Michigan cannabis, decoded.
FileFlo is the audit-ready document layer alongside METRC. It manages CRA license documents, Certificates of Analysis, manifests, RVT countdowns, and the 5-year retention required by R 420.501 — without replacing your Metrc, Distru, or Flowhub setup.
5-day trial · No credit card · No setup fees · Cancel anytime
Three things FileFlo does for Michigan licensees that METRC and your ERP don't.
Every CRA-required document, organized
All 11 categories the CRA can request — license documents, METRC manifests, CoAs, RVT records, employee badges, SOPs, security, inventory/waste, tax filings, recalls — indexed by R 420 rule citation.
The 90-day RVT countdown, surfaced
R 420.305(7) requires Receive, Verify, Transfer in METRC within 90 days. FileFlo's RVT page lists every open manifest, days-to-deadline, source/destination license, and responsible employee. Alerts at 30/14/7 days.
5-year retention, enforced
R 420.501 requires 5-year minimum retention. FileFlo blocks deletion of in-retention records, applies retention to METRC manifests, CoAs, employee training records, SOPs, and license documents — with full access audit trail.
Four steps. One business day.
Connect your folder
Google Drive, Dropbox, SharePoint, or OneDrive. Works alongside Metrc, Distru, Flowhub.
AI classifies every doc
Each file mapped to its R 420 rule. CoAs indexed by batch. Manifests indexed by ID.
Track and alert
RVT 90-day countdown, employee badge expiry, license document expiry capture, SOP version history.
CRA Audit Pack, one click
Inspector-format binder, R 420 cite-indexed, including license, METRC, CoAs, badges, SOPs, tax.
max civil fine per CRA violation. Plus license suspension risk.
R 420.502 · Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency
The typical documentation-related CRA finding lands around $5,000 per finding. The 90-day RVT rule and Certificate of Analysis retention generate more documentation fines than any other R 420 provisions.
FileFlo Professional costs $3,588 / year. Catching one missed manifest or one expired CoA pays for the platform.
Two tiers. No per-license fees.
- · 100 documents per month
- · 3 users
- · Pre-revenue or very small licensees
- · Single-location operators
- · Unlimited documents
- · Unlimited users
- · Employee auto-detection
- · Audit trail · Project management
- · Multi-location operators
5-day free trial on both tiers. No credit card required to start. Annual pricing available with ~17% discount. Cancel anytime.
"Quick onboarding, AI-powered compliance tracking that delivers clear ROI. The real-time dashboard makes it easy to check compliance status at a glance, and the automated alerts have reduced our admin work and made collaboration across branches smoother."
FileFlo is a Michigan cannabis compliance management platform built for licensees regulated by the Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) under R 420 administrative rules. It manages CRA license documents, METRC manifests, Certificates of Analysis from Safety Compliance Facilities, RVT (Receipt, Verify, Transfer) records, employee CRA badges, security and SOP documents, and the 5-year record retention required under R 420.501. FileFlo operates alongside METRC and operational ERPs like Distru, Flowhub, and Canix — not as a replacement.
The five most common documentation-related fines.
| Finding | Source | Exposure |
|---|---|---|
| Documentation-related finding (typical) | R 420.502 | ~$5,000 / finding |
| RVT 90-day overage (R 420.305(7)) | R 420.305(7) | Up to $10,000 / violation |
| Missing CoA per batch sold | R 420.404 | Up to $10,000 / violation |
| Employee CRA badge expired in-role | R 420.7 | Up to $10,000 / violation |
| 5-year record retention failure | R 420.501 | License suspension/revocation risk |
CRA enforcement reviews are typically triggered by METRC discrepancy reports, complaints, random renewal audits, diversion/loss reports, or adverse event investigations. In each case the inspector arrives with a document checklist.
The 11 document categories every Michigan licensee must manage.
Most "cannabis compliance software" focuses on the operational layer — inventory, sales, transfers. The CRA audit, by contrast, is a document audit. FileFlo organizes all 11 categories the CRA can request.
| # | Document category | Source rule | Retention | Typical volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CRA license documents (state) | R 420.4-R 420.6 | License + 5 yrs | 3-10 per license |
| 2 | Local municipality permit | R 420.4(3) | Duration + 5 yrs | 1-3 per location |
| 3 | METRC manifests (transfers in/out) | R 420.305 | 5 yrs (R 420.501) | 10-200+ / mo |
| 4 | Certificates of Analysis (per batch) | R 420.305(8) / R 420.404 | 5 yrs | 50-500+ / yr |
| 5 | RVT records (Receipt, Verify, Transfer in 90 days) | R 420.305(7) | 5 yrs | 1 per manifest in |
| 6 | Employee CRA badges + training records | R 420.7 / R 420.301 | Employment + 5 yrs | 1 per employee, annual renewal |
| 7 | Security plan + camera footage logs | R 420.209 | 90-day camera min; plan current | Plan kept current |
| 8 | Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) | R 420.202 | Current + 5-yr history | 10-30 SOPs |
| 9 | Inventory audit + waste manifest records | R 420.304 / R 420.306 | 5 yrs | Quarterly + as-needed |
| 10 | Tax filings (excise + sales) | MCL 333.27963 | 4 yrs state / 5 yrs CRA-rec | Monthly returns |
| 11 | Adverse event + recall records | R 420.408 | 5 yrs | As-occurring |
The 90-day RVT rule is the silent killer. Under R 420.305(7), licensees must Receive, Verify, and Transfer inventory in METRC within 90 days of arrival. FileFlo's RVT tracking page surfaces every open manifest, days-remaining-to-deadline, and the source/destination license — preventing the silent overage that produces five-figure CRA fines.
How FileFlo works alongside METRC and your ERP.
Michigan licensees typically run three software layers. METRC is mandatory (state-required). Operational ERPs handle inventory and sales. FileFlo is the document layer historically replaced by Google Drive or Dropbox.
| Function | METRC (state-mandated) | ERP Distru / Flowhub / Canix | FileFlo (document layer) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seed-to-sale plant/package tracking | Yes (mandatory) | Yes (syncs to METRC) | No (not a tracking system) |
| Inventory + sales operations | No | Yes | No |
| METRC manifest generation | Yes | Yes (auto-sync) | No (stores PDFs only) |
| Certificate of Analysis storage per batch | Partial (link only) | Partial (inconsistent) | Yes (batch-indexed, retention-enforced) |
| RVT 90-day countdown tracking | Partial (manual check) | Partial (inconsistent) | Yes (auto-tracked with alerts) |
| Employee CRA badge + training records | No | Partial (HR-module if any) | Yes (per employee, expiry-tracked) |
| CRA license document repository | No | Partial (inconsistent) | Yes (cross-referenced to R 420) |
| SOP version history with 5-year retention | No | No | Yes (audit trail) |
| CRA inspector-format Audit Pack | No | Partial (partial) | Yes (R 420 cite-indexed) |
| 5-year retention enforcement (R 420.501) | No | No | Yes (cannot delete in-retention) |
Honest positioning
If you're picking software from scratch, choose METRC (required) + one operational platform (Distru / Flowhub / Canix) + FileFlo for the document layer. If you already have METRC and an ERP, FileFlo is the missing third leg. We do not compete with METRC. We do not compete with Distru.
What's not in FileFlo for Michigan cannabis.
METRC live API sync
FileFlo stores METRC manifest PDFs but does not perform live API sync to METRC for plant/package operations. Use Distru, Flowhub, Canix, or Harvestry for live METRC sync.
POS / retail operations
FileFlo is not a dispensary POS. Use Flowhub, Cova, GrowFlow, or BioTrack for point-of-sale and retail.
Live state badge verification
FileFlo stores the badge document and captures the expiration date from your scan, but does not query the CRA badge verification system in real time.
License renewal filing
FileFlo organizes the documents required for renewal but does not submit the renewal application to the CRA — that remains in the CRA's Accela Citizen Access portal.
Multi-state operations beyond Michigan
FileFlo's cannabis rule packs cover Michigan R 420 specifically. California BCC, Colorado MED, Oregon OLCC, and other state-specific rule sets are not in scope today. Multi-state operators should evaluate accordingly.
Built by a founder who watches the CRA enforcement docket.
Chad Griffith, Founder & CEO of FileFlo, built the Michigan cannabis compliance pack after CRA enforcement summaries identified that the RVT 90-day rule and the Certificate of Analysis retention requirement generate more documentation-related fines than any other R 420 provisions. FileFlo's R 420 rule pack was reviewed against the CRA's published enforcement summaries before launch.
Compliance lead Q&A.
Every answer cites a specific R 420 rule. Last reviewed May 26, 2026.
Does FileFlo replace METRC for Michigan cannabis tracking?+
No. METRC is the state-mandated seed-to-sale tracking system that all Michigan cannabis licensees are required to use under CRA rules. FileFlo is the document layer alongside METRC — managing the artifacts CRA inspectors request during audits (license documents, CoAs, manifests, RVT evidence, employee badges, SOPs) that METRC and operational ERPs typically don't store.
How does FileFlo handle Michigan's 5-year record retention requirement?+
R 420.501 requires Michigan cannabis licensees to retain records for at least 5 years. FileFlo enforces a 5-year minimum retention on all classified cannabis documents and prevents deletion of in-retention records, with an audit trail showing every access. This applies to METRC manifests, Certificates of Analysis, employee training records, SOPs, and license documents.
Can FileFlo generate an audit binder for a Michigan CRA inspection?+
Yes. FileFlo's CRA Audit Pack export produces a complete inspector-ready document binder organized by R 420 rule citation, including license documents, METRC manifests, CoAs per batch, RVT records, employee badges, security/SOP documents, and tax filings. Export takes 60-180 seconds depending on operation size.
How does FileFlo track the 90-day RVT (Receipt, Verify, Transfer) deadline?+
Under R 420.305(7), Michigan licensees must Receive, Verify, and Transfer inventory in METRC within 90 days of arrival. FileFlo's RVT tracking page lists every open manifest, days-remaining-to-deadline, source/destination license, and the responsible employee. Alerts fire at 30 days, 14 days, and 7 days before the deadline.
Does FileFlo work with Distru, Flowhub, Canix, or other operational ERPs?+
Yes. FileFlo is designed to sit alongside operational ERPs, not replace them. Distru, Flowhub, Canix, Harvestry, GrowFlow, and Cova all handle the operational layer (orders, inventory, METRC sync, retail). FileFlo handles the document layer (audit-ready binders, retention enforcement, CRA-format exports). The two work together via shared document storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, SharePoint, OneDrive).
What R 420 rules does FileFlo's Michigan rule pack cover?+
The Michigan rule pack covers R 420 administrative rules including: R 420.4-R 420.7 (licensure), R 420.202 (SOPs), R 420.209 (security), R 420.301 (employees), R 420.304 (inventory/waste), R 420.305 (manifests + RVT), R 420.404 (testing/CoAs), R 420.408 (adverse events/recalls), R 420.501 (record retention), R 420.502 (penalties).
What license types does FileFlo support in Michigan?+
All adult-use and medical license classes regulated by the CRA: Grower (Class A, B, C, Excess), Processor, Retailer, Provisioning Center, Microbusiness (standard and Class A), Designated Consumption Lounge, Safety Compliance Facility (lab), Secure Transporter, and Marihuana Event Organizer.
Does FileFlo support other states beyond Michigan?+
Not today. FileFlo's cannabis rule packs are Michigan R 420-specific. We are not the right platform for a multi-state operator who needs California BCC + Colorado MED + Oregon OLCC coverage. Single-state Michigan operators are the current sweet spot.
What does FileFlo cost?+
Starter: $89/month (100 documents/month, 3 users) — suitable for very small operators or pre-revenue licensees. Professional: $299/month (unlimited documents, unlimited users, employee auto-detection, audit trail, project management) — suitable for most operating licensees. Annual pricing available with approximately 17% discount.
Is there a free trial?+
Yes. 5-day free trial with no credit card required. Includes the full Michigan R 420 rule pack, CRA Audit Pack export, and RVT tracking.
How long does FileFlo take to set up?+
One business day. FileFlo connects to your existing folder structure (Google Drive, Dropbox, SharePoint, or OneDrive), classifies the documents automatically against R 420 rules, and produces a baseline gap report within 24 hours. Most licensees find 5-15 missing or out-of-retention documents in that first scan.
Related Michigan cannabis resources.
Don't let a missed manifest cost you $5,000.
Three-minute self-assessment. No signup. We'll surface your top R 420 documentation gaps and what to fix first.
Or email chad@getfileflo.com directly