NetSuite subsidiaries allow for enhanced cohesion in the management of a multi-company enterprise. Creating subsidiaries in NetSuite is vital for setting up a company’s structure correctly. It may seem complex at first, but the process is very straightforward once the steps are clearly understood.
NetSuite is the premier cloud-based ERP offering a comprehensive automated service suite that supports critical business processes. It has become one of the most heavily utilized ERPs worldwide with a robust platform and the capability to integrate into core business structures seamlessly. NetSuite’s two primary functions include creating and working with subsidiaries and custom forms. Learning how to use these functions will prove helpful in utilizing the extreme efficiency and innovation offered by NetSuite to enhance business processes and drive growth.
This article will cover the following topics:
NetSuite enables effortless management of multiple locations, subsidiaries, legal entities, and business units using one integrated suite of applications. The leading-edge cloud software allows for real-time visibility of the parent company and all related subsidiaries while helping to standardize business processes to ensure cohesion. Managing subsidiaries effectively is critical, especially for large global enterprises. Thankfully, NetSuite simplifies the process and allows for more streamlined visibility while minimizing the time and monetary cost associated with more manual processes.
In NetSuite, a subsidiary is a separate company within a global organization. The term subsidiary in NetSuite represents a company owned by the parent or multinational company. NetSuite subsidiaries can be either domestic or international. A subsidiary record should be established for each legal entity within an organization.
There are many benefits to NetSuite subsidiary management for organizations with multiple subsidiaries. These benefits include simplifying the management of several companies into one cohesive unit. This is especially relevant when managing companies in multiple locations that use separate currencies. In that regard, PayEm allows finance teams to manage subsidiary expenses and currencies in a single place.
The benefits of NetSuite subsidiary management include:
NetSuite allows for a maximum of 125 subsidiaries in one NetSuite account, which includes the root subsidiary. Subsidiary licenses are provided on per-country and per-location bases. For example, companies with multiple locations and subsidiaries in the United States allow for separate tracking. This holds true when dealing with subsidiaries in foreign countries.
Setting up NetSuite subsidiaries can be an intrinsically simple process; however, there is a need for adequate planning before starting. This is especially the case because once a subsidiary record has been created in NetSuite, the associated hierarchical structure created can be challenging to modify after it has been defined.
Before creating NetSuite subsidiaries, it is recommended to organize the following information:
In addition, read and understand the following help topics in NetSuite:
Once the planning steps have been completed, you may log in to NetSuite and begin the subsidiary creation process.
Step 1 Click on Setup tab > Company > Subsidiaries > New
Step 2 Complete the subsidiary form
Entry Fields
Now review the details of each entry field to fill out.
After completing the entry fields, the next step is to complete the setup.
Select the Save button located at the upper or lower left of the window.
Once the subsidiary has been created, the need to edit one of the subsidiaries may arise. The following edits can be made for Netsuite subsidiary management:
Steps to edit a NetSuite subsidiary:
Step 1: Go to the Setup tab > Company > Subsidiaries
Step 2: Click on View or Edit to modify the information
Step 3: Input the additional details for the related subsidiary
Step 4: Click Save to save all changes
Subsidiary hierarchies are created in NetSuite once new subsidiary records have been created. The hierarchy structure may be straightforward when all subsidiaries report to the same parent subsidiary. Alternatively, it may also be complex when multiple parent companies and different subsidiaries report to different parent companies.
The first step is to set up subsidiaries in the subsidiary hierarchy. A diagram of the parent-child relationship in the subsidiary hierarchy should be created beginning at the top with the root subsidiary. Having a visual representation of how the subsidiary will be set up will help with the structuring and planning process. It is helpful to record the base currency, tax nexuses, and country for each subsidiary.
Multiple currencies often accompany Multi-location subsidiaries in Netsuite. PayEm simplifies the management of different subsidiaries and currencies with one seamless integration. Each subsidiary is assigned a functional currency, and financial reports will convert to the base currency of the subsidiary. Thanks to PayEm’s robust NetSuite integration, subsidiaries requiring multiple currencies are fully supported.
Once a new subsidiary has been saved, the following values are unable to be edited:
As long as transactions have not yet been entered for a subsidiary, the base currency can be changed.
When a subsidiary record is created in NetSuite, it is associated with the relevant NetSuite edition and tax nexus for the specified country.
Tax compliance is a key, if not the most crucial, benefit of Netsuite subsidiary management. With country-specific configurations, compliance with local tax regulations is assured. Nexus determines the various sales and purchase taxes for each subsidiary. Nexuses are inbuilt into Netsuite’s advanced taxes feature, which assists global enterprises with simplifying taxation and subsidiary management. In Netsuite, each subsidiary must be associated with a minimum of one nexus.
Subsidiaries, by their very nature, communicate frequently with their parent entities. Often in the form of data and reporting, NetSuite makes it easy to templatize such communications. As such, NetSuite allows for the use of both custom forms and standard forms. Standard forms are preferred when working with particular Cloud Studio process templates.
Below are the steps for using standard forms for NetSuite custom forms:
Step 1: Log in to the NetSuite account as the administrator.
Step 2: Choose Customization > Forms > Entry Forms.
Step 3: On the screen for Custom Entry Forms, there will be a list of different forms, including new Contacts, new Customers, etc.
Step 4: Choose the Subtype column to order the forms by object.
Step 5: For consistency within the organization, standard forms are recommended. The standard forms are named using Standard < Object > Form. In this instance, Object will be the Customer, Contact, etc.
Step 6: After the standard form has been identified, choose its Preferred column and click Submit.
Step 7: This process can be replicated for each of the custom objects for which standard forms will be used.
Step 8: Lastly, verify that the Address form has no custom fields.
Creating sales invoices, purchase orders, or other forms in NetSuite is a simple process. Custom forms can help when different fields or other customizations are desired other than the standard form supplied in NetSuite. Thankfully NetSuite custom forms are highly configurable and can be adapted to the needs of your business.
Step 1: Go to Customizations > Forms > Transaction Forms.
Step 2: Select Customize next to the desired form that requires customization.
Step 3: If a custom form is already in use, there will be no need to customize it further. Verify that the form has not yet been customized by checking for Advanced PDF, not Basic PDF.
PayEm, in conjunction with NetSuite, enables greater visibility and compliance for global enterprises managing multiple subsidiaries. As an industry-leading NetSuite subsidiary navigator, PayEm easily allows for simplified and more efficient NetSuite subsidiary management, thus enabling streamlined financial processes across an infinite number of subsidiaries. Moreover, should subsidiaries be located internationally, PayEm offers compatible cross-broder payment functions across 130 currencies and 180 territories. Contact PayEm’s experts for a commitment-free, no-cost demo of the platform.
For additional information regarding PayEm's NetSuite capabilities, be sure to check out our articles regarding purchase orders and credit card reconciliation.
