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Do You Really Need a Full-Time NetSuite Administrator?

Picture of Greg Hill By   ·  1 minute read

As more companies adopt NetSuite to manage operations and finance, one of the biggest early questions is: “Do we need to hire a full-time NetSuite Administrator?”

The answer? Not always.

Let’s break down the cost-benefit of a full-time hire vs. an Admin-as-a-Service model — and why more companies are choosing the flexibility of fractional or on-demand support.

The Cost of a Full-Time NetSuite Admin

Hiring a full-time NetSuite Administrator in Canada typically costs anywhere from $100,000 to $130,000+ CAD per year — not including bonuses, benefits, payroll tax, RRSP matching, vacation time, or overhead. All in, you’re likely looking at $140,000 to $160,000 CAD or more annually.

And that’s assuming you can find a good one.

Experienced NetSuite professionals are in high demand. Hiring takes time, and if you're scaling fast or troubleshooting today, that delay costs money and momentum.

The Admin-as-a-Service Alternative

With a model like NetSuite Admin-as-a-Service, you get senior-level expertise — often the same or better than what you'd get in a full-time hire — but without needing to commit to 40 hours per week.

Admin-as-a-Service gives you:

  • A set number of hours per month (or on-demand time)

  • Ongoing support, training, and optimization

  • Direct access to an expert embedded into your team

  • No recruiting, onboarding, or overhead delays

Plans can scale with your business. If you need more help during a project or audit, that’s built in. If you’re stable and just need oversight and light support, we scale down.

Cost Comparison: Full-Time vs. Admin-as-a-Service

Option Estimated Annual Cost Flexibility Expertise
Full-Time Hire $140,000–$160,000+ CAD Low Varies
Admin-as-a-Service $30,000–$60,000 CAD (based on hours) High High
With Admin-as-a-Service, you only pay for the time you use, while still gaining the benefits of a senior-level NetSuite resource.

Bottom Line

Admin-as-a-Service isn't about cutting corners — it's about getting the right support, at the right time, with less overhead. It’s a perfect fit for companies who want deep NetSuite expertise but don’t need or want the commitment of a full-time role.

Need help figuring out which option makes the most sense for your business?
Let’s talk — I’ll walk you through it.