ERP in Lebanon · A buyer's guide
ERP software in Lebanon that fits how Lebanese companies keep their books.
Good ERP software in Lebanon keeps every entry in USD and LBP, handles Lebanese VAT and CNSS payroll, and works in Arabic and English. Below you'll find how the main options compare, what a project costs and how long it takes, written by an Odoo Silver Partner in Lebanon since 2016.
What your ERP has to handle in Lebanon.
- Both currencies on every journal item
- Lebanese VAT returns from the system
- CNSS in the payroll run
- Arabic and English documents
- Books kept in step across your companies
Ask every vendor to show these with your own data
When spreadsheets and an accounting program stop being enough.
An ERP is one system for sales, purchases, stock, accounting and payroll. Because everything sits in the same database, a sale reduces stock and posts to the books in one step. These are the signs that a company is ready for one.
Stock on the shelf and stock in the system disagree.
Sales are recorded in one place and stock in another, so every count turns up differences that someone has to explain.
Month-end takes days of copying between files.
Your accountant rebuilds the same reports by hand from sales sheets, bank statements and the accounting program.
A rate change means repricing by hand.
When the dollar rate moves, price lists, open invoices and stock values are updated in Excel, one file at a time.
Each company or branch keeps its own books.
Group figures are added up in a spreadsheet at the end of the month, and nobody sees them before then.
What a Lebanese company needs from its ERP.
A standard ERP setup assumes one main currency per company, which is why the Lebanese details decide whether a system works here. See how our Lebanon localization handles them →
USD and LBP on every entry
Invoices, payments and the books carry both currencies, exchange differences are booked when the rate moves, and reports come out in either one.
Lebanese VAT
VAT on sales and purchases goes to the right accounts, and the periodic returns are prepared from the system.
CNSS payroll
Employee and employer contributions are calculated with each payroll run and booked automatically.
Arabic and English
Screens, invoices and reports in both languages, with Arabic laid out right to left.
Several companies in one group
Each company keeps its own books, and the group reports add up without re-typing entries.
Work that doesn't stop with the power
A web-based system hosted in the cloud, so the warehouse, the branches and your accountant keep working when the office loses power.
Your options, compared by fit.
Each of these runs real companies in Lebanon. The right one depends on your size, what you already use and who will implement it. For a closer look at Odoo, read our Odoo pros and cons.
Odoo
One modular system, from accounting and stock to manufacturing, eCommerce and payroll, in Arabic and English. It suits small and mid-sized companies and groups that want to start with a few apps and add more later. Cost comes from per-user Enterprise subscriptions (the Community edition has no license fee) and the implementation. Two-currency books and CNSS depend on the localization your partner brings.
SAP Business One
SAP's ERP for small and mid-sized companies, sold and supported by local resellers. It's a natural choice when your group already runs SAP elsewhere. Cost comes from user licenses, the reseller's implementation and any add-ons. Ask the reseller how it keeps two currencies on every entry and runs CNSS payroll.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Microsoft's ERP for small and mid-sized companies, a good fit for teams that work in Microsoft 365 all day. It's sold as a per-user cloud subscription through Microsoft partners. Microsoft lists Lebanon as a country where the Lebanese localization comes from partners, so check which one yours uses.
Local accounting programs
Lebanese accounting programs know the local chart of accounts, VAT and two-currency bookkeeping, and they cost little to start. They suit companies whose main need is the books. When stock, sales, production and branches have to work from the same numbers, an ERP takes over that job.
Why we implement Odoo in Lebanon.
Odoo fits most of the Lebanese companies we meet, from a single shop to a group of companies. When it doesn't fit yours, the assessment will tell you. See our Odoo implementation services →
Odoo Silver Partner since 2016
Odoo lists 69+ verified references for us on its partner portal, out of 100+ businesses we've served since 2015.
Our own Lebanon localization
Our suite keeps books in USD and LBP, runs CNSS payroll and Lebanese VAT, and keeps books in step across companies. Our clients' auditors and accountants have reviewed it.
A senior engineer on every project
Six Odoo-certified experts on the team, and every project is led by a senior engineer from the first meeting to go-live.
Support that stays
Clients stay with us 4+ years on average, and Odoo measures our client retention at 85%. See Odoo support →
How an ERP implementation runs.
Every engagement starts with the assessment. Building with us afterwards is your choice.
Assess
We map how your company works today and compare it with what the ERP does out of the box. You get a written report and a plan before anything is built.
output: report and planBuild
We set up the system, add the Lebanon localization and move your opening balances, items and customers across in both currencies.
output: your ERPTrain and go live
Each team learns the screens it will use, then we run a pilot and switch over when the numbers match.
output: a team that runs itMaintain
Support, upgrades and changes as your company grows, from the people who built it.
output: a system that keeps upWhat an ERP project costs, and how long it takes.
No one can quote an ERP project without knowing your scope. These are the parts that make up the price.
Licenses
Most ERPs charge per user, as a monthly or yearly subscription or a license. Ask for the current price list for your number of users.
Scope of the implementation
The number of companies, the apps you need, links to other systems and any custom work decide most of the price.
Data migration
Opening balances in both currencies, items, customers and suppliers, and any history you want to keep.
Training and support
Training before go-live and support afterwards belong in the budget from the start.
Timeline
One company on a few apps can go live within a few weeks. A group with production, branches and custom work takes several months.
The same ERP looks very different in a gold workshop and a freight forwarder.
See what we set up in your sector. All industries →
Retail, trading & distribution
Point of sale, stock across branches and dual-currency accounting on one system.
13 Odoo referencesManufacturing
Production planning, costing and traceability, with stock valued in two currencies.
Industry solutionJewelry & gold manufacturing
Weight and loss tracked at every bench, on Odoo Enterprise. Trusted by Lamar and Zoughaib & Co.
Industry solutionFreight forwarding & logistics
Every shipment from inquiry to invoice on one record. Trusted by Sea Sky Services, GES and SAT Congo.
11 Odoo referencesProfessional services
Projects, timesheets, invoicing and CRM for consultancies and service firms.
6 Odoo referencesNon-profit
Programs, donations and donor reporting, with every budget line traceable.
Questions about ERP in Lebanon
What Lebanese companies ask us before choosing a system.
What is the best ERP software for small businesses in Lebanon?
It depends on what you need the system to do. If the books are your main need, a local accounting program can be enough. Once stock, sales and accounts have to agree in USD and LBP, Odoo fits most small and mid-sized Lebanese companies, because you can start with a few apps and add more as you grow.
How much does an ERP system cost in Lebanon?
The price is made of licenses, the implementation, data migration, and training and support. Every project with us starts with an assessment. A typical assessment costs around $3,000. After it, you get an official quote for your scope.
How long does ERP implementation take in Lebanon?
One company on a few apps can go live within a few weeks. A group of companies with production, branches or custom work takes several months. The assessment gives you a realistic plan before you commit.
Can an ERP keep books in USD and LBP at the same time?
Yes, with the right localization. Our Lebanon suite for Odoo puts both currencies on every journal item and handles Lebanese VAT and CNSS payroll. See the Lebanon localization.
Do I need an ERP or an accounting system?
An accounting system keeps the books. An ERP also runs sales, purchases, stock, production and payroll, and posts them to the books automatically. If your team re-types the same figures into several tools, you're ready for an ERP.
How do I choose an ERP company in Lebanon?
Check the partner's listing and references on the software maker's website (odoo.com for Odoo), ask who will lead your project, and ask to see the Lebanese localization working with real data. Our guide to choosing an Odoo partner in Lebanon goes through each point.
Let's find the right ERP
for your company.
Tell us how you handle sales, stock and accounts today. In 30 minutes you'll know whether an ERP makes sense for you now and which system we'd look at first.
Book a free 30-minute call →No follow-up unless you ask for one. Prefer email? sales@navybits.com