A NetSuite implementation checklist keeps a project on track when many decisions are being made at once. Finance teams carry much of the work: designing the chart of accounts, approving data, testing transactions and signing off the opening balances. This checklist covers the steps that most often get rushed.
Key takeaways
- Write down scope and success criteria before configuration starts.
- Design the chart of accounts, subsidiaries and segments early, because everything else depends on them.
- Clean data before migrating it, and test each import in a sandbox.
- Test full processes end to end with real examples, from order to cash and from purchase to payment.
- Plan support for the first month-end close after go-live.
Planning a NetSuite implementation? Book a free consultation
What is a NetSuite implementation?
It is the project of setting up NetSuite for your business: configuring the account, migrating data, building workflows and reports, training users and switching over from your old system. A good implementation leaves you with a system that matches how you work and numbers you can trust from the first day.
The checklist
Scope and planning:
- Define which processes are in scope, such as order to cash, procure to pay and record to report.
- Name an internal project owner and a finance lead with sign-off authority.
- Agree a go-live date, ideally at a month or quarter end.
Design:
- Chart of accounts, subsidiaries, departments, classes and locations.
- Approval rules, roles and permissions.
- Required reports and saved searches.
Data migration:
- Customers, vendors, items and employees, cleaned before loading.
- Open invoices, bills and balances at cutover.
- Historical trial balances if you need comparative reporting.
Testing:
- End-to-end tests with real transactions for each process.
- Reports checked against expected totals.
- User acceptance sign-off from each team.
Go-live and after:
- Final data load and opening balance reconciliation.
- Role-based training for each user group.
- Support through the first month-end close.
Ask us to review your implementation plan
Where projects go wrong
The most common problems are unclear scope, a chart of accounts copied from the old system without review, data that wasn't cleaned and too little testing. For migration detail, see our plans for QuickBooks to NetSuite and Xero to NetSuite. For reports, read our guide to NetSuite saved searches. Our implementation service covers the full project.
Finance sign-off points
Finance should formally sign off at five points in the project, in writing:
- The chart of accounts and segment design, before configuration starts.
- The data mapping for each migrated record type, before the first test load.
- Test results for each finance process, including approvals and reports.
- The opening trial balance and open AR and AP at cutover, matched to the old system.
- The first month-end close in NetSuite, once reports agree with expectations.
Each sign-off is a chance to stop and fix problems while they are still cheap to fix.
Testing that finds real problems
Test with real examples from the last few months: a customer order with a discount and a partial shipment, a vendor bill with freight and tax, an intercompany charge, a credit note, a foreign currency payment. Run each one from start to finish and check the GL impact of every step. Then run the reports finance will use and compare them with figures you already know.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a NetSuite implementation take?
It depends on scope, the number of subsidiaries, integrations and how much data you migrate. A single-entity finance implementation is much shorter than a multi-subsidiary project with inventory and integrations.
Who should be on the project team?
An internal project owner, a finance lead with sign-off authority, someone from each affected team and your implementation consultants.
When is the best time to go live on NetSuite?
At the start of a month, quarter or year, after the prior period is closed in your old system.
Do I need a sandbox account for implementation?
A sandbox makes testing data loads, scripts and workflows much safer, because mistakes don't touch production. Ask your consultants how they plan to test if one isn't available.
Implement NetSuite with Oakridge Global
Our in-house NetSuite team of functional consultants and SuiteScript developers supports implementations from scope to go-live. Schedule a consultation with Oakridge Global to discuss your project.