I recently spoke with ChatGPT about what sort of NetSuite Support a smaller business that just implemented NetSuite should use. Link to ChatGPT discussion [here](https://chatgpt.com/share/68f14541-48d0-8006-8185-f6c9ba29e486). In response to a poll a NetSuite Recruiter, Luke Page, posted on LinkedIn [here](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/luke-page-754b60160_over-the-last-6-months-ive-spoken-to-countless-activity-7384667655280062464-pYK3) (in which I had to trim down my comment due to length 🤣) ## I had some thoughts, above and beyond just the simple observations that 1. You can find *people* to provide your support in any of the three modes 2. Those *people* take PTO regardless of where they work (and you are paused while they do so regardless) 3. Those *people* can move on regardless ## Critique on Independent Contractor / Freelancer column - Hourly billing - you've gotta provide value and do value based billing. Everyone wins when the client pays for results, not hours. - Expertise Depth - I specialize in providing day-to-day NetSuite support - sort of the first-responder sort of guy - That being my expertise, I'm all about systems to manage tickets, knowledge, and projects - An organization needs someone like this. I've got deep skills in SuiteScripting as well (as my prior co-workers know), but that's not the demand I'm looking to fill. - Scalability - hopefully your NetSuite support needs do not scale up, no matter how big you get. You want a guy who's going to scale them down, right? :D - Continuity / Knowledge Retention - I'm a huge proponent of Knowledge Management Systems (KMS). I use Obsidian personally for PKM (Personal Knowledge Management). - You'll be ok with the documentation I provide. - Strategic Guidance - just a life tip here - get strategy from someone who isn't going to earn more work for themselves based on what they recommend - They're so often packaged together - I need to work on my network, so I can do this better myself - Hire a strategy guy if you need strategy - Security / Compliance - with the right ticket management system in place like I advocate, you'll get the the right compliance you need. Security... I wouldn't rely on the fact that you're dealing with a consultancy to guarantee security or compliance. - Best Use Case - Fractional NetSuite Administrator / Developer would definitely be a win over In-House admin for an organization that's looking for a budget friendly option. - Horror! Did I mention my clients might spend less on my services than if they chose another options - bad strategy there, Mr. Lemp :D On the side, I've never interacted with the business Dawn Search, but their content on LinkedIn (by Luke and Dean) always seems solid. ## ChatGPT Output **Prompt:** Explain the pros and cons of hiring 1) Managed Services (NetSuite consultancy), 2) in-house administrator, and 3) Independent contractor for a small business that just implemented NetSuite and is looking for the best ROI with their system. Per usual, I prefer the results in a table format - thanks! **Output (after a followup prompt to include cost):** |Factor|**1) Managed Services / NetSuite Consultancy**|**2) In-House Administrator**|**3) Independent Contractor / Freelancer**| |---|---|---|---| |**Cost Structure**|Retainer or subscription (monthly or annual). Predictable, often tiered by hours.|Fixed salary + taxes + benefits (~20–30% overhead).|Hourly or project-based; flexible, pay-as-needed.| |**Estimated Annual Cost (USD)**|**$24,000–$90,000+**_(~$2–7.5k/mo depending on hours & service tier)_|**$85,000–$130,000+** total comp_(base $70–100k + benefits)_|**$10,000–$60,000**_(typically $80–150/hr on demand)_| |**Expertise Depth**|Access to full team: admin + dev + functional + accounting specialists.|Generalist; learns your business deeply but limited exposure to others.|Depends on individual; may be highly technical or narrowly focused.| |**Availability / Responsiveness**|Team coverage, SLAs, and backup resources.|Single-person dependency; limited by PTO and hours.|Varies — often part-time and project-based.| |**Scalability**|Easy to add hours, skills, or projects.|Not scalable without hiring more people.|Somewhat scalable by engaging multiple freelancers.| |**Continuity / Knowledge Retention**|Shared documentation and ongoing account management.|High if retained long-term; high risk if turnover.|Low; knowledge often leaves when project ends.| |**Strategic Guidance**|Strong — includes roadmaps, governance, optimization, KPI tracking.|Depends on individual initiative and experience.|Usually tactical only.| |**Implementation ROI**|**High early ROI** — experts align system with best practices fast.|**Moderate ROI** — grows as admin learns system and business processes.|**Variable ROI** — good for small wins, weak for holistic improvements.| |**Security / Compliance**|Strong processes and governance frameworks.|Dependent on training and oversight.|Varies; often minimal governance.| |**Vendor / Ecosystem Ties**|Established relationships with NetSuite, SuiteApp vendors, and integrators.|Must build from scratch.|Relies on freelancer’s personal network.| |**Best Use Case**|Small-to-mid businesses wanting **hands-on expertise without full-time payroll**.|Organizations with **steady daily NetSuite workload** and mature internal processes.|Companies that **need only occasional or project help**.| |**Typical ROI Profile**|**High early ROI**, excellent scalability.|**Stable ROI**, best for steady-state maintenance.|**Variable ROI**, depends heavily on management and scope clarity.|