Metrc is the standardized backbone of cannabis compliance. Every plant, transfer, and sale must be recorded, and cultivators know the rules are non-negotiable. For small operations, spreadsheets and QuickBooks can work as a starting point. But for medium and large cultivators, this Frankenstein tech system creates more problems than it solves. Manual entry leads to mistakes, period. QuickBooks doesn’t connect to Metrc, period. Spreadsheets aren’t audit-proof, period. At scale, the compliance burden becomes a business risk. 

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.