Deciding between a contractor or a permanent hire isn’t just a hiring exercise, it’s a commercial call. The model you pick influences delivery timelines, project outcomes, and the long-term ROI of your NetSuite investment.
Start With the Big Picture
- Is fast delivery more important than long-term stability?
- Do I need specialist NetSuite expertise for a specific project phase?
- Is there uncertainty around budget approval, workload, or headcount limits?
- Will this initiative be funded through Opex or Capex?
If yes to any of these, a contractor may be the best fit. If not, a permanent hire could deliver more sustained value.
The Hiring Model Decision Flow
What’s driving the hire?
Urgent delivery
Contract
Building in-house capability
Permanent
How long is the requirement?
Up to 24 months
Contract
Indefinite
Permanent
How niche is the skillset?
Specialist NetSuite expertise
Contract
Broad ERP skills
Permanent
How quickly must they deliver?
Immediate contribution
Contract
Willing to allow ramp-up
Permanent
What’s your resourcing picture?
Demand spikes, hiring freezes, or skill gaps
Contract
Strategic leadership or ownership
Permanent
What’s the funding approach?
Opex budgets
Contract
Capex-driven, long-term investment
Permanent
Rate Benchmarking, Not Guesswork
Contractor rates vary by skillset, location, and urgency. With Tenth Revolution Group, you get:
Live benchmarking across cloud, CRM, ERP, and data markets
Rate comparisons by geography and model (remote, hybrid, onsite)
Guidance on competitive positioning to secure the right specialist fast
Side-by-Side: Contract vs Permanent
| Factor | Contract | Permanent |
|---|---|---|
| Time to hire | Fast (days–weeks) | Slower (weeks–months) |
| Time to productivity | Immediate | Variable |
| Flexibility | High (scale up/down) | Lower |
| Retention | Extensions possible | Stronger long-term potential |
| Total cost | Higher day rate, no overhead | Lower salary, higher overhead |
| Compliance risk | Manageable with right setup | Low |
Contract
| Time to hire | Fast (Days-weeks) |
| Time to productivity | Immediate |
| Flexibility | High (scale up/down) |
| Retention | Extensions possbile |
| Total cost | Higher day rate, no overhead |
| Compliance risk | Managable with right setup |
Permanent
| Time to hire | Slower (weeks-months) |
| Time to productivity | Variable |
| Flexibility | Lower |
| Retention | Stronger long-term potential |
| Total cost | Lower salary, higher overhead |
| Compliance risk | Low |
When to Choose Contract
- Tight deadlines or project go-lives at risk
- Specialist NetSuite expertise not covered in-house
- Hiring approvals stalled or frozen
- Variable workloads or unpredictable demand
- Teams under pressure and in need of immediate relief
- Flexibility without long-term headcount commitment
When to Choose Permanent
- Building long-term NetSuite capability and IP retention
- Embedding loyalty, culture, and retention
- Roles with leadership or strategic impact
- Sufficient time and budget for onboarding and training
Contractor Costs: True Value
Contractors don’t need culture decks or six-week induction plans. They need clarity, access, and accountability.
Done right, onboarding accelerates delivery. Done wrong, it wastes time, money, and trust.
Cost vs. Value: What You’re Really Paying For
A contractor’s day rate covers:
- Immediate availability (days, not months)
- Proven NetSuite expertise across projects
- Lower risk of failed hires
- No long-term liabilities once the project ends
Example:
A permanent NetSuite admin on $80K might take 3 months to ramp. A contractor at $600/day could deliver the same configuration in 5 weeks — enabling faster ROI.
The Hidden Costs of Permanent Hires
Beyond salary, permanent staff also require:
- Taxes, benefits, pensions, insurance
- Paid leave and sick time
- Training, onboarding, and equipment
- Recruitment and HR support
- Redundancy or severance if needed
Add these up, and “cheaper” perm hires often cost more than scoped contractors.
Time-to-Value Matters
- Perm hires: 8–16 weeks to start + 1–2 months ramp = 3–6 months to impact
- Contractors: Onboard in under 2 weeks, productive in days
Every week saved protects revenue, adoption, and stakeholder trust.
Budgeting Beyond Headcount
Contractors allow flexible resourcing when perm headcount is capped but project budgets are not. Use them to:
- Fund critical NetSuite delivery milestones
- Scale teams without long-term liability
- Add contingency in shifting roadmaps
Rate Benchmarking
Contractor rates differ by skill, geography, and urgency. With Anderson Frank, you get:
- Live NetSuite rate benchmarks by region and role
- Market insight on demand and availability
- Guidance on competitive offers to secure top talent fast
The Cost of Not Hiring
Contractors often prevent:
- Delayed go-lives and project slippage
- Burnout across internal teams
- Lost revenue from stalled releases
- The disruption of failed permanent hires
When scoped well, contractors reduce risk and increase ROI.
Cost-to-Impact: Side-by-Side
| Factor | Permanent Hire | Contractor |
|---|---|---|
| Time to productivity | 3–6 months | 1–2 weeks |
| Attrition risk | Medium–High | Low |
| Overhead costs | High (benefits, PTO, pensions) | None (rolled into rate) |
| Recruitment costs | Job ads, recruiter fees, HR time | Minimal (via partner) |
| Compliance costs | Low | Managed by TRG |
| Knowledge retention | Variable | Mitigated via handover |
| Flexibility | Low – redundancy risk | High – clean exit at project end |
| Total annual cost | Often higher with overheads | Often lower over project lifespan |
Contract
| Time to productivity | 1–2 weeks |
| Attrition risk | Low |
| Overhead costs | None (rolled into rate) |
| Recruitment costs | Minimal (via partner) |
| Compliance costs | Managed by TRG/td> |
| Knowledge retention | Mitigated via handover |
| Flexibility | High – clean exit at project end |
| Total annual cost | Often lower over project lifespan |
Permanent
| Time to productivity | 3–6 months |
| Attrition risk | Medium–High |
| Overhead costs | High (benefits, PTO, pensions) |
| Recruitment costs | Job ads, recruiter fees, HR time |
| Compliance costs | Low/td> |
| Knowledge retention | Variable |
| Flexibility | Low – redundancy risk |
| Total annual cost | Often higher with overheads |
Why Anderson Frank Makes It Easy
We give you commercial clarity at every step:
Market-driven NetSuite rate benchmarking
Fully managed compliance (IR35, 1099, A1, etc.)
Forecasting time-to-productivity from real project data
Cost modelling tailored to your NetSuite program
The Bottom Line
Contractors
Speed, flexibility, and specialist skills when deadlines matter
Permanent hires
Stability, loyalty, and long-term ownership when you’re building capability
The smartest strategies use both at the right moment.
