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Appleno

All-in-one ERP with flat-rate pricing ($5/mo up to 50 users)

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September 25, 2026 Why I built an all-in-one ERP with flat $5/mo pricing (tired of per-seat SaaS taxes)

Hey Indie Hackers,

Like many of you running agencies, consultancies, or small teams, I hit a breaking point with software pricing last year.

Every time our team grew, our monthly tool bill exploded. Not because we needed new features, but because of the per-seat pricing trap:

  • $12/user on project management

  • $15/user on CRM

  • $8/user on time tracking

  • $10/user on invoicing

  • $10/user on client portal access

For a 10-person team, that is easily $500–$600+ every month just to keep 5 disconnected tools duct-taped together with Zapier.

So I set out to build Appleno — an all-in-one business management ERP built on a single unified database with strictly flat-rate pricing.

What We Built (All 12+ Modules Unlocked):

  1. CRM & Lead Pipelines: Track deals, contacts, and conversions without bloated enterprise setup.

  2. Project & Task Management: Kanban boards, sprint workflows, task assignments, and milestone tracking.

  3. Time Tracking & Timesheets: Log billable hours directly against client projects without third-party plugins.

  4. Invoicing & Billing: Generate professional invoices directly from logged time or fixed milestones and accept payments.

  5. White-Label Client Portal: Give clients a branded self-service hub to view project status, approve deliverables, and pay invoices (unlimited client accounts included at $0 extra).

  6. Supplier & Vendor Portal: Manage contractors, purchase orders, and supplier relationships in one shared workspace.

  7. HR & Team Operations: Manage leave requests, team capacity, and employee records.

The Pricing Philosophy: $5/Month Flat (Up to 50 Users)

I did not want to penalize teams for hiring. So our model is simple:

  • Solo / Evaluation Plan: $0 / Forever for 1 user (all 12+ modules fully unlocked).

  • Team Plan: Flat $5/month (or $50/year) for up to 50 active team members. Zero per-seat fees. Zero feature gating.

No locked modules, no surprise upgrades, and external client portal accounts are always unlimited and free.

Check it out: https://appleno.com

I would love honest feedback from other founders and agency owners here:

  • What is the biggest headache in your current agency or business tech stack?

  • How do you feel about flat-rate vs per-seat pricing models for operational software?

sarmadhussainch

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Integrated business management ERP connecting CRM, project delivery, timesheets, invoicing, client portals, and HR in one database. Flat-rate pricing ($5/mo for up to 50 users) with all 12+ modules fully unlocked.

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sarmadhussainchFounder