- Updated September 2026
- Vendor-neutral checklist
- Written for UK buyers
Buyer guide
How to choose an Odoo partner for your ERP project
Odoo is flexible enough to run almost any business, which is exactly why the partner you choose matters. This guide explains what the Odoo partner levels mean, what they do not tell you, and how to test a partner before you commit. It is written by an Odoo Partner, and it aims to be fair whoever you hire.
What this guide covers
- What an Odoo partner does and when you need one
- Odoo partner levels: Ready, Silver and Gold explained
- What Odoo Gold partner actually means, and what it does not
- 12 questions to ask an Odoo partner, plus red flags
- Cost models, cost drivers and a one-page checklist
The basics
What does an Odoo partner do?
An Odoo partner is an independent firm in Odoo's official partner programme. Partners sell Odoo Enterprise subscriptions, and more importantly they analyse your processes, configure the apps, migrate data, build integrations and custom modules, train your team and support you after go-live.
Odoo SA, the company behind the software, provides the product, hosting on Odoo Online or Odoo.sh, and standard functional support. For most businesses with more than a handful of users, implementation is done by a partner.
When you need an Odoo implementation partner
- You are replacing Sage, an older ERP or spreadsheets and need data migrated and reconciled
- You run manufacturing, multi-warehouse inventory or multi-company accounting
- You need integrations with eCommerce, carriers, EDI, banks or a CRM such as Zoho
- You need custom modules and want them built so upgrades stay manageable
- A previous Odoo project stalled and needs rescuing
For very small businesses using one or two standard apps, Odoo's own onboarding may be enough. The more your operations depend on stock, production and finance, the more a partner matters.
Odoo partner levels
Odoo partner levels: Ready, Silver and Gold
Odoo ranks partners on three measures: new Enterprise users sold each year, the number of Odoo-certified consultants, and customer retention. The figures below reflect Odoo's published guidance at the time of writing.
| Level | New Enterprise users per year | Certified consultants | Customer retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready | Around 10 | At least 1 | No minimum stated |
| Silver | Around 75 | At least 3 | Around 70% or more |
| Gold | Around 300 | At least 6 | Around 80% or more |
Odoo sets and revises these criteria. Check the current figures and search listed partners in the official Odoo partner directory. Firms still onboarding are sometimes called Learning Partners and are not yet listed.
Reading the badge honestly
What Odoo Gold partner means, and what it does not
An Odoo Gold partner has sold a large volume of new Enterprise users, employs several certified consultants and keeps most of its customers. That is a real signal of scale and staying power.
But notice what the levels measure. Two of the three criteria are about sales volume and headcount. None of them is an audit of delivery quality, and none tells you whether a partner has experience in your industry. A Gold partner that mostly sells many small, standard deployments may have less relevant depth for a complex manufacturing or multi-company project than a smaller partner that specialises in exactly that.
What an Odoo Ready partner means
A Ready partner has met the entry requirements: at least one certified consultant and a modest volume of new users. Some are new to Odoo. Others are experienced ERP consultancies whose model is fewer, deeper projects rather than high licence volume. Ask about their projects, not just their badge.
Use the directory data, not only the level
- Retention: the directory shows retention, which is the best proxy for customer satisfaction.
- References: look at listed customer references by size and industry.
- Certified consultants: Odoo certifications are per person and per version, so ask who on your project is certified on the current version.
ThoughtLogik is an Odoo Partner based in the UK. We would rather you judge us on the questions below than on any badge.
Questions to ask an Odoo partner
12 questions to ask before you sign
Put the same questions to every shortlisted Odoo partner and compare the answers side by side.
| # | Question | What a good answer looks like |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Who will work on our project, and are they certified on the current Odoo version? | Named consultants and developers with current certifications |
| 2 | What similar projects have you delivered in our industry? | Specific examples, ideally with a reference you can call |
| 3 | How much of our requirement is standard Odoo, and how much is custom? | A clear fit-gap analysis; configuration first, custom code only where justified |
| 4 | Which edition and hosting do you recommend: Online, Odoo.sh or on-premise? | A reasoned recommendation linked to customisation, integrations and IT policy |
| 5 | How will custom modules be kept upgrade-safe? | Version control, coding standards, and an upgrade plan for each Odoo release |
| 6 | How will you migrate opening balances, stock and open orders? | Test loads, reconciliation with finance and a cut-over plan |
| 7 | How do you handle costing, landed cost and multi-company if we need them? | Worked examples of valuation methods and intercompany flows |
| 8 | How do you test before go-live? | Test scripts, end-to-end scenarios and user acceptance sign-off |
| 9 | What training do you provide, and who becomes our internal expert? | Role-based training plus a trained internal key user |
| 10 | What does post-go-live support look like? | Hypercare, then a defined support option with response times |
| 11 | Who owns the code and the database? | You do, with repository access and documentation handed over |
| 12 | Is the price fixed scope or time and materials, and how are changes handled? | Written change control with estimates before work starts |
Rescuing an existing Odoo system? Ask how they will audit custom modules first. See Odoo optimisation.
Red flags
Warning signs when choosing an Odoo partner
Each of these deserves a direct question before you sign.
Custom code for everything
Odoo does a lot out of the box. A partner that customises before configuring is building you a harder, more expensive upgrade path.
No fit-gap analysis
A fixed price with no written analysis of what is standard and what is not usually leads to change requests later.
Code you cannot access
If custom modules sit in a repository you cannot see, you are locked in. Insist on access and documentation.
Badge over substance
Leading with the partner level but going vague on similar projects and the named team is a warning sign.
Accounting as an afterthought
ERP succeeds or fails at month-end. If finance is not in the discovery workshops, costing and reporting problems are likely.
No upgrade plan
Odoo releases a new major version each year. Ask how and when they will move you, and what it will cost. See Odoo upgrades.
Cost models
How Odoo partners price implementation
Subscriptions are paid to Odoo (see our Odoo pricing UK guide). Partner fees depend on scope, and usually follow one of these models.
| Model | How it works | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed scope | Agreed deliverables for an agreed price after discovery | Budget certainty | The scope document must be detailed; changes go through change control |
| Time and materials | Pay for days used at a day rate | Discovery, prototypes and evolving needs | Needs regular burn reports to stay under control |
| Phased rollout | Fixed price per phase, such as finance and stock first, then manufacturing | Larger ERP projects and multi-site firms | Check later phases are estimated before you start |
| Support retainer | A fixed number of days each month after go-live | Ongoing changes, upgrades and admin help | Clarify handling of unused days and urgent issues |
Main cost drivers: number of apps and companies, process complexity, custom modules, integrations, data migration and the hosting choice.
Checklist
Odoo partner checklist to compare your shortlist
Build a shortlist of two or three from the Odoo partner directory, referrals and reviews. Give each the same brief and the same scoping time.
Ask for a short demo of your two or three most important processes in standard Odoo. It shows how well they understand your business and how much really needs custom work.
Then call a reference client of similar size, ideally one that has been through an Odoo version upgrade with the partner. Their answer tells you what life looks like after go-live.
Score each partner on
- Partner level, retention and references in the directory
- Named team certified on the current version
- Relevant industry and module experience
- Written fit-gap analysis and solution design
- Upgrade-safe approach to custom modules
- Data migration, testing and training plan
- Clear pricing model and change control
- Code ownership, documentation and support
How we measure up
How ThoughtLogik answers these questions
Multi-company Odoo with two costing methods
For a UK seafood processor and distributor we set up Odoo across two legal entities, one on standard and landed cost and one on average cost, with traceability and B2B and B2C channels.
Published Odoo modules
Our Odoo apps include Mass Update Log Notes, Smart Address Navigator & Contact Enhancer, and Integrated Sequence Numbers for CRM, Sales and Invoices.
Scope, test, train, support
Written solution design, ISTQB-certified testers, role-based training and support retainers with fixed monthly days. See how we deliver.
ISO 27001, ISO 9001:2015, Cyber Essentials
Plus Zoho Premium Partner status, so we can advise honestly when Zoho, Odoo or both is the better fit. See Odoo vs Zoho.
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FAQs
Choosing an Odoo partner: common questions
What are the Odoo partner levels?
What does Odoo Gold partner mean?
Is an Odoo Ready partner a risk?
Where is the Odoo partner directory?
Should we choose Odoo Online, Odoo.sh or on-premise?
How long should choosing an Odoo partner take?
Can we change Odoo partner after go-live?
Add us to your shortlist
Put ThoughtLogik through the 12 questions
Book a free scoping call and ask us anything on this page. An Odoo consultant will reply within one working day with practical next steps.
- Free, no-obligation 30-minute consultation
- Fit-gap view of standard Odoo vs custom work
- Fixed-scope proposal you can compare side by side