.

Sources 

1. Software Advice advisor call notes: Findings are based on data from telephonic conversations that Software Advice’s advisor team had with businesses seeking project management and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. For this report, we analyzed phone interactions from January 1, 2023, to January 1, 2025. Read the complete methodology.

2. Software Advice reviews data: Software Advice reviews are collected from verified users for individual software products. For this report, we analyzed reviews from January 1, 2023 to January 1, 2025. Read the complete methodology.

3. Software Advice software pricing data: Only products with publicly available pricing information and qualified software products within the category, as of March 2024, are included in the pricing analysis. Read the complete methodology.