For manufacturers and distributors, managing inventory, purchase orders, and production schedules is mission-critical. Fishbowl is a software platform that promises to simplify this, particularly for businesses using QuickBooks. But while it works well for many, others find themselves growing beyond what Fishbowl can offer.

Let’s explore what Fishbowl does well—and why a bespoke software solution could provide a better fit for your unique business requirements.

What is Fishbowl?

Fishbowl is a manufacturing and inventory management platform aimed primarily at small- to medium-sized businesses. It’s best known for bridging the gap between QuickBooks and advanced inventory/production needs, providing a more powerful layer of control and visibility.

Fishbowl includes features such as:

• Inventory tracking – Manage stock levels across multiple warehouses, with serial, lot, and expiry date tracking.
• Order management – Automate sales and purchase orders, manage reordering, and streamline fulfilment.
• Manufacturing tools – Build multi-level bills of materials (BOMs), manage work orders, and schedule production runs.
• QuickBooks integration – Syncs tightly with QuickBooks to provide accounting-friendly workflows without needing a full ERP.
• Barcode scanning – Improve warehouse efficiency with barcoding and mobile device support.

Fishbowl works well for businesses that need more than QuickBooks but aren’t ready to leap into a full enterprise resource planning system.

Where Fishbowl falls short

Fishbowl offers a good foundation—but it has notable constraints that become more apparent as businesses grow or diversify.

• Lack of customisation – You’re limited in how workflows, reports, or interfaces can be adapted to fit specific business processes.
• Complex updates and support – Users frequently report difficulties with upgrades, poor technical support, and licensing limitations.
• Manufacturing capabilities are basic – It handles production, but complex scheduling, capacity planning, or job costing can be lacking.
• Interface and usability – The user interface can feel dated and unintuitive, especially for users without an accounting background.
• QuickBooks dependency – Businesses moving away from QuickBooks often find Fishbowl becomes less relevant or difficult to repurpose.

When it’s time for a custom software solution

If Fishbowl no longer supports the way you work—or if your business model is too complex to fit neatly into its structure—it might be time to consider a custom-built solution tailored to your operations.

A bespoke platform can offer:

• End-to-end process alignment – From purchasing to production to dispatch, every function can be tailored to how you actually operate.
• Scalability without bloat – Grow your capabilities as your business expands—without paying for features you’ll never use.
• Seamless integrations – Connect directly to your CRM, accounting software, e-commerce platforms, or machinery systems.
• Clearer insights – Design dashboards and KPIs that reflect your actual performance and priorities, not generic metrics.
• Better user experience – Build interfaces your team finds intuitive, reducing training time and boosting productivity.

Shoothill: Building software around you

At Shoothill, we help manufacturing and distribution businesses move beyond restrictive tools like Fishbowl and into custom-built systems that reflect the way they work. We’ve built solutions for firms across the UK that eliminate inefficiency, improve traceability, and unlock growth.

If you’ve outgrown Fishbowl or are frustrated by its limitations, we’re ready to help you move forward.

Speak to Shoothill today and discover how tailored software could transform your manufacturing business.