Blog
NetSuite ERP Implementation: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide
On this page A NetSuite ERP implementation is one of the highest-stakes technology projects a…
20 min read
Read article →
Indian business groups with multiple companies, a manufacturing ERP solutions entity, a trading entity, a services entity, and perhaps a foreign subsidiary, face a specific ERP challenge: each entity needs its own NetSuite India GST setup filing, its own P&L, and its own bank accounts. But the promoters want to see a consolidated view of the entire group in one place. NetSuite ERP for Indian mid-market multi-entity India (via NetSuite OneWorld) is designed precisely for this.
Best fit: Indian business groups with 2+ legal entities, intercompany transactions, and management wanting consolidated P&L and balance sheet across all entities, without running separate ERP instances for each company.
What NetSuite OneWorld Does
NetSuite OneWorld is the multi-entity capability within NetSuite ERP. With OneWorld:
- Each subsidiary has its own chart of accounts, GST configuration, and bank accounts
- Transactions are recorded at the entity level with the correct GSTIN and GST treatment
- Intercompany transactions (sales between related entities, loans, management fees) are automated and eliminations are handled at consolidation
- The parent company sees consolidated financial statements in real time
- Consolidation supports multiple currencies for groups with foreign subsidiaries
The Indian Business Group Structure in NetSuite
| Entity Level | NetSuite Equivalent | What It Gets |
|---|---|---|
| Holding/Parent company | Parent subsidiary | Consolidated P&L, balance sheet, group-level reports |
| Each operating company | Subsidiary | Own GSTIN, own chart of accounts, own bank reconciliation |
| Branch offices | Locations within a subsidiary | Location-wise P&L, separate GST registration if applicable |
| Foreign entity | Foreign subsidiary | Foreign currency, local country compliance, multi-currency consolidation |
Intercompany Transactions: The Core Benefit
The most painful part of managing multiple entities without a proper ERP is intercompany transactions: goods or services transferred between group companies, loans between entities, shared expenses charged across entities. In NetSuite OneWorld:
1
Intercompany Sales When the manufacturing entity sells to the trading entity, a single transaction creates: a sales invoice in the manufacturing company, a purchase bill in the trading company, and a GST invoice with correct GSTIN for both entities. No double data entry.
2
Shared Services Allocation Head office expenses (management fees, IT costs, shared staff) are allocated to subsidiaries automatically based on rules you configure (revenue ratio, headcount, etc.). Each subsidiary sees its allocated share in its P&L.
3
Intercompany Loans Loans between group entities are tracked with interest computation, repayment schedules, and proper accounting entries in both the lending and borrowing entity, important for Ind AS compliance for listed group companies.
4
Elimination at Consolidation When generating consolidated financials, NetSuite automatically eliminates intercompany transactions (so the consolidated P&L doesn’t double-count intra-group sales). This saves weeks of manual consolidation work.
GST Management Across Entities
Each entity in an Indian business group typically has its own GSTIN. NetSuite handles:
- Entity-specific GST configuration: each subsidiary has its own GSTIN, tax codes, and state codes
- GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B data generated separately per entity
- Intercompany invoices with correct GST (CGST+SGST or IGST based on state of supply)
- E-way bills generated with the correct entity’s GSTIN for inter-entity goods movement
- Group-level GST liability summary for the finance team
Cross-entity GST note: Intercompany transactions between group companies in different states attract IGST. Between entities in the same state, CGST+SGST applies. NetSuite computes this automatically based on the state codes of each entity, but validate this configuration during implementation with your CA.
Consolidated Reporting for the Board
The promoter or board of a business group typically wants three consolidated reports:
- Consolidated P&L: Combined revenue and expenses across all entities, with intercompany eliminations, in one currency
- Consolidated Balance Sheet: Combined assets, liabilities, and equity across entities, eliminating intercompany balances
- Entity-wise P&L comparison: Side-by-side comparison of each subsidiary’s profitability, which entity is performing and which is not
All three are available in NetSuite in real time, at any level of detail, no monthly Excel consolidation exercise required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of NetSuite OneWorld for an Indian business group?
NetSuite OneWorld is a licensed add-on on top of the base NetSuite ERP subscription, and pricing depends on the number of entities and users. Expect roughly Rs 12 to 25 lakh per year for a group with 3 to 5 entities and 30 to 60 total users, including the OneWorld module. Implementation for a multi-entity group typically adds Rs 20 to 50 lakh as a one-time cost. Contact Aaxonix for a detailed scoping based on your group’s structure.
Can each entity’s finance team work independently in NetSuite?
Yes. Each subsidiary’s finance team sees only their own entity’s transactions by default, so an accounts executive in one company cannot view another entity’s data unless explicitly granted access. Group-level finance and management roles can be configured to see across all entities at once. Permissions in NetSuite OneWorld are fully role-based and configurable during implementation to match your existing reporting lines.
How does NetSuite handle Ind AS consolidation requirements for listed groups?
NetSuite supports Ind AS-compliant journal entries and produces the underlying data needed for consolidated financial statements. However, more complex Ind AS adjustments, such as fair value measurement of financial instruments or ESOP accounting, typically still need supplementary workings done outside NetSuite in Excel. Groups with listed-company reporting obligations should walk through their specific Ind AS scenarios with their NetSuite implementation partner before go-live.
Can NetSuite consolidate entities in both India and the UAE?
Yes. NetSuite OneWorld supports multi-currency and multi-country consolidation in a single account. The UAE entity operates in AED and the Indian entity in INR, and NetSuite consolidates both into your chosen reporting currency using exchange rates you configure. Country-specific tax rules, UAE VAT and Indian GST, run independently per entity, so neither entity’s local compliance is disrupted by the consolidation.
Do all group entities need to be on NetSuite, or can some stay on separate systems?
They do not all have to move at once, but consolidation only works automatically for entities that are actually inside the NetSuite OneWorld account. A common approach is to bring the larger or more complex entities onto NetSuite first and keep smaller entities on Tally or another system temporarily, manually including their numbers in consolidated reporting until they migrate too. Full automation of intercompany eliminations only applies to entities running on NetSuite itself.
Bottom line: NetSuite OneWorld is the right solution for Indian business groups that are tired of consolidating financials manually in Excel, struggling with intercompany reconciliation, or running separate disconnected ERP systems per entity. It handles GST per entity, automates intercompany eliminations, and gives management a real-time consolidated view.
Talk to Aaxonix about implementing NetSuite OneWorld for your business group. We are a certified NetSuite implementation partner in India with experience in multi-entity implementations.
