What Passport Software does

Passport Software, Inc. is a privately held U.S. software company founded in 1983 and headquartered in Northfield, Illinois, that develops Passport Business Solutions (PBS), a modular on-premise ERP suite for small and mid-sized businesses with annual sales between $5 million and $100 million. The platform is built on Microsoft SQL (with Linux deployment also supported) and offers integrated accounting (general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, payroll, check reconciliation), manufacturing (BOM control, shop floor control, MRP, job costing, capacity planning), distribution (inventory, order entry, pick-n-pack with barcode scanning), retail/POS, and an IRS-certified ACA compliance module. Add-on products extend the core platform with cloud backup (CloudSave), time tracking (TimeClick), reporting (AcuXDBC, Query Builder), remote access (Thin Client), ecommerce/EDI, credit card processing, and tax automation via Avalara.

The company monetizes primarily through one-time software licensing with nominal annual update and maintenance fees, supplemented by recurring revenue from CloudSave subscriptions and professional services revenue from ACA Full Service. Distribution is channel-led, relying on an established partner network of accounting professionals, IT experts, and vertical specialists (including long-tenured resellers such as Bruce Meyer & Associates since ~1984) plus direct phone and website-led sales. U.S.-based expert consulting and customer support, modular pricing that lets customers purchase only needed modules, and on-premise deployment (with no required monthly SaaS payments) are positioned as core differentiators against cloud-native SMB ERP competitors, though the company does not solicit business in the EU.

Name

Passport Software

Legal name

Passport Software, Inc.

Website

http://pass-port.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Passport Software, Inc. is a privately held U.S. software company that develops Passport Business Solutions (PBS), a modular on-premise ERP suite serving small and mid-sized manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and Applicable Large Employers with accounting, manufacturing, distribution, payroll, and ACA compliance capabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small and Mid-Sized Business ERP Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Core ERP Suites (Financials, Procurement, Projects) (HDAEAEAA)

Keywords

• Small business ERP software
• Manufacturing accounting software
• ACA compliance software
• Distribution inventory management
• Retail point of sale software

Headquarters

HQ city

Northfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing: One-time licensing fee for on-premise software with nominal annual update fees for maintenance and regulatory compliance updates (such as ACA tax law changes). The modular design allows customers to purchase only needed modules.
2. ACA Full Service: Full-service ACA management where customers provide employee spreadsheet data and Passport handles compliance monitoring, 1094-C and 1095-C preparation, electronic filing, and optional IRS-approved proxy submission throughout the year.
3. Partner Network: Revenue generated through partner network of resellers, implementers, and consultants who sell and deploy PBS software to end customers. Partners receive competitive margins.
4. Annual Software Maintenance and Updates: Ongoing annual fees for software updates that keep the system current with regulatory requirements and add new features.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Passport Software develops and sells Passport Business Solutions (PBS), a modular on-premise ERP platform for small and mid-sized businesses with $5M–$100M in annual sales, offering accounting, manufacturing (BOM control, MRP, shop floor control), distribution, retail/POS, payroll, and ACA compliance modules. The software runs on Microsoft SQL with optional Linux support, is sold via one-time licensing with nominal annual update fees, and is complemented by Passport CloudSave cloud backup, CashPoint for NCR Voyix Counterpoint, and managed-service options such as ACA Full Service.

Product overview

Passport Software offers Passport Business Solutions (PBS), a modular ERP platform with flexible deployment options (on-premise, Linux, or Microsoft SQL environments) designed for small to mid-sized businesses with annual sales from $5 million to $100 million. The core platform includes integrated accounting modules (Payroll, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger, Check Reconciliation) and industry-specific solutions for manufacturing (PBS Manufacturing with BOM control, shop floor control, MRP, job costing, capacity planning), distribution (Inventory Management, Order Entry, Purchase Orders, Pick-N-Pack, barcode scanning), retail (Point of Sale), and ACA compliance (IRS-certified ACA Software with proxy submission). Add-on products include CloudSave cloud backup, TimeClick time clock, AcuXDBC database reporting, Query Builder, Thin Client remote access, Ecommerce/EDI integration, Credit Card Processing, Food Service Payroll, and Sales/Use Tax Compliance via Avalara. The company, founded in 1983 and headquartered in Northfield, IL, also acquired the RealWorld product line.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Passport Business Solutions™ (PBS™): Core accounting and business software product line offering modular solutions for accounting, payroll, and business management.
• CashPoint™
• PBS Manufacturing Series
• PBS Essentials
• PBS Mobility
• PBS eDocs
• Passport CloudSave™
• PBS Pack-N-Ship
• EZ Convert
• Passport Data Query
• PBS™ Query Builder

Products and services

• Passport Business Solutions (PBS) Modular on-premise ERP suite for small and mid-sized U.S. businesses with $5M–$100M in annual sales, providing integrated accounting, manufacturing, distribution, retail/POS, payroll, and ACA compliance modules deployable on Microsoft SQL or Linux.
• PBS Manufacturing Manufacturing ERP module giving small and mid-sized manufacturers full multi-level Bill of Materials control, MRP, capacity planning, shop floor control with barcode scanning, job costing, inventory management, and production scheduling.
• PBS Distribution Distribution software providing inventory management, customer order processing, pick-n-pack with barcode scanning, purchase orders, and reporting aimed at achieving near-100% order fill rates and timely shipping.
• PBS Retail (Point of Sale) Point of Sale solution that efficiently processes sales transactions for wholesale and retail businesses, accommodating walk-in, internet, and telephone orders in a single package.
• PBS Payroll Comprehensive in-house payroll software that maintains employee data, calculates taxes, handles deductions, prints payroll checks, supports multi-state payroll and ACH direct deposit, and integrates with TimeClick time clock software.
• ACA Software and Full Service IRS-certified ACA compliance software providing automated 1094-C and 1095-C preparation, electronic filing, year-round employee eligibility and affordability monitoring, plus an optional Full Service managed offering in which Passport handles compliance and IRS-approved proxy submission for the employer.
• Passport CloudSave Cloud-based backup service for PBS and other data, offering automated scheduling, data encryption, and rapid data restoration with Basic (200GB) and Premium (500GB) monthly subscription plans.
• CashPoint for NCR Voyix Counterpoint Point of Sale extension specifically designed for NCR Voyix Counterpoint users that integrates with PBS distribution software for inventory management and order fulfillment.
• RealWorld Accounting Legacy accounting software product line acquired and supported by Passport Software, with a migration path to Passport Business Solutions (PBS).

Quantifiable outcome

• Lead times reduced from days to minutes (from 13 weeks to 6 weeks for custom cables)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AvalaracoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Avalara, a leader in cloud-based tax automation, to enable accurate sales and use tax calculation within PBS Order Entry. Avalara-Certified integration provides fast, accurate tax calculation for remote sellers.
• Softech CorporationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBusiness systems solution provider in Bethany, OK that implemented PBS Manufacturing for Automated Gasket customer case study.
• CentrendminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPBS Manufacturing Software Partner in Central Massachusetts owned by Paul LaFlamme. Assisted Quirk Wire with ERP implementation.
• Bruce Meyer & AssociatesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing partner since about 1984 as dealer for products and end-user. Provides software support and services to clients.
• Passport Partner NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExtensive partner network including accounting professionals, IT experts, and vertical market specialists. Partners benefit from competitive margins, free training, technical support, marketing materials, and customization services. No exclusivity required.

Scale indicators9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• E2 Shop System: Shop floor management and ERP software for small and mid-sized job shops and contract manufacturers. Comparable target customer (SMB manufacturers) and overlapping feature set around job tracking, scheduling, and shop floor data collection.
• Fishbowl Inventory: Inventory management and manufacturing solution for SMBs that integrates with QuickBooks. Competes with PBS Distribution and PBS Manufacturing on inventory control and order fulfillment for small businesses.
• JobBOSS by Exact Macola: Manufacturing ERP for small job shops and made-to-order manufacturers offering shop floor control, job costing, and inventory. Closely comparable to PBS Manufacturing's small/mid-sized manufacturer positioning.
• Global Shop Solutions: ERP software provider focused on small and mid-sized manufacturers with shop floor control, inventory, and accounting modules. Direct competitor to PBS Manufacturing in the same SMB manufacturer segment with comparable on-premise/cloud hybrid deployment.

Emerging players

• Katana Manufacturing ERP: Cloud-native manufacturing ERP for SMB manufacturers with real-time inventory and shop floor scheduling. Represents the modern cloud-first alternative to Passport's on-premise PBS Manufacturing approach.
• inFlow Inventory: Inventory management and order fulfillment software for small businesses and distributors. Competes at the lower end of PBS Distribution's segment with a more modern cloud-based offering.

Broad incumbents

• Acumatica: Cloud ERP suite for small and mid-sized businesses including a manufacturing edition with BOM, MRP, and shop floor modules. A broader incumbent competing across Passport's manufacturing, distribution, and accounting segments.
• SYSPRO: ERP for small to mid-sized manufacturers and distributors with BOM, MRP, shop floor control, and distribution modules. Comparable on-premise manufacturing ERP competitor for the mid-market segment.
• Intuit QuickBooks Enterprise: Accounting and lightweight ERP for SMBs with inventory and reporting features. Targets the same small-business buyer that Passport serves with PBS Accounting and represents the dominant competitor Passport explicitly cites as stronger-branded.
• Sage 100 / Sage 100cloud: Established SMB ERP suite with manufacturing, distribution, and accounting modules targeting companies of similar size to Passport's $5M-$100M revenue segment. Broad incumbent competitor in the same on-premise/hybrid space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/passportpbs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Passport Software