Great Plains Software
Corporate brand
UnclaimedGreat Plains Software was a Fargo-based accounting software company serving small and medium-sized businesses before its acquisition by Microsoft.
Last updated August 25, 2026
Overview
Great Plains Software, Inc. was an accounting software company founded in Fargo, North Dakota, in 1981 by Joseph Larson. Its business centered on financial-management and enterprise-accounting applications for small and medium-sized companies, a segment that was becoming increasingly dependent on personal computers and packaged business software. The company developed a reputation for customer support and customer relationships, helping it compete in a market that included both specialized accounting vendors and larger enterprise-software providers. Larson served as the company's first president. Doug Burgum joined the business in March 1983 as a shareholder and supplied seed capital. In early 1984, Burgum bought out the other investors and became president, while Larson remained a director until Microsoft acquired the company. Under Burgum's leadership, Great Plains expanded beyond its North Dakota base and grew its workforce from approximately 170 employees in 1987 to roughly 290 employees in 1989. The company later used the Internet as part of its expansion strategy, enabling it to reach customers outside its original regional market. Great Plains focused on integrated accounting and business-management software rather than consumer applications. Its products were designed to support functions such as general ledger accounting, payables, receivables, inventory, payroll, and related operational processes. The company was particularly associated with software for growing organizations that needed more capability than basic desktop bookkeeping but did not require the largest and most expensive enterprise systems. The company went public in 1997. By the late 1990s, it had become a substantial independent software vendor, with reported annual sales of approximately $300 million. In 1999 it acquired Match Data Systems, a development team in the Philippines, extending its product-development capacity internationally. Great Plains subsequently experienced layoffs and pursued a sale to Microsoft. Microsoft announced the acquisition in 2000 for approximately $1.1 billion, and the transaction was completed in 2001. After the acquisition, Great Plains technology and products became part of Microsoft's business-software portfolio. The products were rebranded as Microsoft Dynamics GP in 2005. From 2016, Microsoft positioned Dynamics GP within the broader Dynamics 365 family and business-applications ecosystem. The Great Plains corporate entity therefore ceased to operate as an independent public software company, but its principal product line continued under Microsoft's ownership and branding.
History
Great Plains Software originated in Fargo, North Dakota, in 1981, when Joseph Larson founded the company and became its first president. It entered the market as a provider of accounting software for small and medium-sized businesses, a customer segment seeking more capable computerized financial systems without the cost and complexity of the largest enterprise platforms. Doug Burgum joined the company as a shareholder in March 1983 and supplied seed capital. In early 1984, he bought out the other investors and assumed the presidency. Larson continued as a director through the eventual Microsoft acquisition. The change in ownership and leadership gave Great Plains access to additional capital and helped establish the company as a significant regional technology business. Great Plains grew steadily during the 1980s. It had approximately 170 employees by 1987 and about 290 by 1989. Its software supported core accounting and business-management processes, while its customer-support reputation became an important part of its competitive identity. A 1993 PC Magazine assessment described the company as a leader in support and customer relations, reinforcing the image of Great Plains as a service-oriented business-software provider. The company later expanded beyond North Dakota, using the Internet to reach customers in a broader geography. Its growth culminated in a public offering in 1997. By the end of the decade, Great Plains had developed into a sizeable independent software vendor with reported annual sales of approximately $300 million. In 1999, it acquired Match Data Systems, a development team in the Philippines, giving the company an additional international engineering resource. Great Plains underwent layoffs in 2000 and announced an agreement to be acquired by Microsoft for approximately $1.1 billion. The purchase was completed in 2001. Microsoft integrated the company and its products into its business-software operations, ending Great Plains Software's independent corporate life while preserving its technology and market presence. The product line was renamed Microsoft Dynamics GP in 2005. Microsoft later associated Dynamics GP with its broader Dynamics business-applications portfolio, including the Dynamics 365-era product family from 2016 onward. Consequently, Great Plains is best understood today as a historical software-company brand and the origin of a continuing Microsoft accounting and enterprise-resource-planning product line rather than as an active standalone company.
- 2005
Products renamed Microsoft Dynamics GP
[1]Microsoft adopted the Dynamics GP name for the former Great Plains product line.
- 2001
Acquisition by Microsoft completed
[1]Microsoft completed its approximately $1.1 billion acquisition of Great Plains Software.
- 1999
Match Data Systems acquisition
[1]The company acquired Match Data Systems, a software-development team in the Philippines.
- 1997
Initial public offering
[1]Great Plains Software went public after expanding its reach beyond North Dakota.
- 1984
Burgum becomes president
[1]Burgum bought out the other investors and became president; Larson remained a director.
- 1983
Doug Burgum joins as shareholder
[1]Doug Burgum joined Great Plains as a shareholder and provided seed capital.
- 1981
Company founded in Fargo
[1]Joseph Larson founded Great Plains Software in Fargo, North Dakota, and became its first president.
Products and positioning
Business accounting and enterprise-resource-planning software for small and medium-sized organizations, differentiated by integrated functionality, customer support, and practical deployment for growing companies.
Accounting and enterprise resource planning software
Great Plains accounting and business-management software
Great Plains developed integrated accounting and business-management applications for small and medium-sized organizations. The software covered core financial processes such as general ledger, accounts payable, and accounts receivable, with related capabilities for inventory, payroll, and operational administration. Its intended users were growing businesses that needed a broader system than basic bookkeeping tools while retaining a practical, support-oriented implementation model.
Enterprise resource planning software · 2005
Microsoft Dynamics GP
Microsoft Dynamics GP was the successor branding applied to the Great Plains product line after Microsoft acquired the company. It continued the line's focus on financial management and business operations for small and medium-sized organizations. The product became part of Microsoft's Dynamics business-application portfolio, preserving the underlying market role of Great Plains while replacing its original corporate and product branding.
Brand decisions
2005
Rebranding as Microsoft Dynamics GPProduct launchBackground
Microsoft had integrated Great Plains Software after completing the acquisition in 2001.
Action taken
Microsoft renamed the former Great Plains product line Microsoft Dynamics GP.
Aftermath
The Great Plains name was replaced in product branding, while the software continued within Microsoft's business-applications portfolio.
2000
Agreement to sell the company to MicrosoftM&ABackground
Following layoffs and continued development of its accounting-software business, Great Plains entered acquisition discussions with Microsoft.
Action taken
Microsoft announced an agreement to acquire Great Plains Software for approximately $1.1 billion.
Aftermath
The acquisition was completed in 2001, and Great Plains ceased operating as an independent company.
Announced acquisition value. $1.1 billion (2000 announcement)
1999
Acquisition of Match Data SystemsM&ABackground
Great Plains sought to expand its product-development capacity as its accounting-software business grew.
Action taken
It acquired Match Data Systems, a development team in the Philippines.
Aftermath
The transaction added an international development resource to Great Plains before its Microsoft acquisition.
1997
Public offeringOtherBackground
Great Plains had expanded beyond its original North Dakota market and had grown into a substantial independent accounting-software company.
Action taken
The company completed an initial public offering.
Aftermath
The offering marked Great Plains as a publicly traded software vendor before its later sale to Microsoft.
Recent events
- 2005
Great Plains products adopt Microsoft Dynamics GP branding[1]
Product generation · Product launch
Microsoft rebranded the acquired Great Plains product line as Microsoft Dynamics GP.
- 2001
Microsoft completes Great Plains Software acquisition[1]
M&A
Microsoft completed its purchase of Great Plains Software, ending the company’s existence as an independent software business.
- 2000
Microsoft announces acquisition of Great Plains Software[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Microsoft announced that it would acquire Great Plains Software for approximately $1.1 billion. The announcement followed layoffs at Great Plains and preceded completion of the transaction in 2001.
- 1999
Great Plains Software acquires Match Data Systems[1]
M&A
The company acquired Match Data Systems, a development team in the Philippines, to increase its software-development capacity.
- 1997
Great Plains Software goes public[1]
Other
Great Plains Software completed its initial public offering after expanding beyond its North Dakota base and using Internet-enabled outreach to broaden its market.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/great-plains-software · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled