What IN Software does

IN-Software GmbH is a privately held German software vendor founded in 1986, headquartered in Karlsbad (Baden-Württemberg) with additional offices in Lohmen/Dresden, Ingolstadt, and Memmingen. The company develops the IN-FORM business management software suite, targeting small and medium-sized craft and trade businesses (Handwerksbetriebe), service companies, and smaller industrial manufacturers across Germany. The company has remained bootstrapped and "independent from investors" since founding, operates with a workforce of 101–250 employees, and explicitly positions itself as a mid-sized family-oriented Mittelstand business.

The core technology centers on the IN-FORM platform, offered in three tiers: IN-FORM PROfessional (all-in-one office management for trades and crafts), IN-FORM FLEX (ERP for industry and manufacturing), and IN-FORM EnterPrice (an entry-level package for tradespeople). The platform is available as on-premise deployment or via IN-Software CLOUD, and extends to mobile devices through the IN-Software APP for iOS and Android. Functionality is modular, with over 15 add-on modules covering document management (Dokumentenablage), communication (Mail/Fax/SMS plus), mobile operations, service management, GAEB interfaces for construction bidding, variable bill of materials, digital time tracking, ODBC database connectivity, Excel reporting, form design, and a point-of-sale cash register module. The proprietary MONEYTOU tool handles surcharge calculation for construction pricing.

IN-Software monetizes through subscription-based software licensing with annual Softwarepflege (maintenance) fees, recurring cloud subscription revenue, per-module extension fees, and professional services for consulting, training, and onboarding. Pricing is consultative and customized rather than publicly disclosed, and sales are conducted via inside-sales teams using telephone-based needs analysis and online presentations, complemented by field customer service in regional offices. Customer support is delivered in German through a hotline, step-by-step guides, and remote-maintenance sessions using TeamViewer. Marketing combines a German-language content website, video tutorials, regional event participation, education partnerships (DHBW Karlsruhe, Realschule Karlsbad), and IHK Karlsruhe-certified vocational training programs.

Name

IN Software

Legal name

IN-Software GmbH

Website

https://in-software.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IN-Software GmbH develops the IN-FORM ERP and business management software suite for small and medium-sized German craft, trade, and manufacturing businesses, offering on-premise and cloud deployment with mobile and modular extensions. The bootstrapped, privately held firm has operated since 1986 with 101–250 employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade & Manufacturing ERP / Business Management Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

ERP Extensions & Add-ons (CPQ, Billing, Revenue Management) (HDAEAEAO), Software/Application Support (SaaS, Enterprise Apps) (BPAAACAC)

Keywords

• Trade business software
• Craft business ERP
• Manufacturing ERP software
• Construction accounting software
• Business management software

Headquarters

HQ city

Baden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

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 (On-Premise): IN-FORM software products sold as perpetual or subscription licenses with annual maintenance and support fees ('Softwarepflege').
2. Cloud Services: IN-Software CLOUD subscription providing hosted access to software, including setup, infrastructure, and ongoing support.
3. Extension Modules: Additional modules including document management, mail/fax/SMS, mobile operations, service management, data services, GAEB interface, cash register, and more.
4. Professional Services: Consulting, training, and onboarding services ('Beratung & Betreuung', 'Einarbeitung & Schulung', 'Schulung am Telefon').

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IN-Software develops and sells the IN-FORM modular business management and ERP software suite for German trade/craft businesses, mid-market manufacturing companies, and service companies. The suite is offered in three editions (PROfessional, FLEX, EnterPrice) and delivered as on-premise or cloud deployments, with mobile access through a dedicated smartphone/tablet app and extended by more than 15 add-on modules covering document management, communications, GAEB construction interfaces, payment processing, time tracking, and point-of-sale. Revenue is generated through software licensing, cloud subscriptions, module subscriptions, and professional consulting/training services.

Product overview

IN-Software offers a modular business management software suite centered around the IN-FORM platform. The core products include IN-FORM PROfessional (all-in-one office management for crafts and trades), IN-FORM FLEX (ERP for industrial and manufacturing companies), and IN-FORM EnterPrice (entry-level solution for small trades businesses). The portfolio is extended through the IN-Software APP for mobile access and IN-Software CLOUD for cloud-based operations. Additional functionality is provided through over 15 add-on modules covering document management (Dokumentenablage), communication (Mail/Fax/SMS plus), mobile operations, service management, data services, payment processing, project post-calculation, GAEB interfaces for construction, time tracking, Excel reporting, form design, database connectivity (ODBC), and point-of-sale (Kasse). The MONEYTOU module handles surcharge rate calculations for construction projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IN-FORM PROfessional: Allroundwerkzeug fürs Büro (all-round office tool)
• IN-FORM FLEX
• IN-FORM EnterPrice
• IN-Software CLOUD
• IN-Software APP
• MONEYTOU

Products and services

• IN-FORM PROfessional All-in-one office management software for crafts, trade, and service businesses that centralizes all information in one system to eliminate duplicate data entry, covering accounting, CRM, project management, time tracking, and mobile field operations.
• IN-FORM FLEX ERP software specifically designed for industrial and manufacturing businesses, providing comprehensive business management capabilities including production planning, manufacturing execution, inventory management, and process optimization with support for variable product configurations.
• IN-FORM EnterPrice Entry-level handwerker-software (tradesperson software) offering essential business management features at an accessible price point as a simplified starting package for small tradespeople and craftsmen.
• IN-Software APP Mobile application for smartphones and tablets that extends IN-FORM office functionality to field workers, allowing on-site access to customer, project, and time-tracking data from any location.
• IN-Software CLOUD Cloud-based hosting service enabling remote and mobile work with secure, flexible access to IN-FORM software from any location, with clear framework conditions for self-service or consultant-assisted setup.
• MONEYTOU Surcharge rate calculator (Zuschlagsätze berechnen) for construction and trade businesses to determine accurate pricing and markup rates for projects.
• Dokumentenablage (Document Management) Add-on module for organizing, storing, and archiving business documents within IN-FORM, providing centralized document management.
• Mail/Fax/SMS plus Add-on communication module enabling sending and receiving of emails, faxes, and SMS messages directly through IN-FORM.
• Mobilbetrieb (Mobile Operation) Add-on module supporting mobile business operations and field service management for employees working on the road.
• Service Add-on service management module for handling customer service requests, service operations, and service-related workflows.
• Datenservice (Data Service) Add-on data service module for managing and processing business data within the IN-FORM environment.
• Schriftstückimport/-export (Document Import/Export) Add-on module for importing and exporting business documents in various formats to and from IN-FORM.
• Offene Posten / Zahlungsverkehr (Open Items / Payment Processing) Add-on accounts payable and payment transaction management module handling open items and payment processing.
• Nachkalkulation / Zeitwirtschaft (Post-Calculation / Time Management) Add-on module for project post-calculation (cost analysis) and time tracking/management of employees and projects.
• GAEB-Schnittstelle (GAEB Interface) Add-on interface module for the GAEB standard (Gemeinsamer Amtlicher Elektronischer Berechnungsdatenaustausch) used in German construction cost estimation and tendering.
• Aufmaß / Variable Stückliste (Measurement / Variable Bill of Materials) Add-on module for on-site measurements (Aufmaß) and creation of variable bill of materials supporting variable product configurations.
• Excel-Auswertungen (Excel Evaluations) Add-on module for generating Excel-based reports and data evaluations from IN-FORM data.
• Formulardesigner (Form Designer) Add-on custom form designer module for creating personalized business forms and documents within IN-FORM.
• ODBC-Datenbanktreiber (ODBC Database Driver) Add-on ODBC database driver for connecting IN-FORM with external databases and reporting tools.
• Kasse (Cash Register) Add-on point-of-sale cash register module for retail and counter operations.
• Digitale Zeiterfassung (Digital Time Tracking) Digital time tracking module for recording and managing employee working hours within IN-FORM.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Realschule KarlsbadcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2023Education partnership established on October 13, 2023. IN-Software supports local education through a formal partnership with the Realschule Karlsbad, including donations of iPad storage and participation in career events.
• DHBW Karlsruhe (Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual study partnership with DHBW Karlsruhe. IN-Software offers dual study positions in Business Administration - Digital Business Management and Wirtschaftsinformatik - Sales & Consulting. Students alternate between 3 months of theory and 3 months of practical work.
• Industrie- und Handelskammer Karlsruhe (IHK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertified training company recognized by IHK Karlsruhe. IHK verifies and approves IN-Software as an official training provider for vocational education.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BRZ Deutschland GmbH: BRZ provides ERP and construction software specialized for the German construction and skilled trades sector, with deep GAEB integration and craft-business workflows — directly comparable to IN-FORM's construction-focused features and Handwerk vertical focus.
• weclapp GmbH: weclapp is a German cloud-native ERP/CRM platform targeting SMBs in trade, services, and small manufacturing. It is the most direct cloud-first competitor to IN-Software's IN-Software CLOUD offering and represents the modern delivery model IN-Software is migrating toward.
• Lexware (Haufe Group): Lexware is a leading German SMB accounting and business management software suite from Haufe Group, with a dedicated Handwerk/Trades edition directly competing with IN-FORM PROfessional in the German craft business segment. Same target customers, similar on-premise/cloud delivery model, overlapping feature set (accounting, project costing, GAEB).
• SelectLine Software GmbH: SelectLine offers German SMB ERP, accounting, and business management software for trades, services, and small manufacturing — directly comparable to IN-FORM in target market, modular architecture, and German-language delivery. Operates with similar regional direct-sales motion.
• Orgamax (Sage-owned): Orgamax is a German SMB business software suite for trades, services, and small manufacturing, with similar positioning to IN-FORM EnterPrice and IN-FORM PROfessional at the entry-level. Comparable pricing tier, target customer size, and feature scope.
• Simba Computer GmbH (Simba ERP): Simba offers German SMB ERP and wholesale/trade software with similar customer profile to IN-Software. Overlapping features in inventory, order processing, financial accounting, and CRM for small trade and wholesale businesses in the DACH region.
• Sage GmbH (Sage 50 Handwerk / Sage 100): Sage's German Handwerk and SMB ERP lines compete head-to-head with IN-Software's craft and mid-market offerings. Sage provides comparable ERP, accounting, and project management functionality with both on-premise and cloud deployment, targeting the same trade and small manufacturing customer base in Germany.

Emerging players

• Lexoffice (Haufe Group): Lexoffice is the cloud-only, SMB-focused accounting and invoicing product from Haufe, complementing Lexware. Represents the cloud-native, mobile-first delivery model targeting the lower end of IN-Software's customer segment, with simpler scope but modern UX.

Broad incumbents

• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central: Microsoft's mid-market cloud ERP competes with IN-FORM PROfessional and FLEX in the German SMB and lower mid-market segment, leveraging the Office/Teams ecosystem and Azure infrastructure to bundle functionality that standalone ERP suites like IN-FORM cannot match.
• SAP Business One: SAP Business One is the incumbent mid-market ERP suite sold through a German partner network to small and mid-sized companies including craft and light manufacturing — directly overlapping with IN-FORM FLEX at the upper end of IN-Software's target market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/in-software-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 IN Software