Business Central for consulting firms looking to scale with confidence

Run a more predictable and profitable consulting business with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Connect your projects, people and finances in one modern ERP so you can grow with control, protect margin and improve client satisfaction.

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Why consulting businesses need Dynamics 365 Business Central

Consulting becomes harder to manage when your systems do not work together. Dynamics 365 Business Central unifies finance, project data and operations so leaders can plan, deliver and grow from a single, connected platform.

Dynamics 365 Business Central is Microsoft’s business management solution that brings finance, sales, service and operations into one cloud platform. For consulting businesses, it acts as an ERP system that links project accounting, billing, resource planning and financial management. This means your partners, finance teams and operations leaders can see the same real-time picture of performance and act on it quickly.

With Business Central, consulting firms can move away from spreadsheets and disconnected tools and replace them with one integrated system that supports better decisions, stronger control and sustainable growth. If you want to see what an ERP built around Business Central can do for a consulting business like yours, keep reading.

Meet Business Central: an ERP for consulting businesses

An ERP system designed for consulting firms can transform how you manage projects, people and profit. Business Central gives you the visibility and control needed to run a more efficient and scalable consulting business.

Unified business operations

Business Central brings together finance, project delivery, resource planning and reporting in one environment. This helps partners, finance and operations teams work from the same data rather than separate spreadsheets, so you can reduce confusion, cut duplication and make quicker, more confident decisions.

Improved project profitability

By linking budgets, timesheets, expenses and invoices, Business Central gives you a clear view of engagement profitability. You can see which projects and clients are driving margin, which ones are at risk and where scope or resourcing needs to change to protect profit.

Better utilisation of consultants

Business Central helps you track consultant availability, skills and assignments in real time. This means you can match people to projects more effectively, reduce bench time and avoid overloading key individuals, all of which support higher billable utilisation and better staff retention.

Stronger cash flow and revenue control

With integrated billing schedules, milestone tracking and debtor management, Business Central helps you bill accurately and on time. Finance teams can see expected income, overdue invoices and work in progress more clearly, which makes it easier to reduce lock-up and maintain a healthy cash position.

Regulatory and data compliance

Consulting firms handle sensitive client data and must demonstrate strong financial control. Business Central benefits from Microsoft’s built-in security, compliance and audit features, which help you meet internal policies and external regulations while keeping client information protected.

Scalability for growing firms

As your consulting business adds new service lines, opens new offices or expands internationally, Business Central scales with you. It supports multiple entities, currencies and localisations, so you can grow while keeping a consistent operating model and central view of performance.

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Discover how Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central works

Why your business needs an ERP

82%

of businesses are utilising an ERP

1 in 5

businesses are dissatisfied with their current ERP

96%

of businesses say using an ERP has contributed to achieving business outcomes

Data taken from a survey we commissioned in December 2024

ERP designed for consulting businesses

Consulting leaders need clear insight into project performance, cost and capacity. Dynamics 365 Business Central is well suited to consulting firms because it focuses on the processes that matter most, such as project management, budgeting and resource planning.

Client and engagement reporting

Provide partners and practice leaders with clear dashboards that show revenue, margin, utilisation and pipeline contribution by client or sector. This helps leaders develop higher value relationships, refine service offerings and focus attention on the areas that create the most value for the firm.

Resource and utilisation planning

Use Business Central to understand who is available, what skills they have and where they are currently allocated. Operations leaders can build more realistic plans, reduce bottlenecks and support fairer workloads. This leads to higher utilisation, better morale and more predictable project delivery.

Project and engagement management

Plan, run and monitor client engagements in one system. Business Central supports project structures, tasks and budgets so project directors can track progress and intervene early if scope, cost or timelines begin to drift. This makes it easier to deliver work on time and to agreed quality levels.

Budgeting and cost control

Track budgets, actuals and commitments across all your projects. With Business Central, finance teams and partners can see where costs are rising, which engagements are under pressure and where to adjust pricing or resourcing to keep work profitable. This improves financial discipline without blocking delivery.

Why consulting businesses choose Dynamics 365 Business Central

Project profitability tracking

Consulting firms use Business Central to track profitability at project and client level. By combining time, expenses and subcontractor costs, you gain a reliable view of margin. This allows leaders to identify underperforming engagements quickly and take action, such as revisiting scope or reallocating resources, before issues escalate.

Utilisation management

Business Central helps consulting businesses measure and manage utilisation with more accuracy. Timesheets feed directly into the system, giving real-time insight into billable versus non-billable time. Operations and practice leaders can then make informed decisions about hiring, skills development and workload balancing.

Multi-entity and international operations

For consulting groups that operate across multiple legal entities or countries, Business Central offers a unified platform with multi-currency and multi-entity support. This lets you maintain local compliance while still reporting at group level, giving leadership teams a consistent view of performance across all parts of the business.

Internal consulting and transformation teams

In-house consulting and transformation teams can use Business Central to manage internal initiatives with the same discipline as external client work. By tracking time, costs and benefits in a structured way, it becomes easier to prove value, justify investment and report to senior stakeholders across the organisation.

Leadership reporting and insight

Partners and executives need fast, accurate insight rather than static monthly reports. With Business Central as your core ERP, you can connect to Microsoft Power BI and other reporting tools to create interactive dashboards. This supports better strategic decisions based on live data rather than retrospective analysis.

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Download our report

The Dynamics of Success

Get a better understanding of the benefits of using a CRM system - allowing businesses like yours to overcome fragmented systems and disconnected workflows. Don't just read about them either, our report provides you with actionable insights and practical recommendations so that you can begin to make data-led decisions.

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Download our report

The Dynamics of Success

Get a better understanding of the benefits of using a CRM system - allowing businesses like yours to overcome fragmented systems and disconnected workflows. Don't just read about them either, our report provides you with actionable insights and practical recommendations so that you can begin to make data-led decisions.

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Supercharge your consulting operations with Business Central

Consulting firms need systems that support growth, not slow it down. Dynamics 365 Business Central gives you an ERP built for visibility, control and scalability, so you can manage every engagement with confidence and turn insight into action.

To learn more about Business Central for consulting businesses, or to see how an ERP like this would work for your firm, fill in this short form and a specialist will get in touch.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central for consulting businesses?

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a cloud-based business management solution from Microsoft that connects finance, projects, sales and operations in one platform. For consulting businesses, it acts as an ERP that supports project accounting, billing, resource planning and financial management, helping firms run more efficiently and profitably.

Is Business Central suitable for small and mid-sized consulting firms?

Yes. Business Central is designed for small and mid-sized organisations that have outgrown basic accounting software or disconnected tools. It is a strong fit for small and mid-sized consulting firms that want better control over projects, cash flow and utilisation without the complexity of large enterprise systems.

How does Business Central help improve project profitability in consulting?

Business Central links project budgets, timesheets, expenses and invoices so you can see the real-time financial position of each engagement. This helps partners and project leaders identify where costs are rising, where scope has changed and where resourcing needs to be adjusted, all of which support stronger project profitability.

Can Business Central manage time, expenses and different billing models?

Yes. Consultants can record time and expenses directly against projects in Business Central, and finance teams can set up billing rules for fixed fee, time and materials, milestone-based work and retainers. This reduces manual processing, improves billing accuracy and helps recover more of the work you deliver.

Does Business Central integrate with Microsoft 365 and other tools we use?

Business Central integrates closely with Microsoft 365 applications such as Outlook, Excel, Teams and Power BI. This allows your teams to work in familiar tools while still feeding a single source of data. It can also connect to other systems through APIs and the Microsoft Power Platform, which your implementation partner can help you design.

How secure is Business Central for sensitive client data?

Business Central is hosted on Microsoft cloud infrastructure and benefits from Microsoft’s security, compliance and privacy controls. This includes data encryption, role-based access and audit trails that help consulting firms protect sensitive client information and demonstrate strong information governance. For detailed information, you can refer to the official Microsoft documentation.

How long does it take to implement Business Central for a consulting firm?

Implementation timelines vary depending on your scope, the number of entities involved and how many processes you want to include from day one. A focused consulting deployment that covers finance, projects and billing is usually faster than a wide-ranging transformation that includes every part of the business. A specialist partner will work with you to create a realistic roadmap based on your priorities.

Can Business Central support remote and hybrid consulting teams?

Yes. Business Central is a cloud solution, so consultants and support staff can access it securely from any location with an internet connection. Combined with Microsoft Teams and other collaboration tools, this supports remote and hybrid working models while keeping your project and financial data in one place.

How does Business Central compare with other Microsoft solutions for project-based work?

Within the Microsoft ecosystem, Business Central focuses on end-to-end business management for small and mid-sized organisations, including finance and projects. Other solutions, such as Dynamics 365 Project Operations, focus more heavily on complex project scenarios. The right choice depends on your size, processes and growth plans, so it is important to review the official Microsoft guidance and work with an experienced partner.

How much does Business Central cost for a consulting business?

Business Central is licensed on a per-user basis, with different licence types available depending on the level of access required. Get in touch today to find out how much Business Central may cost your business.