The good news? You don’t have to juggle three systems to stay compliant. With cannabis-specific ERP software, cultivators can integrate directly with Metrc and remove the need for QuickBooks altogether to save you time, money and sanity.  

The Trouble with QuickBooks in Cannabis 

QuickBooks is one of the most widely used accounting tools in the world. It’s affordable, accessible, and a majority of bookkeepers are trained on it. For basic journal entries or vendor payments, QuickBooks can get the job done. But for many cannabis operators, it falls short or leaves you hanging. 

QuickBooks doesn’t integrate with Metrc. That means cultivators must manually enter data into two separate systems, doubling the workload and the risk of human error. It also doesn’t handle batch management, yield tracking, or compliance tagging. When regulators audit, pulling accurate reports across spreadsheets, QuickBooks, and Metrc becomes a nightmare. On top of all the industry-specific shortcomings, the Intuit terms of service allow QuickBooks to pull the plug on cannabis businesses at any time.  

In short, QuickBooks was never designed for cannabis. For growing cultivators, the cracks show fast. 

Why ERP is Different 

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems built for cannabis combine finance, compliance, and operations in one platform. The right ERP integrates directly with Metrc, so every plant and every gram is tracked automatically. No duplicate entry. No gaps between systems. 

As a disclaimer, not EVERY ERP is built for cannabis. 365 Cannabis utilizes Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 Business Central ERP and has custom built it exclusively for cannabis. On a more confusing note, not every ERP in cannabis is actually an ERP- it’s common for some seed-to-sale software to claim they’re an ERP despite not delivering on the ERP promise.  

A true ERP streamlines all software for operators and eliminates the need for a mismatched tech stack.  

Here’s what cultivators gain with ERP: 

• Direct Metrc integration: Plant tagging, harvest data, and transfers flow automatically 

• Compliance-ready reports: Regulators ask, you pull the data fast 

• Audit trails: Every action is tracked, so you’re always inspection-ready 

• Integrated finance and forecasting: Cost per gram, yield forecasting, and revenue reporting are tied directly to your cultivation data 

Instead of bouncing between Metrc, QuickBooks, and spreadsheets, ERP creates one source of truth. 

Beyond Compliance: Smarter Operations with ERP 

The benefit of ERP goes beyond Metrc capabilities and what any seed-to-sale can offer. By uniting compliance and finance, cultivators finally see the true cost of production. Batch data connects directly to financial reports. Yield forecasts are grounded in real numbers, not guesses. Investors and stakeholders get clear, accurate reports. 

And without QuickBooks in the middle, finance teams don’t fight against a system that was never meant for cannabis. Everything lives in one platform designed for the industry. Your finance team will thank you, and they’re the team you really want to win over (trust us).  

Next Steps 

Metrc is mandatory. QuickBooks is optional. For cultivators who want to scale without compliance risk, ERP is the clear path forward. By integrating directly with Metrc and eliminating the need for QuickBooks, cannabis operators save time, reduce risk, and create a stronger foundation for growth. 

Your compliance system should not hold you back. Schedule a demo with 365 Cannabis today and see how ERP makes compliance simple, accurate, and scalable. 

The post Why Cannabis Cultivators Outgrow QuickBooks appeared first on 365 Cannabis.

What is Metrc?

So what is Metrc, and why is it a state-mandated regulatory system within the cannabis industry? Developed by the company Franwell Inc., Metrc was designed specifically for government agencies to regulate the cannabis industry. The primary purpose of Metrc for cannabis is to create safety and transparency for consumers within the industry while providing transactional and inventory data to state regulators. It acts as a source for all tracked events, eliminating discrepancies and red flags that may lead to investigations or the complete shutdown of an operation.

How Does Metrc Work?

Metrc integration works alongside your cannabis company’s standard API, with compatible dispensary software to manage day-to-day operations of production, distribution, and selling of cannabis products. Since every licensed cannabis company in a Metrc state has specific regulatory requirements for reporting inventory and sales, this software allows you to meet these regulatory requirements with 100% accuracy. States that have adopted Metrc compliance as their regulatory cannabis monitoring software include:

• Alaska
• California
• Colorado
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland (including Washington D.C)
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon

Metrc works by tracking your products through the use of Metrc tags. These RFID tags are not reusable, meaning that every package and plant tagged has a unique identifier. Metrc track and trace tags come in two different types: Plant and Package.

• Metrc Plant Tags – These tags include the facility name, license number, tag order date, and unique plant identification number. They also contain an application identifier to determine whether the product is for recreational or medical use. Recreational marijuana plant tags are blue, whereas medical marijuana tags are yellow.
• Metrc Package Tags – These Metrc track and trace items refer to the physical sticker that is placed on every package. Rather than using a plant number, they are each given a 24-digit package number, with only one type of product allowed in each package.

How to Use Metrc Integration For Your Cannabis Business

Getting started with Metrc integration for your company is relatively easy, but the nitty-gritty details require thorough research and reading of legal text for optimal compliance. Here are the steps to get started with your Metrc compliance software:

1. Register ALL employees into the Metrc system, and complete the training requirements.
2. Integrate your Metrc API key and license into your existing POS system.
3. Purchase Metrc track and trace Plant and Package tags directly through the software.
4. Set up products on the software, and confirm all tag assignments.
5. Receive your newly tagged product inventory within your POS system.
6. Ensure ongoing compliance between POS, Metrc software, and physical inventories.

While Metrc integration into your physical and POS inventories is convenient and relatively simple, there are a number of red flags that companies should be aware of throughout their entire operation. These can include:

• Processing sales from packages that do not feature any quantities
• Having packages with quantities that don’t match your physical inventory
• Missing days of sales and other tracking errors
• Incorrect data entry or miss-types (errors cannot be deleted or changed once they’re made, and every record is permanent!)

365 Cannabis

At 365 Cannabis, our cannabis regulatory software supports several multi-state operators. We’ve configured our regulatory integrations to ensure that your organization can operate in states with different mandatory reporting systems and still seamlessly funnel financial information according to your organization’s structure.

Explore our modules that can benefit your cannabis company, as well as our other cannabis compliance services. For any other questions or comments, contact us today to learn more.

The post Metrc Compliance For Cannabis Businesses appeared first on 365 Cannabis.