Business Central Implementation Time: What’s the Average Timeline (By Company Size + Complexity)?

The 3 Timelines People Mean When They Say “Implementation Time”

When someone searches “business central implementation time,” they usually mean one of these:

1) Rapid / Express Setup (Fastest)

This is for companies that want a clean, standard setup with minimal complexity.

• Typical timeline: 4–10 weeks

• Best for: finance and basic inventory, limited integrations, clean data, simple processes

2) Standard Implementation (Most Common)

This is the “normal” SMB implementation where you’re configuring core processes, migrating real data, training teams, and testing.

• Typical timeline: 3–6 months

• Best for: finance + inventory + purchasing + sales, plus light manufacturing or basic warehousing

3) Complex / Multi-Phase Implementation (Longest)

This is when you have multiple entities, heavy integrations, advanced manufacturing, EDI, WMS, custom workflows, or you’re rolling out in phases.

• Typical timeline: 6–12+ months

• Best for: multi-entity, complex supply chain, lots of integrations, or global operations

This is why “company size” helps… but “complexity” matters just as much.

Why Business Central Timelines Vary (The Real Drivers)

Here’s what usually makes the difference between a 10-week project and a 10-month project:

• Number of users: More users = more roles, permissions, and training.

• Modules selected: Financials only is faster. Add manufacturing, warehousing, or service management and the timeline grows.

• Data migration: Clean, structured data speeds things up. Messy, outdated data adds weeks (sometimes months).

• Integrations: Connecting CRM, ecommerce, payroll, shipping, EDI, WMS, or reporting tools adds complexity. If you’re adding EDI, shipping, or other systems, integrations can add time. Here are common integration pitfalls to avoid.

• Internal ownership: A dedicated internal project lead can shave weeks off the timeline.

• Decision speed: Fast decisions keep momentum. Slow approvals and constant rework drag things out.

The Business Central Implementation Timeline (By Phase)

Here’s what a “normal” implementation looks like, broken into phases. Your project might label these slightly differently, but the flow is basically the same. I also might be helpful to view Microsoft’s implementation guide.

Phase 1: Discovery + Planning (1–3 weeks)

• Confirm scope

• Map current processes (high level)

• Identify gaps and must-haves

• Lock the timeline and responsibilities

Phase 2: Setup + Configuration (2–8 weeks)

• Configure chart of accounts, dimensions, posting setups

• Set up users, roles, permissions

• Configure purchasing, sales, inventory, warehouse flows (as needed)

Phase 3: Data Migration + Cleanup (2–8+ weeks)

This is the most underestimated part. Data migration is where timelines stretch. If you want to avoid delays, this guide explains how to keep implementation scope under control.

• Clean up item masters, vendors, customers

• Decide what history you’re bringing over (and what you aren’t)

• Validate results (this takes longer than people expect)

Phase 4: Integrations + Extensions (0–8+ weeks, depends)

• EDI, shipping tools, ecommerce, payroll, CRM, reporting

• Sometimes these run in parallel, sometimes they block go-live

• You can view all Business Central apps on AppSource

Phase 5: Testing + UAT (2–6 weeks)

• End-to-end testing (real workflows)

• Fixing issues and adjusting configs

• UAT with the actual people who will run the business day to day

Phase 6: Training + Change Management (2–6 weeks)

• Training by role (finance, warehouse, purchasing, sales, etc.)

• Practice cycles so go-live doesn’t feel like a cliff

Phase 7: Go-Live + Stabilization (2–6 weeks)

• Cutover planning

• Go-live support

• Stabilization period where you fix small issues and tighten process

If you want a simple rule of thumb: data + training usually take longer than software setup.

Average Timelines by Company Size (With Examples)

Small Business (Under 25 Users) — 2 to 3 Months

These projects are usually the fastest. Many small companies move from QuickBooks or Sage into Business Central with a lean setup.

• Common scope: Financials, light inventory, purchasing, sales

• Example: A 15-user distributor implemented Business Central in ~10 weeks because their data was clean and they had one internal project champion driving decisions.

Mid-Size (25–100 Users) — 3 to 6 Months

This is the most common range. Multiple departments are involved, which means more testing, training, and real workflow validation.

• Common scope: Financials, distribution, light manufacturing

• Example: A 60-user manufacturer took about 5 months to go live. Training needed to be staggered so production wasn’t disrupted.

Larger SMB (100–250 Users) — 6 to 9 Months

At this size, you often have multiple entities, more approvals, and more integrations.

• Common scope: Financials, manufacturing, warehouse, multi-entity

• Example: A 120-user company took ~8 months because they needed integrations with Salesforce and a third-party payroll system.

Complex SMBs (250+ Users, Multi-Entity) — 9 to 12+ Months

Large SMBs with subsidiaries, advanced ops, or global needs often roll out in phases.

• Example: A 300-user distributor planned a phased rollout over ~14 months, with wave one covering finance and wave two covering supply chain and operations.

How to Speed Up a Business Central Implementation (Without Cutting Corners)

If your goal is to shorten implementation time, these are the moves that actually work:

• Clean your data early. Do not wait until the last minute.

• Pick an internal owner. One person needs to drive the project internally.

• Decide what “go-live ready” means. Do not try to perfect everything before launch.

• Limit scope creep. Stick to core requirements, push nice-to-haves to phase 2.

• Test with real scenarios. Don’t just click around. Use real workflows.

• Choose a partner that knows your industry. Industry experience can save months of trial-and-error.

• If you’re still deciding between platforms, this Business Central vs NetSuite comparison can help.

Pros and Cons of a Faster vs. Longer Timeline

FAQs About Business Central Implementation Time

How long does it take to implement Business Central for a 10–25 user company?

Most fall in the 2–3 month range, unless you’re doing heavy integrations or complex inventory/workflows.

What’s the #1 reason Business Central implementations take longer than expected?

Data cleanup + validation. Almost every company underestimates how much time it takes to get item masters, customers, vendors, and opening balances truly clean.

Can we go live with finance first and add operations later?

Yes, and it’s often a smart approach for complex companies. A phased rollout can reduce risk and make change easier to manage.

How long does data migration take?

It depends on how clean your data is and how much history you want. For many SMBs, 2–8 weeks is normal, and more if data is messy.

Is a 6–10 week implementation realistic?

It can be, but only when scope is tight (finance + basic inventory), data is clean, and your team can move quickly on decisions.

How long until people feel comfortable after go-live?

Most teams need 2–6 weeks to feel steady, and 2–3 months to feel confident and efficient.

Business Central Implementation Time: The Bottom Line

So, what’s the average Business Central implementation time?

For most SMBs, it lands somewhere between 3 and 9 months, but you can move faster (or slower) depending on complexity, data readiness, and how engaged your team is.

The biggest mistake we see is businesses underestimating timelines and overpromising internally.

A realistic plan, clear scope, and an implementation that matches your complexity level will help you set the right expectations, keep your team motivated, and actually get live successfully If you want a realistic timeline for your company size and scope, you can get a quick estimate here.