Is Odoo a good investment for a small business?
The short answer - it depends. Mainly on your team size, how complex your processes are, and what your budget looks like.
If you're considering it, here's what you need to know.
Many small businesses stop to consider whether Odoo is worth the investment
There comes a point in many small businesses when disorganization in paperwork, inventory, and sales starts to get in the way. That’s usually when people begin looking for ways to scale up. One option that often comes up is implementing Odoo.
And right after that comes the question: Is a system like Odoo worth it for our small business?
But first:
How does Odoo work?
Odoo is an ERP system (ERP – software for managing a company’s resources) made up of modules. You can start with basics like invoicing or CRM, and later add inventory, purchasing, manufacturing, or even accounting. One of Odoo’s key strengths is that everything works in a single application. No need to jump between tools. Think of it like LEGO blocks for business - you pick only what you need.
How much does Odoo cost for a small business?
Good news first: your first Odoo app is completely free, no matter how many users or how long you use it. So if you want to try just the invoicing module or CRM, you can do that with zero cost.
Costs come in when you want more than one app. Odoo uses a subscription model - you pay monthly for each user. You can check current pricing on Odoo’s official site.
Then there’s the cost of implementation, which means getting the system tailored to your needs.
What does implementation mean exactly?
It usually includes setup, customizing your workflows, integrating with other systems (like accounting or delivery services), migrating data, and sometimes training your team. You’ll need it if your business requirements go beyond what basic Odoo offers.
Is implementation always necessary? No
If your company has a simple structure and you don’t need any special integrations, you might be fine handling it yourself.
But if you:
- handle customers through different channels (e.g. online, by phone, in person)
- manage a bigger team or need coordinated workflows
- want to automate invoicing, payments, or tracking resources
then getting a proper implementation may be the right move.
Odoo in small businesses
So how does Odoo actually work out in a small business setting?
It helps organize daily operations without requiring you to change everything at once. Since it's modular, small businesses often start with just a few apps and see how it fits.
Example: a small laundry business
A friend of mine runs a small laundry service that caters to hotels in his town and nearby. He heard about Odoo and decided to test it out:
“I heard about Odoo from a friend who said it could do everything. We were running everything in Excel and were missing proper analytics - it took too long to enter data manually.
We started with one user and just a couple of modules: accounting and sales. Our laundry operates in Wisła, we have a lot of small clients, and there's always something going on. The sales module helped streamline customer service, which was our biggest bottleneck. Generating sales receipts is simple: click the service name and price, then print or email them.
At the end of each month, we issue quite a few invoices now.
We’re really happy seeing how much more efficient things have become!”
~ Paweł Pilch, Kwalitet
When does Odoo makes sense for small businesses?
To sum up - Odoo works best for companies that:
- are planning to grow, because you can expand the system without changing your tools every year
- want to combine different areas of their operations into one system
Frequently asked questions
Is Odoo good for small businesses?
Yes - especially if you want to tidy up your processes, plan for growth, and stop juggling multiple programs.
How much does Odoo cost for a small business?
The first app is free. Costs increase based on users and modules. You can find pricing details on Odoo’s website.
Is Odoo suitable for microbusinesses with 1–5 employees?
Yes, even the smallest companies can use Odoo. With just one user and one app, the system is free, so you can start without any investment.
Summary
Odoo isn’t the right solution for everyone, but for many small businesses, it can be the missing piece that brings order to everyday chaos and helps take things to the next level. If you're tired of Excel and using several disconnected tools - it’s worth giving it a try.
Got more questions about implementing Odoo? Ask us anything! We’re Odoo experts and happy to help.
