Is your NetSuite admin overwhelmed or out of their depth?
As ERP systems become increasingly complex, ticket backlogs accumulate and strategic changes are delayed. At that point, you're facing a critical choice: hire a full-time NetSuite administrator or outsource support to a managed service provider.
According to Deloitte’s 2024 Global Outsourcing Survey, 25% of executives report clear cost savings or improved service quality from outsourcing. If your NetSuite environment is expanding or not performing as expected, it’s time to evaluate which support model fits your needs.
This article breaks down the real costs, trade-offs, and key signals that indicate when it’s time to switch. Whether you’re scaling or stabilizing, the right support model can drive growth or hold you back.
As your NetSuite ERP matures, your support needs change. Every growing business must decide: hire an in-house admin or outsource to a managed provider? Each approach affects cost, scalability, and system performance in different ways.
A NetSuite managed service gives you access to a dedicated support team that handles all aspects of NetSuite administration. This includes customization, workflow automation, integration monitoring, and day-to-day troubleshooting. These services are delivered through a subscription model that scales with your business needs.
Managed service providers offer certified NetSuite professionals who proactively manage your NetSuite system, improve uptime, and reduce internal support costs. Providers like Kimberlite Partners specialize in ongoing support for growing businesses that need expert coverage without the overhead of full-time hires.
This model works best for companies that need flexibility, fast response times, and access to a broader skill set across multiple NetSuite modules.
An in-house NetSuite administrator works directly inside your organization. They manage user access, role security, NetSuite updates, system customizations, and internal support tickets. A strong in-house admin develops deep knowledge of your specific business processes and workflows.
However, maintaining an in-house NetSuite team comes with risks: limited coverage during vacations, delays in handling complex issues, and a lack of redundancy. Hiring additional staff or NetSuite consultants is often necessary as your system grows more complex.
Companies often reevaluate support models when:
Outsourcing NetSuite support becomes attractive when internal resources are maxed out or your ERP is expanding. On the flip side, hiring a NetSuite administrator may make sense if your system is stable and your workflows rarely change.
Whether you manage NetSuite with an in-house team or rely on a managed service provider, the responsibilities are the same, but how they’re handled can make or break your system’s performance. Here’s how the two models compare across key support areas.
In-house NetSuite administrators typically manage updates, error resolution, and support tickets during standard office hours. But this model can lead to delays if one admin is overwhelmed or unavailable.
By contrast, a NetSuite managed services provider delivers faster turnaround times, broader coverage hours, and structured ticket tracking. Businesses with limited IT capacity often outsource their NetSuite support to reduce downtime and improve accountability.
If your business relies on SuiteScript, SuiteFlow, or deep platform customization, managed service providers offer a clear advantage. Their teams often include certified developers and consultants who can build, test, and deploy complex automations faster.
In-house staff may struggle to deliver the same speed or breadth of expertise, especially when managing multiple priorities. For companies scaling operations, outsourcing NetSuite development ensures expert support without adding headcount.
Both support models can handle role management and user permissions. However, a dedicated NetSuite support team from a service provider typically brings built-in best practices and faster resolution of compliance-related tasks.
In-house admins may overlook key controls during periods of rapid change, which increases risk during audits. If compliance is critical, outsourcing NetSuite support ensures consistent, scalable governance.
NetSuite ERP releases major updates twice a year. Top NetSuite managed service providers proactively test new features, identify compatibility issues, and handle deployment to avoid disruption.
In-house NetSuite administrators, especially solo operators, often lack the time or bandwidth to fully vet each release—leading to post-update bugs, broken integrations, or user confusion.
Modern ERP environments rely heavily on third-party integrations. In-house NetSuite teams often miss integration failures that go unnoticed for days.
Outsourcing NetSuite integration monitoring provides real-time tracking, error resolution, and performance optimization. A NetSuite partner can identify issues before they impact business processes, preserving data integrity and workflow efficiency.
When evaluating the right NetSuite support option, it’s not just about salaries or vendor pricing. You need to factor in downtime, scalability, and the total cost of managing your NetSuite ERP.
Here’s how the cost of hiring a NetSuite administrator stacks up against working with a NetSuite managed services provider.
As of late 2025, hiring an in-house NetSuite administrator in the U.S. costs between $110,000 and $130,000 in base salary. When you add benefits, PTO, onboarding, and overhead, the total cost often exceeds $150,000 annually.
For many companies, especially those with unpredictable ERP workloads or smaller teams, this model is hard to justify. You’re paying for full-time availability even when support needs fluctuate.
A NetSuite managed service provider typically offers tiered support services based on monthly hours, project needs, or business complexity. Packages range from $3,000 to $10,000 per month, with options for fractional support and access to specialists on demand.
This model provides certified NetSuite experts without the cost or delay of building an internal team. It’s ideal for companies looking to outsource their NetSuite support while maintaining performance and flexibility.
Maintaining an in-house NetSuite team creates risk that often gets overlooked:
These costs stack up quickly and can stall key NetSuite development or integration projects.
Outsourcing NetSuite support offers long-term cost-effectiveness. As your NetSuite instance evolves, a managed service provider can scale support hours and add specialists across modules like WMS, SuiteCommerce, or PSA.
With in-house staff, scaling often means hiring additional resources or paying contractors, driving up costs and slowing delivery.
Choosing the right NetSuite model means balancing control, cost, and scalability. If your team needs expertise without added overhead, outsourcing NetSuite administration protects your investment and keeps operations agile.
An in-house NetSuite administrator offers immediate access and deep familiarity with your internal systems. This approach works best for stable ERP environments with low complexity and minimal change. But it's costly, hard to scale, and risky when turnover or skill gaps arise.
Outsourcing NetSuite support gives you access to a team of experts, broader service coverage, and flexible pricing. A managed service provider handles customization, integration, and updates efficiently, which is ideal for fast-moving or resource-constrained teams.
If you're scaling, launching new workflows, or struggling with support gaps, outsourcing your NetSuite is often the smarter, more cost-effective move.
The best support model depends on your ERP complexity, internal capabilities, and plans. Use these criteria to guide your decision.
If you’re managing a multi-subsidiary NetSuite ERP, industry-specific modules, or third-party integrations, you’ll need deeper expertise. A NetSuite managed services provider brings the breadth of knowledge required to support complexity without overloading internal staff.
If your team lacks a dedicated admin or relies on junior staff, critical settings often get missed. Outsourcing NetSuite support gives you access to experienced consultants who optimize workflows and close internal skill gaps.
In-house admins can’t always cover for PTO, turnover, or peak periods. A managed service provider ensures consistent support, faster response times, and scalable coverage—without the cost of hiring multiple full-time roles.
A scaling SaaS firm used managed support to maintain uptime and tailor NetSuite for complex revenue recognition. A manufacturer with a stable ERP hired an in-house administrator to manage routine tasks. If you're still deciding between ongoing support and short-term consulting, check out our guide on NetSuite support vs. consultants.
Choosing between an in-house NetSuite administrator and a managed service provider is all about what keeps your ERP running efficiently as your business evolves. The right support model should match your system’s complexity, your team’s bandwidth, and the pace of your growth.
For companies with stable, low-change environments, an in-house admin can provide focused support and internal alignment. But if you’re scaling fast, launching new workflows, or struggling with support gaps, outsourcing NetSuite support gives you access to deeper expertise without adding overhead.
Don’t let your ERP limit growth. Explore Kimberlite Partners’ NetSuite Managed Services to get expert support that scales with your business.