# NetSuite Customization Maintenance Cost Calculator > Source: https://netray.co/tools/netsuite-customization-maintenance-cost-calculator > Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems. > Section: Free Tools ## Short answer Put a yearly number on SuiteScript and workflow upkeep: break-fix hours, release regression testing and the cost per script. ## Category netsuite ## Erp NetSuite ## Audience - NetSuite administrator - IT manager - Controller - NetSuite consultant ## Tool **Kind:** calculator **Currency:** $ **Inputs:** #### Custom scripts and workflows **Key:** scripts **Type:** number **Default:** 60 **Min:** 1 **Step:** 5 **Unit:** items #### Break-fix and change hours per item per year **Key:** fix_hours **Type:** number **Default:** 6 **Min:** 0 **Step:** 0.5 **Unit:** hours #### Release cycles tested per year **Key:** releases **Type:** select **Default:** 2 **Options:** ##### 1 **Value:** 1 ##### 2 (two major releases) **Value:** 2 ##### 3 **Value:** 3 #### Regression test hours per item per release **Key:** reg_hours **Type:** number **Default:** 1.5 **Min:** 0 **Step:** 0.25 **Unit:** hours #### Blended hourly rate **Key:** rate **Type:** number **Default:** 70 **Min:** 1 **Step:** 5 **Unit:** $/hour #### Share with no documentation or tests **Key:** undocumented **Type:** slider **Default:** 40 **Min:** 0 **Max:** 100 **Step:** 5 **Unit:** % **Help:** These take longer to change and to test. **Outputs:** #### Effort multiplier for undocumented items **Key:** penalty **Expr:** 1 + undocumented / 100 * 0.5 **Format:** decimal **Description:** Assumes undocumented items take 50 percent longer. #### Break-fix and change hours **Key:** fix_total **Expr:** scripts * fix_hours * penalty **Format:** integer #### Regression test hours **Key:** reg_total **Expr:** scripts * releases * reg_hours * penalty **Format:** integer #### Total hours per year **Key:** total_hours **Expr:** fix_total + reg_total **Format:** integer **Primary:** true #### Yearly maintenance cost **Key:** total_cost **Expr:** total_hours * rate **Format:** currency **Primary:** true #### Cost per script or workflow **Key:** per_item **Expr:** total_cost / max(scripts, 1) **Format:** currency **Chart:** #### Yearly cost vs number of customizations **Type:** line **X:** scripts **From:** 10 **To:** 300 **Steps:** 30 **Series:** - total_cost **Disclaimer:** A planning model with adjustable assumptions, not a benchmark. Replace the default hours with your own ticket history. ## Content **Intro:** Every SuiteScript, workflow and custom record you add is something to test and maintain. This calculator turns that into hours and money so you can compare customising against configuring or retiring an item. **Sections:** #### How to use it **Body:** Count your active scripts and workflows. Estimate the average hours each needs per year for fixes and small changes, using your ticket history if you have one. Enter how many release cycles you test and the regression hours per item per release. Add a blended rate and the share of items that lack documentation or tests, since those cost more to change safely. The tool returns total hours, yearly cost and cost per item. #### The model **Body:** Break-fix hours equal items x hours per item x the undocumented multiplier. Regression hours equal items x releases x hours per release x the same multiplier. Total cost is total hours x rate. The multiplier assumes undocumented items need around half again as much effort, which is an adjustable assumption rather than a measured constant. With 60 items, defaults give roughly 1,000 hours, which is a half-time developer, and shows why script sprawl becomes expensive. **Bullets:** - Multiplier = 1 + undocumented share x 0.5 - Break-fix = items x hours x multiplier - Regression = items x releases x hours x multiplier - Cost = hours x rate #### Using the result **Body:** Compare the cost per item with the value the item delivers. Scripts that duplicate standard features, work around a process nobody follows or have no owner are candidates for retirement. Items with high regression effort benefit from automated tests. The chart shows the cost curve as the number of customizations grows, which is useful when someone proposes adding yet another script for a small convenience. #### Common mistakes **Body:** Teams often count only build cost and forget the recurring release testing. Another mistake is averaging all items, when a handful of complex integrations typically consume most of the effort. A third is treating documentation as overhead, when it is the main lever that lowers the multiplier. **Bullets:** - Track hours per script in your ticketing tool - Name an owner for every script - Retire scripts that standard features now replace - Test release previews in a sandbox before the production upgrade **Cta:** Netray can review your customization inventory and flag candidates to retire, simplify or cover with automated tests. **Faq:** #### How often does NetSuite release updates? **Answer:** NetSuite delivers two major releases a year, plus smaller updates, and offers release preview accounts so you can test customizations before the upgrade reaches production. #### What is a good regression time per script? **Answer:** It varies widely. A simple field default may need minutes, while a pricing or integration script can need hours. Start from your own test records and refine. #### Does documentation really change the cost? **Answer:** Yes. A documented script with a known owner and test case is faster to diagnose and change, while an unknown one requires reverse engineering before each modification. #### Should I avoid customization altogether? **Answer:** No. Customization is often the right answer. The point is to choose it knowingly, include the recurring cost, and prefer standard features when they fit. ## Search terms netsuite customization cost, suitescript maintenance cost, netsuite technical debt, netsuite release regression testing effort, cost of custom scripts netsuite, netsuite support hours calculator --- Talk to an engineer: https://netray.co/contact?intent=erp_ai | Machine catalog: https://netray.co/agent/catalog.json