Oracle NetSuite for 5-10 employees, estimated cost $37k to $140k startup then $12k to $24k annually plus time investment
Oracle NetSuite might be considered as an Aircraft Carrier. Most actual real-world business needs are barely for a destroyer, powerboat, or even a rowboat.
The “time investment” seems both up-front in the dev and learning curve(s) (since there are potentially several, and ongoing), plus it also includes what could be characterized as “an ever-growing per-click time penalty” in that over time, regardless of attempts to counter the effect, all clients using NetSuite report experiencing increasing slowness, ranging from 5-seconds after click until page reload to 30-seconds and sometimes much longer, into the minutes of time and even outright failures due to timeout. As the literally blink-fast local-LAN / local-server applications become pined-for joyous memories, the subsequent descriptions used have included “painful”, “obstacle” and “totally ridiculous, entirely unusable”. This has been near uniform experience across several clients / instances all having far fewer than 1 million “transaction line” rows (which is a presumed bottleneck and seemingly the table having largest row count). If/when a human-real fix is determined, we will post and/or link here.
Update 2025-03 — All clients using NetSuite always report experiencing slowness, too often 30 seconds or more between clicks / page-loads for common functions such as adding an invoice or showing list of invoices — making the system “unusable” and “a constant obstacle to mission”. All clients using NetSuite never report exuberance over quick load times or responsiveness. This is a pattern now spanning years. Oracle offers no ‘dedicated servers’ which would ostensibly be massive in scope. Other amelioration attempts have including custom tuning of parameters, increasing tiers / run-time resources, and application of N/cache customizations; latest efforts are examining “Head In Cloud Dev” shared cache; no data yet.
Oracle NetSuite is a monstrous kind of “one size fits all, and then we tweak or tune it to your needs” thing. Nearly nobody has likely ever needed all the features or components. Tweaking / tuning the monster to suit specific needs means paying more to an integrator. Data “connectors” to outside / legacy software carry additional cost, plus all the time and effort. Licensing is the usual painfully costly nightmare. Then there’s upgrades. It seems to be just another expensive treadmill, just like Microsoft et al. Going Oracle NetSuite seems an H U G E undertaking, even if you want it and know what you’re doing and have capable help.
Free, open-source alternatives exist that are much small, lighter, faster, and likely require far less tweaking or tuning to get the jobs done, efficiently and reliably. The open-source stuff remains under your total possession and control, and it can run inside your office yet still be available to your workforce via the Internet. We can help you plan, implement, and gain from such a viable alternative.
Consider these existing free / open-source alternatives to the Oracle NetSuite monster —
High Cost = High Pain with the monstrous Oracle NetSuite
Implementing Oracle NetSuite for a small company involves several cost components, including licensing, additional features like backups and data integration, and implementation services from integration partners. Below is a breakdown of these costs for companies with 5 and 10 employees, considering both in-office and remote work environments.
1. NetSuite Licensing Costs:
NetSuite offers tiered licensing plans suitable for small businesses:
- Starter Edition: Designed for small, growing companies with up to 10 users, making it ideal for businesses with 5 to 10 employees. This edition provides a solid financial management foundation with predefined roles and workflows.
Estimated Annual Licensing Costs:
- 5 Employees: Approximately $12,000 to $24,000 per year.
- 10 Employees: Approximately $20,000 to $40,000 per year.
2. Additional Costs:
- Backups: NetSuite operates on a cloud-based infrastructure with built-in data redundancy and disaster recovery. While this ensures data safety, businesses desiring additional backup solutions or more frequent backup schedules might incur extra costs. These costs can vary based on the chosen backup solution and provider.
- Data Integration (Special Access Accounts): Integrating NetSuite with external programs or legacy systems can be achieved through:
- NetSuite Connector: This add-on module facilitates integration with various third-party systems. Pricing details are not specified publicly and would require consultation with NetSuite for accurate figures.
- Custom Integrations: Utilizing SuiteScript, NetSuite’s scripting tool, allows for custom integrations. While SuiteScript is included in the license, businesses may incur costs related to development time by in-house staff or external consultants.
3. Implementation and Integration Partner Costs:
Engaging a NetSuite implementation partner ensures a tailored setup aligning with business processes. While specific pricing for MBT Tech in NYC isn’t publicly available, general estimates for NetSuite implementation services are:
- Implementation Services: One-time costs ranging from $25,000 to $100,000+, depending on the project’s complexity.
- Customization and Integration: Hourly rates between $150 to $250, with total costs varying based on the extent of required customizations and integrations.
4. Ongoing Support and Training:
Post-implementation support and training are crucial for maximizing NetSuite’s benefits:
- Support Services: NetSuite offers basic technical support with each license. For enhanced support, businesses can opt for premium support contracts, which are priced based on a percentage of the license value.
- Training: Costs vary depending on the training provider and the depth of training required.
Summary:
For a small company with 5 to 10 employees, the initial year investment in NetSuite, including licensing and implementation, can range from approximately $37,000 to $140,000 or more, depending on specific needs and chosen service providers. Ongoing annual costs will primarily consist of licensing fees, any additional support contracts, and potential costs for added features like advanced backups or integrations.
Note: These figures are estimates based on available data and can vary. It’s recommended to consult directly with Oracle NetSuite and potential implementation partners for precise quotations tailored to your business requirements.
See also
Unless otherwise noted we’ve conducted no rigorous lab studies; instead, all this info is per our experience and our clients’ experiences. Your Mileage will likely vary.