What does Spire cost? The SBT Pro, ACCPAC Pro and Sage Pro ERP version.

I have promoted Spire Systems to you, my SBT Pro Series, ACCPAC Pro and Sage Pro ERP clients, in a series of emails and private phone calls for the past few months as a suitable upgrade. Some of you are interested. Those who are ask, “Matt, how much does Spire cost?”

In enterprise software sales school, we are taught to deflect this question towards a discussion of value so that, when the price is finally revealed (deep into the sales process), the “value proposition” overwhelms the sticker shock. This approach never made any sense to me.  My view is that I should reveal a realistic estimate of cost as soon as I can. If the price it too high, we end the sales campaign and not waste each other’s time. With that in mind, I will tell you what Spire costs as best I can.

The typical SBT Pro Series, ACCPAC Pro and Sage Pro ERP user paid between $10,000 and $30,000 for their system depending on the number of modules and users. For larger companies, it was more, for smaller companies, less. Also, you paid me, or someone like me, consulting fees for support, customizations, reports, integrations and other services.

The basic Spire license costs $7000. The basic Spire license includes all core modules and a single ‘seat’ license. You may add more seats for $600 each. For a five-user Spire license, the basic price is $9400: $7000 + 4*$600 = $7000 + $2400 = $9600.

Spire also offers a “Small Business Edition” which costs $4000 for the basic, single user license and, again, $600 per additional user up to a maximum of three users. If you jump from Spire Small Business Edition to Spire, you pay the difference between the two licenses.

This price includes one year of software maintenance from Spire Systems. You get all updates to your Spire system in the first year for free. In the second and following years, you must renew your contract if you want to continue to receive updates. The cost of renewing your annual maintenance contract is approximately 20% of a new Spire license price. With our hypothetical $9600 Spire license, your annual software maintenance contract, at current prices, will run $1920.

If you are in California, I must collect local sales tax as well. If you are outside of California, no sales tax.

There are two optional modules which will add cost to your license if you buy them. Production Manager is for true manufacturers and costs $4000. Basic Spire has a strong Bill of Materials module, but those who want to add production orders and material resource planning (“MRP”)  should add Production Manager. Service Manager is for equipment repair and maintenance companies. It costs $4000. If this is your business, let’s talk about Spire Service Manager.

You will incur other costs if you buy a Spire license (or any competing ERP system). The big, additional cost is service from me. I will sell you a Spire license without service, if you wish, but a typical Spire project includes a considerable amount of expert service. You should know what that will cost before you start your Spire project.

Implementation service includes but is not limited to a) project planning, b) software installation, c) configuration, d) training, e) data conversion, f) report writing and g) ‘go live’ support. While each project is different, the rule of thumb is to budget 100% to 150% of the cost of the software license for service. If your Spire license costs $9,600, expect to pay between $9,600 and $15,000 more for implementation service. This is an estimate. Your cost will vary. The more work you do, the less I do and the less I charge.

You may want 3rd-party software for your Spire system. There is a nice catalog of 3rd-party add-ons for Spire and the catalog is growing. These add-ons include web site integration, EDI, warehouse management systems, mobile sales and service, rentals and CRM. Each of these has costs.

You may need to buy new computers to run Spire. Lefkowitz Systems does not sell computers or computer networking services. You should know Spire’s system requirements and add computer costs to your budget if you need new computers.

Still with me? This is what Spire costs, and this is how you should budget for a new Spire system. I can make a quote sheet for you if you want to see what your Spire license is likely to cost.

Spire (and any ERP) is a long-term, fixed asset. You should amortize the cost of Spire over at least five years and probably longer. How long have you run your SBT Pro, ACCPAC Pro or Sage Pro ERP software? Expect the same life from Spire and the costs of the Spire project are easier to absorb.

Spire is a great deal if it fits. Do not trust me on this point. Look at the competition. It will take you much longer to get a hard quote from most other ERP software resellers than from Lefkowitz Systems but, eventually, you will. Spire will be less expensive and, likely, Spire will be better software. You will not sacrifice power or quality if you choose Spire.

Those are the costs. Much harder to determine are the benefits. Once you know the costs, the next step is to assess the benefits to complete your Spire cost-benefit analysis. I can help. If you are ready to retire your SBT Pro, ACCPAC Pro or Sage Pro ERP system, consider Spire and Lefkowitz Systems.

-Matthew Lefkowitz, President
Lefkowitz Systems, Inc.

August, 2023

P.S.        The “core” Spire license includes the following modules: Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Account Reconciliation, Bill of Materials, Communications, Customers, General Ledger, Inventory, Job Costing, Multi-Currency, Price Matrix, Point of Sale, Purchase History, Purchase Orders, Requisitions, Sales History, Sales Orders, Vendors