73% of companies exceed their ERP budget.
Not because they picked expensive software. Because they didn't account for implementation costs.
Software is 10-20% of total cost. The rest? Implementation, integration, training, data migration, and customization.
This guide breaks down every cost from software licenses to hidden expenses that get you every time.
Real Cost Breakdown by Company Size
50-person service company: $75,000-$200,000 total
200-person distributor: $300,000-$1.2M total
600-person manufacturer: $1.5M-$4M total
Software licensing: 10-20% of total cost
Consulting and services: 40-50%
Custom development: 20-30%
Data migration and integration: 10-15%
Hidden costs (parallel systems, training, change management): Often $50K-$300K+ not in budgets
ROI Timeline Reality
Real ROI takes 18-36 months post-go-live.
First year typically shows reduced efficiency as staff learns the system.
Better decisions and working capital reduction matter more than labor savings.
Budget 20-25% contingency for unexpected complexity.