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Anyone knows any secrets or how to get into the SD...
# suitescript
a
Anyone knows any secrets or how to get into the SDN Partner program? After applying NetSuite replied that I need to have 50 customers? and suggested I could use a customer sandbox account for development? Do they know that under USA IP laws I can't develop a SuiteApp using a customer or employer account and that the only way to create a SuiteApp legally is to have access to a Development Account which is only available via the SDN Partner program?
m
I've talked to so many people in this boat
I've also seen about 100 different "reasons" from netsuite as to why they are not accepted
The key things that seem to standout are 1. You need an established customer base 2. Recently it seems they are looking for "AI focused" companies 3. Established MRR is helpful 4. Certifications and partners are helpful (ie. SOC 2, GDPR ect)
Just a note: you can buy your own netsuite environment and get DEV accounts with it But its kind of expensive
c
If they won't let you into the SDN. Maybe you can buy customer account and treat it as a sandbox? Alternatively you could work out an IP rights agreement with someone, and pay them for letting you develop a feature in their sandbox. My current agreement allows me to develop anything on my time as long as I offer them 1 year of free usage.
a
I need to find someone willing to do that then...
c
we can just crowd fund one for the slack channel and see how wild it gets
netsuite 4
c
You'd think NS would just give us one to further community interest in the platform to increase adoption.
c
No, they're indifferent to the community.
c
Yeah they do not care at all unless you're giving them $$$
even then its questionable
a
SDN is not expensive but is not free is 3k a year
c
When i made that first webstorm plugin, the devs there added some stuff which was cool but asking netsuite itself to hand you free stuff is never going to happen
3k/yr doesn't sound too obscene
c
@alien4u another route is to sell your idea to an NS customer, build in their SB, sell it outside of the official channel. How else could you get 50 customers?
c
You could build it and demo it if out of a SB or something if the customer is cool with it. If you actually seem to get some sales in the pipeline, buy the SDN and put it in there
give it to the customer for free if they want it something like that
If you want to build SPA apps, I believe you HAVE to be an SDN partner for the ID
a
You can not just buy the SDN and put it in there, I'm trying to do that... they are saying NO, you need 50 customers lol
I'm willing to buy the SDN right now.
c
ah i gotcha. That is lame then.
a
Exactly...
j
It is annoying. You can spin up a Salesforce box in minutes. I fortunately have a pre-Oracle test drive SDN account. Back when they weren't evil.
How are you supposed to have 50 customers when you can't protect your IP?
c
How can you have 50 customers when you can't even BUILD you IP
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c
@Ryan Longenecker might have some tips for you @alien4u
k
I'm in a similar boat. The part that I get stuck at every time is they want you to be VC funded which I fail every time as a self-owned small business. >.< Can't we build SuiteApps using SDF SuiteApp projects and just not use the SuiteApp marketplace in NetSuite? @MGBC and I have been talking off and on for a year or so about setting up a community SuiteApp hosting site. Not sure how much interest there is in this in the community though?
w
don't know what are they trying to protect
c
@Kristopher Wood it most likely wouldn't work without trust being built somehow. NetSuite apps are within a trusted/verified ecosystem. While I think it's a cool concept, I highly doubt companies are going to go to an outside site and snag things that aren't verified/validated by NetSuite (or a partner) since these apps could "potentially" harm your system. The potential legal headaches would make me stay far away. The root of it is not being able to get an account at all to write anything unless you meet ridiculous requirements. How would these apps be written? The best you could do it to stub out everything and unit test it but you never know some impacts unless you get it into an actual account.
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c
A third-party marketplace is highly unlikely to gain traction; Oracle may even become hostile. You can sell your own account customisations without Oracle's blessing, though. Independent consulting happens outside of the partner network all the time. It's how I pay my mortgage.
k
Yeah, hence never getting around to building it šŸ˜†
What I've been doing instead is just honing SDF projects one client at a time, which does have the added benefit of being able to tweak it to any client's specifications instead of a one size fits all model
still discoverability would be nice
šŸ™Œ 1
I'm stuck working a full time job because my side consulting isn't enough to pay the mortgage. >.<
n
There is a HUGE difference in being the SDN partner vs. using the sandbox or dev account. To create SPAs, you need a valid SDN partner ID which is not possible with a sandbox or dev account. @alien4u @creece @Christopher Quackenbush
c
Yep I thought you had to have one for the SPA. We've always had one here so its been a non-issue but there's been some other discussions not in this thread that we've talked about that too
j
I don't think there's any confusion on what is required. You pay the $3,000 annually and you're a SDN partner.
Which drives innovation outside of the NetSuite environment and into GCP, Azure, etc.
r
You canā€™t just pay the $3000 and become a partner.
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m
Yes you need to apply, then be accepted, then pay the $3000 The getting accepted part is the hardest
āž• 1
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šŸ‘šŸ» 1
It's pretty exclusive
r
Exactly
https://www.netsuite.com/portal/developers/sdn.shtml - This page makes it seem like you can just pay to join
ā€œBy invitationā€ = they need to accept you
j
I've been through it, guys. It is fairly easy. I haven't met any company that was denied.
k
I've been "invited" a couple times now but then they do the review of criteria and I fail at the investment section every time.
r
I think based on this thread, itā€™s not that easy
m
@Jamie Houselog I haven't met a single person who's been accepted
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a
@Jamie Houselog I was recently denied, existing LLC formed in 2024, I have more than 20+ years of IT experience, nine of which are NetSuite focused. Iā€™m a certified NetSuite Developer II.
r
I was denied as well
m
Probably talked to over 50 developers who have tried
n
On the other hand, I know quiet a few companies doing pathetic NS work got the Alliance Partner...
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a
They simply reply with: We are looking to partner with companies who have at least 50 active customers.
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j
They must have ramped up the requirements in the last few years. Are they saying you aren't big enough?
Get 50 customers to pay you $1. Done.
k
It does depend on whether you're applying for alliance partner or solution provider
I applied for solution provider and they never asked about number of customers
a
I also present them a very detailed information about a SuiteApp Iā€™m building which which fill a real gap no existing app covers, no even Strongpoint.
k
with alliance partner they assume you're doing implementations
n
Are you alliance partner @Kristopher Wood
k
No I don't have 50 customers lol
m
The excuses I've heard for denial are this ā€¢ need x number of customers first ā€¢ Need to be more AI focused ā€¢ With NetSuite next coming out they feel the area is already covered ā€¢ Not VC backed ā€¢ Already another partner doing the same thing
k
I've got one semi active customer and 2 infrequent customers
m
So it seems to be a myriad of requirements. Or the just make up stuff to deny you
k
Maybe we should get together and form a LLC of enough of us to make 50 customers and THEN apply in bulk lol
n
They have bulk reject šŸ˜‚
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j
"Already another partner doing the same thing" -- I'd take that to a lawyer.
a
In my opinion the only thing this closed door behavior approach does is that it explains the lack of tools/suite app in some areas and/or the questionable quality of some of the existing ones, last time I checked competition does two clear things: Drive down prices and increases quality.
c
Not being AI focused is wild. I wouldn't trust it at all in my account. It should be up to the customer/company to implement AI not just force it in there for the sake of AI slop
c
All that matters is this quarter's new logos/deals. Everything else is an expense in Oracle's eyes. Even prior to Oracle, there were very few people internally who understood or cared about the ecosystem beyond partners bringing in license fees. It's only gotten worse since I left in 2017, and it was hardly good before that.
a
Perhaps this closed doors behavior also explain why their CRM module could never even reach a reasonable market share and Salesforce remains the kind.
j
How much do you guys want to sell your companies for? We can get to 50 customers pretty quick.
c
They do BFN (built for netsuite) status via AI now. My original thought was that having all of these people making apps would overwhelm them for validating but that doesn't seem to be the case. I am wondering if this is a precursor to opening it up some.
a
@Jamie Houselog I need to be able to develop products that solve real business problems and are certified by NetSuite to be able to sell them in the NetSuite SuiteApp marketplace, then my company would have predictable ARR and then and only then I can sell my company lol šŸ˜‚
j
Yeah... don't build it in NetSuite.
m
I just think it's extremely interesting that they are knowingly causing some pretty huge problems for their own customer base 1. Having solutions developed in random sandbox accounts is risky at best and could open up their customer base to loosing dependent solutions overnight 2. Forcing solutions to be deployed via suite bundle (which they have already said is being deprecated) again leaves their customer base open to relying on ā€œstrandedā€ bundles that cannot be supported or maintained 3. They have no solution for transitioning a bundle to a SuiteApp which would require a complete reinstallation of already in use tools. (Causing duplication errors and problems)
It just seems wild that they would seem to want these potential issues for their customer base
j
I thought SuiteSuccess did everything for you.
a
@Jamie Houselog Are you aware that building a product outside NetSuite shrinks your market reach tremendously right? If you touch or read ERP data you are now playing in compliance/security territory, no SOX compliance company (public traded) would use your product, no government or military (just small examples where the real money is)ā€¦ etcā€¦
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Security certification alone would require VC funding or being homelessā€¦
j
Well aware of it.
It expands your market because you aren't tied to NetSuite. Oracle doesn't have access to your code. So there are pros.
Different route as a solutions provider
c
I think the idea is that you build in NS and you have a ready-made addressable market. If you build outside, you're competing with every other vendor and it's harder to win customers.
a
I agree ā˜ļø just saying is not as simple as it looks like because your exposure would shrink, out of ~44k NetSuite customer you could realistically penetrate 3 to 5% with a couple of good products. Now because your app or product is not ā€œbuilt for NetSuiteā€ (certified) those realistic number shrink even more. Where is the ROI in this equation? Or maybe Iā€™m missing something.
This is what a lot of ā€œI want to be my own bossā€ people donā€™t talk about: ā€¢ A senior NetSuite developer with good skills could be making ~150k a year; that includes health insurance, 401k matching, etc. ā€¢ The revenue of your new business (ā€œbeing your own bossā€) must be almost 50% more than your current salary to account for taxes, risk, etc. With an estimated realistic or maybe optimistic NetSuite market penetration of 2% you need to engage ~880 paying customers at not less than 250 USD subscription per month to be a successful ā€œown bossā€.
I just donā€™t see the ROI in that move without a major market exposure that can only be reached via the SDN Network and Built for NetSuite certification.
Fresh out of the oven reply from the SDN program after my second email: The reply explained that the SDN program is specifically designed for commercial ISVs that build integrated applications to be jointly marketed with NetSuite. Theyā€™re selectively recruiting apps that fill gaps where NetSuite has no plans to build a native solution. The program is not intended for consulting firms, solution providers, or developers offering custom scripting, builds, or coverage for existing SuiteApps. They made it clear the SDN teamā€™s goal is to drive NetSuite sales and create new revenue streams, not to serve as an app distribution channel. They suggested I either purchase my own NetSuite instance or work with a development partner like ExtendApps if I need a sandbox environment.
I'm not a lawyer by any means but this response feels borderline anti-competitive: ā€¢ Oracle controls the platform, the marketplace (SuiteApp.com) ā€¢ The certification process. ā€¢ The Sandbox Access So basically, if you need SDN membership to get your app certified and listed, but they only let you in if your app doesn't step on their toes or compete with their buddies, that's pretty much a walled garden that protects whoever got there first.
c
how true is that though? There's like 3 subscription billing apps that all compete with each other
a
@creece True in their response I just got 2 minutes ago.
c
Well the fact there are 3 (at least) subscription billing apps including NetSuite's own (ie bought and rebranded) solution seems a bit contradicting to what they said
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It could also be who you are talking to. I know for a fact that individuals have been given accounts to mess with but this was pre-oracle aquisition
a
To be honest I think this is just another thing to put on the pile of reasons to part ways with NetSuite: ā€¢ Customer Support Quality -> 1/10. ā€¢ System Performance -> 4/10. ā€¢ System Simplicity or Easy of Use -> 4/10. ā€¢ Enhancements / Bugs Management -> 0/10. ā€¢ Marketplace Access -> 1/10. ā€¢ AI Hype and Push -> 1/10. ā€¢ Development Environment Innovation or Excitement after XYZ years -> 2/10. Sorry I'm just a little frustrated at this point lol šŸ˜…
c
its def ok to be frustrated. I think all of us have some similar experiences there
I absolutely hate how they do this spin up caching thing for their records like transactions which can take up to a MINUTE in 2026 to start working quickly. Screws up REST operations unless someone primes the thing like we are starting a lawn mower for the first time in a new year.
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j
It seems clear with the response: Don't develop within NetSuite. Develop apps that integrate with NetSuite.
We are always competing with apps external to NetSuite. I understand the marketing, but most of the apps built within NetSuite aren't "best of breed"
c
Integrating with netsuite is its own beast as well. One of the biggest hurdles i've come across doing that is the spin up times for records which makes 0 sense to me. It's like they are running netsuite on a free tier heroku service
šŸ«¶ 1
the functionality to actually do the integration is there, but the performance is terrible
a
@Jamie Houselog This is their second response, the first one they states I needed 50 customers, which would happen again after I finish building my external app and want to certified the server side needed in NetSuite side... chicken and egg game..
j
So how do you want to structure this? Do I need to set up an incubator to access my dev environment?
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I'm half serious. I don't know yet. I understand the struggle. All Oracle driven.
k
My main struggle is discoverability. I have lots of ideas for SuiteApps but what's the point of building them if no one will ever see them?
And how do you get 50 customers in the first place? I'm a small business, I don't have time to do sales if i'm developing code and I don't have time to code if I'm doing sales. XD
c
Does anyone even discover suiteapps through the marketplace? I've never once considered it to be a place to look for solutions.
r
Yes people definitely do and also NS sales reps reference it as well. Thereā€™s definitely advantages to being a suiteapp
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c
YMMV but I've never once had a client go looking there for a solution to a problem. I've always been directed there to install a suiteapp or bundle, but that just makes it a distribution channel, not a sales and marketing channel.
@Ryan Longenecker How are prospects discovering the apps you're releasing? Are you a partner or selling outside of the official channels?
k
When working at end customers rather than consulting I've frequently seen people look on the SuiteApp and Bundle marketplaces
c
@Kristopher Wood what are they searching exactly? Keywords related to their problem? e.g. German Tax Localisation?
k
And when working at an SDN partner I sold SuiteApps though those were mostly marketed by the company I was working for.
r
@Craig this info was from working at a suiteapp company from 2020-2023. They were brought up in sales calls, introduced by sales reps, and we were able to go to NetSuite offices to demo the solution to AM, Sales, etc because we were a suiteapp. That isnā€™t possible/easy to do without being one
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k
@Craig yes usually. Or they google and come up with a bundle/SuiteApp that they want to try and then find it in the marketplace
More often NetSuite themselves say "use this one"
r
exactly ā¬†ļø
NetSuite uses the suiteapp store for referring customers to apps. This is everything imo
c
That's fair enough - I've never personally witnessed this but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
k
Right
I've also seen them refer people to solution providers
c
Either way, it's clear that it's a walled garden, and only if the planets align will you be invited.
r
Hoping the planets align for all of us!
fingers crossed 1
c
30,000 people just got laid off via email on the same day... I wouldn't hold my breath for the required culture change šŸ˜…
k
Yeah I saw that in my news feed, ouch
j
That's why I work for myself. The layoffs are always in person.
s
My company recently got accepted to SDN(Nov 2025) and we just finished our BFN badge requirements(Feb 2026). I can't share the details here but happy to share my experience and what I know. DM me if you are interested.
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