# Multi-entity accounts payable for NetSuite

NetSuite has multi-entity accounts payable built in. Pulsify gives each company its own address, suppliers and approval rules, with one login across all of them.

Multi-entity accounts payable means running supplier bills for several companies, each with its own books, from one team.

## What NetSuite does on its own

NetSuite OneWorld runs several subsidiaries in one account. A vendor can have a primary subsidiary and any number of secondary subsidiaries, and transactions can use the subsidiaries assigned to the vendor. Elimination subsidiaries hold intercompany journals that reverse transactions between subsidiaries.

- OneWorld is a separate edition.

## What you need in NetSuite

- NetSuite OneWorld edition
- Subsidiary records created before vendors are assigned to them

## Setting it up in NetSuite

Where to find it: Setup > Company > Subsidiaries

1. Go to Setup > Company > Subsidiaries > New and create the root subsidiary first, then its children.
2. Pick the parent in Subsidiary of, and set the base currency and legal name.
3. Create a separate elimination subsidiary as a child of each parent and tick Elimination.
4. On the vendor record assign a primary subsidiary and add secondary subsidiaries on the Subsidiaries subtab.
5. On a bill pick the Vendor and check the Subsidiary that fills in.

## Good to know in NetSuite

- Oracle says there is no limit on secondary subsidiaries. A credit limit can be set for the primary and each secondary subsidiary on the vendor.
- Tax codes on a OneWorld vendor are set at line level on the Subsidiaries subtab.
- The primary subsidiary of a vendor cannot be changed after you save. Tax agency vendors should use the subsidiary linked to the nexus.

## How to do it in NetSuite

### How to set up vendor bill approval in NetSuite

In NetSuite, set up bill approval routing: choose who can approve and their limits, then test it with a real vendor bill before you rely on it. Full guide: https://www.pulsify.tech/how-to/set-up-bill-approval-in-netsuite/

### How to close the month in accounts payable in NetSuite

In NetSuite, enter and approve all vendor bill records dated in the month, accrue goods received, reconcile the A/P Aging report to the ledger, then lock the period. Full guide: https://www.pulsify.tech/how-to/close-the-month-in-ap-in-netsuite/

## What Pulsify adds

1. Each company in Pulsify is connected to its own set of books with its own documents, suppliers, approval rules and forwarding address.
2. One login reaches every company a person has access to.
3. Each person has a role per company: Admin, Approver, Reviewer or Submitter.
4. The company menu shows how many documents wait on you in each company.

Pulsify connects to NetSuite. We set up the connection for you.

What Pulsify does not do:

- Pulsify does not split one bill across several companies or post intercompany entries.

## Common questions

### Does NetSuite need OneWorld for several companies?

Yes, for separate subsidiaries in one account. Oracle's subsidiary pages are for OneWorld. Each subsidiary gets a NetSuite edition from its address country, and Australia has its own. Adding more subsidiaries than you are licensed for gives an error.

### Can one vendor serve several subsidiaries?

Yes. Give the vendor a primary subsidiary and add secondary ones. Oracle says transactions are generally tied to the primary subsidiary but can use any secondary one in the procure-to-pay flow.

### Can one approver work across companies?

Yes. A person can have a role in each company. Their waiting count shows per company.

## Sources

- https://docs.oracle.com/en/cloud/saas/netsuite/ns-online-help/article_161968486146.html
- https://docs.oracle.com/en/cloud/saas/netsuite/ns-online-help/section_N272471.html
- https://docs.oracle.com/en/cloud/saas/netsuite/ns-online-help/section_4180576581.html
- https://docs.oracle.com/en/cloud/saas/netsuite/ns-online-help/section_1507910510.html

Source: https://www.pulsify.tech/multi-entity-ap-for-netsuite/ (last checked 2026-10-19)