Free ERP for small business: an honest answer
If you search for a free ERP for small business, you probably want one place for customers, work and money, without a large bill or a long setup. The Lead suite answers part of that need very well, and we say clearly which part. It is not a full ERP that replaces an existing one. It covers sales, projects, invoicing and bookkeeping for small businesses and freelancers, and every app except CashLead starts free.
No credit card. Every app except CashLead has its free plan, with no time limit.
Not a classic ERP, and that is intentional
A classic ERP usually brings together production, stock, purchasing, payroll and finance in one large system. If you already run software such as Abacus, Proffix or bexio, the Lead suite is not meant to replace it.
The Lead suite is built for what most small teams do every day: find customers, follow them up, deliver the project, invoice it and keep the books. Each job has its own app, and one free Lead account links them.
The apps pass work on to each other. Trade-show contacts arrive in the CRM with their notes. A won deal becomes a project. Logged hours become lines of a draft invoice. For a small business, that is often the part of an ERP that matters most, without the setup.
Four areas, each with its own app
Sales
CRMlead gives every lead a dated next action, a kanban pipeline and a morning list. ScanLead captures trade-show contacts.
Projects
ProjectLead handles steps, tasks, deadlines and time tracking per person and per project.
Invoicing
InvoiceLead creates quotes and invoices following each country's rules, with automatic reminders on three levels.
Bookkeeping
InvoiceLead keeps double-entry accounts ready for your accountant, reads receipts from a photo and matches payments with the bank statement.
What is free, app by app
| App | Free plan | With a paid plan |
|---|---|---|
| Lead account | Always free, opens every app except CashLead on its free plan | Nothing to pay |
| ScanLead | Free, every feature included | Nothing to pay |
| CRMlead | Up to 50 leads, no time limit | Unlimited leads and every feature |
| ProjectLead | 3 active projects, 1 person | Unlimited projects, then the whole team |
| InvoiceLead | 5 invoices and 10 receipt scans per month | VAT returns, multi-currency, access for your accountant |
The right answer to this search if
- You are a freelancer or a small team without an ERP, and you want sales, projects and invoices connected.
- You invoice in Switzerland, Germany, France, the United Kingdom or the United States.
- You want to start free and pay only in the app that calls for it.
- You want to be up and running in minutes, without an implementation project.
- It is not the right answer if you need production, stock or payroll in the same system.
An AI Assistant that knows your account
The ERPlead AI Assistant reads your profile, your organization, your plan in each app, your subscriptions (read only) and your open sessions, then opens the right screen. It proposes account changes such as display name, language or organization name, several at once on one “To confirm” card, and applies them with one click on “Confirm”. Nothing is written without that click. It only answers about your account and the Lead apps, with the equivalent of 10 requests per month on the free plan. Each app except CashLead has its own built-in AI Assistant too.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Lead suite a free ERP?
Not in the classic sense. It is a set of connected apps for sales, projects, invoicing and bookkeeping, each with a free plan except CashLead. It does not cover production, stock or payroll.
Can it replace Abacus, Proffix or bexio?
No, that is not its purpose. If you already use one of these, keep it. CashLead is designed to read the exports of an existing ERP, not to replace it.
What do I get for free?
The Lead account is free and opens every app except CashLead on its free plan. For example, CRMlead is free up to 50 leads and InvoiceLead is free for 5 invoices and 10 receipt scans per month, with no time limit.
Will my accountant be able to use the books?
Yes. InvoiceLead keeps double-entry bookkeeping ready for your accountant. With the Pro plan, you can give your accountant access.
Is it suitable for a freelancer?
Yes. All free plans work for one person. Many freelancers start with InvoiceLead or CRMlead and add the others later.
Read next
Start with the free plans
Create your Lead account, no credit card. You can open every app except CashLead on its free plan right away.