Dolibarr multi-company: manage several companies in one ERP
How to manage several companies in Dolibarr from one installation: what the Multiempresa module does, what it shares between entities and when to choose it.
Can you manage several companies in Dolibarr? Yes. There are two honest ways to do it: run separate Dolibarr installations, one per company, or run a single installation that manages several entities, for example with the Multiempresa module for Dolibarr. The right choice depends on how much separation your companies need and how much data they should share. This guide compares both approaches, explains what the module does, and helps you decide.
A quick definition before the comparison: an entity is each company, subsidiary or legal structure you manage inside Dolibarr. The question of how to run several entities in one system comes up often, because Dolibarr is a modular ERP/CRM: you activate the modules your business needs and the configuration adapts to your organization.
One installation or several? An honest comparison
There are two paths, and neither is wrong by default.
Several separate installations. Each company runs its own Dolibarr and its own database. The benefit is total data isolation: nothing is mixed between companies. The cost is operational. Each instance is installed, updated, backed up and administered on its own, and consolidating information across companies is a manual task.
One installation, several entities. A single Dolibarr and a single database hold the whole group. Deployment and updates are simpler because there is one environment to maintain, and administration is centralized. What decides between the two paths is not theory but practice: who needs access to what, and which master data really has to be shared.
If the entities must stay isolated from end to end, with different owners or strict security separation, several installations can be the correct answer, and we say so. If they share administration, teams or master data, one installation with the Multiempresa module for Dolibarr is usually the better fit.
What the Multiempresa module does
The Multiempresa module is developed by EasySoft Tech S.L. and implements the single-installation path: several companies or entities managed from one Dolibarr, with one environment and one database.
Centralized administration
There is one system to maintain, update and back up. Instead of repeating every administrative task across several installations, your team works from a single point, with better control over users, data and corporate structures.
Configurable sharing of master data
You decide what is shared between entities and what stays local. Products, customers, contacts and users can be shared where it makes sense, while each entity keeps its own organization and its own daily operation. Sharing is a configuration choice, not an all-or-nothing switch.
Growth without new installations
Adding a company, subsidiary or branch does not mean deploying another Dolibarr instance. You create the new entity inside the existing installation and keep the same environment, the same update routine and the same backup process.
Who is it for
The module is designed for organizations that run several legal structures but want one administrative core:
- Business groups with several companies or legal entities.
- Companies with subsidiaries or branch offices.
- Accounting firms, consultancies and agencies that manage several clients.
- Organizations that want centralized processes without losing the structure of each entity.
If your case sits somewhere in the middle, the practical factor decides: who needs access to what, and which data must genuinely be shared. Those details are defined together during configuration. If you are still evaluating the ERP itself, the Dolibarr self-assessment checklist (in Spanish) is a practical starting point, and Why Dolibarr for SMEs covers the fit for smaller organizations.
How setup works
Getting the multi-company setup running is a three-step process, done with EasySoft Tech S.L.:
- Installation and configuration of the module in your Dolibarr.
- Adaptation to your organization: which entities are created, which users take part, which data is shared.
- Training and support, so your team works confidently with the new structure.
Because EasySoft Tech S.L. develops the module, we can also adapt or extend it when an organization has particular rules. On compatibility: the module works with recent versions of Dolibarr; with older versions we advise some steps before installing, and the details are on the Multiempresa module page.
FAQ
Is one Dolibarr installation better than one per company?
It depends on the separation you need. For end-to-end isolation, separate installations are a valid answer; when companies share administration, teams or master data, a single installation with the module usually fits better.
What can be shared between entities?
Master data such as products, customers, contacts and users can be shared in a configurable way, while each entity keeps its own organization.
Does each entity keep its own data?
Yes. Each entity operates in its own context and stays organized; the module adds shared structure and centralized administration on top.
Can we add a new company later?
Yes. Adding an entity does not require another installation: you create it inside the existing Dolibarr.
Does the module work with my current Dolibarr version?
It works with recent versions. With older versions, we advise some steps before installing; compatibility details are on the product page.
Where can I see the price and the current compatibility details?
Both are on the Multiempresa module page.
Managing several companies with Dolibarr does not have to mean maintaining several Dolibarr installations. If your entities share administration, teams or master data, one installation with the module keeps the group together without flattening the structure of each company. EasySoft Tech S.L. is based in Oviedo, Spain, and works with international clients in English; our Dolibarr ERP integration services cover evaluation, setup and support. If you are weighing separate installations against a multi-entity setup, describe your case and we will give you a straight answer: contact EasySoft Tech S.L.. If the move is part of a wider migration, How to migrate to Dolibarr without stopping your business is a good next read.