NetSuite — NetSuite Small Business

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From the June/July 2007 Review of Small Business Accounting Systems

Based on the enterprise-level NetSuite 11.0, NetSuite Small Business provides a web-based accounting system for smaller and midsize enterprises, offering impressive functionality through various modules for general accounting, sales, inventory, shipping, e-commerce, HR and customer relationship management. The small business program uses role-based interfaces with the ability to handle any number of concurrent users, and supports multiple currencies and multiple languages, including multi-language (English, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, German and French) use across the same company’s data files. As a secure web-based system, NetSuite can be accessed from any location with Internet connectivity, and all system updates, including tax table updates, are automatically performed by the vendor on the backend. Pricing for NetSuite Small Business starts at $99 per month for the first user, with additional user licenses costing $49 per month. The system supports only one business per subscription.

Ease of Use/Basic Functionality -- 5 Stars

After logging into NetSuite Small Business, the user is presented with an interface based upon their role within the business. Predefined roles include Controller, Senior Executive, Marketing Manager, Sales VP, Sales Representative, Purchasing/Inventory, E-Commerce Manager and Support Staff. The user’s customizable interface opens to a tabbed screen that, depending upon role and access rights, provides tabs for accessing key system functions, each opening to a live dashboard that shows overviews of key processes, with text-based and graphical elements available. These dashboards include excellent customization capabilities that allow users to simply drag and drop components they wish to add, enabling them to have specific information displayed and allowing for access rights.

The Senior Executive, for example, has broad access to all financial data but is not generally ascribed transaction capabilities, while a Sales Representative can access only accounts and clients to which he or she is assigned, as well as pertinent inventory and other information that is integral to their job tasks. The Sales Manager has full supervision of their subordinate sales representatives. The system also maintains a list of recently used files and includes personalized calendars, reminders and task lists. The integrated system shares data throughout, automatically logging sales calls and client correspondence so that others with “need to know” access rights are aware of activities, whether client-based, inventory, shipping or accounting matters. Since the system is web-based, a company’s external public accountant can be given access rights as a controller to perform their services.

Data-entry fields automatically perform calculations and offer selection lists and other lookup devices, including a global search feature that can look throughout the system for transactions, vendors, customers, inventory items or other data. Specific searches can be saved if they are needed for recurring events. The system is very easy to use, with excellent customization options as well as user-friendly features such as mouse-over menus and content-specific assistance.

Core Features/Expandability -- 5 Stars
As previously noted, NetSuite Small Business offers excellent customization features that are also impressively easy to use, most notably its role-based real-time data dashboards. The system is offered as a full suite, with all components available to the user, as opposed to an add-on suite system. The core accounting functions within the program include traditional GAAP-compliant GL, AR, AP, sales, payroll, invoicing/billing, and inventory with support for FIFO, LIFO and average costing, as well as matrix and kit pricing. Other integral components include time-based billing functions, scheduling, HR, e-commerce and website management functions. The built-in CRM features are the best offered in a small business package, providing integration between all facets of customer interaction and the logging capabilities of that interaction. It’s much like an audit trail, where every person in the company who has a need to know, will know the what, why, when and who of client data. This starts at the initial prospect stage and flows through sales, where estimates can easily be turned into a sales order and sales staff members are provided with the information they need in order to attempt upselling, track shipping and delivery, keep an eye on customer histories, or manage other aspects of their relationship.

The NetSuite Small Business system is powerful and likely can handle most midsize and smaller entities. Those outgrowing the Small Business version can seamlessly migrate up to the full NetSuite Version 11.0, which offers greater strength in inventory, CRM, e-commerce and channel capabilities.