Updated 24/10/2026
Sage 50, Xero, Unleashed, Brightpearl and OpesFlux compared for small UK wholesalers and shops: what each does, what it costs, and who it suits.
There is no single best ERP system. There is a best fit for how your business runs. This guide compares five options small UK wholesalers and shops often look at, using facts from each company's own website (checked on 24/10/2026). We make one of them, OpesFlux, so we've been careful to say where the others are the better choice.
| If you mainly need… | Look at |
|---|---|
| Accounting, with VAT returns filed to HMRC from the software | Sage 50 or Xero |
| Specialist inventory with batch/serial tracking and a B2B web store | Unleashed |
| High-volume multichannel ecommerce with a scoped implementation | Brightpearl |
| Tills, stock, purchasing, accounts and payroll in one system at small-business prices | OpesFlux |
Long-established desktop accounting software with cloud connectivity. Sage's site lists stock tracking, Making Tax Digital for VAT, and, on the Professional plan, sales and purchase orders, advanced stock management and individual pricing per customer. Payroll is a separate product (Sage 50 Payroll). Sage lists Standard from £115 + VAT a month and Professional from £234 + VAT a month.
Suits: businesses where accounting is the centre and MTD filing must come from the software. Full OpesFlux vs Sage 50 comparison.
Cloud accounting with plans from £18 to £70 a month excl. VAT (after Xero's introductory offer), VAT returns submitted to HMRC, and payroll included for 1 to 10 people depending on the plan. Xero's inventory page says it manages up to 4,000 items. It has no till, so shops add a separate EPOS system.
Suits: businesses with simple stock that want strong accounting. OpesFlux vs Xero and spreadsheets.
Specialist inventory software with batch and serial tracking, bin locations, production assemblies and a B2B ecommerce store, connecting to Xero or QuickBooks Online for accounting. Plans are US$399 (Core) and US$729 (Pro) a month excluding tax, plus a one-off onboarding package from US$449.
Suits: wholesalers who need traceability and are happy to run accounts in a separate package. OpesFlux vs Unleashed.
A retail operating system, part of Sage, for multichannel retailers and wholesalers, with warehouse management and a retail accounting module. Pricing is by quote, and Brightpearl's site says customers go live in 90-120 days on average.
Suits: larger multichannel sellers with budget for an implementation project. OpesFlux vs Brightpearl.
One system for the till, stock, purchase orders, invoicing, double-entry accounts and payroll, at £19, £49 or £99 a month. The till keeps selling offline, stock is held per location, and UK payroll calculates PAYE, NI and pensions.
What it doesn't do: it doesn't submit VAT returns or RTI to HMRC, and has no batch or serial tracking, loyalty schemes or B2B web store.
Suits: UK wholesalers, cash and carry businesses, off-licences, café groups and shops with more than one site that want everything in one place. See pricing or book a demo.
Prices and features change, so check each supplier's own site before you decide.
Working out your stock levels? Our free reorder point calculator shows when to reorder and how much safety stock to hold.
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