How to Set Up Legacy Site Builder for NetSuite-Hosted eCommerce Sites

Key Takeaways

• Site Builder is typically quoted around $999 per month compared to roughly $2,499 for SuiteCommerce and $4,999 for SuiteCommerce Advanced
• Site Builder isn't mobile-responsive by default and requires custom development for smartphone optimization
• Real-time inventory synchronization eliminates data entry double-work between eCommerce and ERP systems
• Performance may degrade with very large product catalogs or high-traffic volumes, especially on heavily customized Site Builder implementations
• Proper 301 redirect planning during migration prevents significant traffic drops from poorly executed platform changes

What Is NetSuite Legacy Site Builder and Why It Still Matters

NetSuite Site Builder is the legacy eCommerce solution that delivers hosted web stores with deep integration into NetSuite ERP. Unlike standalone platforms requiring middleware or third-party connectors, Site Builder runs directly on NetSuite's infrastructure with automatic synchronization of online orders, inventory management, customer records, and accounting transactions.

Understanding NetSuite's eCommerce Evolution

NetSuite has evolved its eCommerce offerings through three distinct platforms:

• Site Builder (Legacy): Basic templates, limited customization, requires HTML knowledge for advanced changes
• SuiteCommerce: Responsive design, drag-and-drop content management, modern SEO capabilities
• SuiteCommerce Advanced: Complete source code access, single-page app architecture, unlimited customization

Oracle has deprecated Site Builder and actively encourages migration to modern platforms. However, the lower price point and existing implementations mean thousands of businesses continue running Site Builder stores today.

When Legacy Site Builder Is Still the Right Choice

Site Builder makes practical sense when your business:

• Operates with simple product catalogs under 1,000 SKUs
• Currently serves primarily desktop users with minimal mobile traffic
• Requires the lowest monthly platform cost for NetSuite-hosted eCommerce
• Plans to migrate to SuiteCommerce within 1-2 years but needs immediate online selling
• Already has Site Builder running and isn't experiencing growth limitations
• Prioritizes backend ERP integration over cutting-edge storefront design

The platform provides free SuiteApps and access to the SSP Application platform for enhanced functionality, delivering solid value despite its legacy status.

Prerequisites: What You Need Before Setting Up Site Builder

Required NetSuite Modules and Permissions

Before beginning setup, verify your NetSuite account includes:

• Active NetSuite ERP license with eCommerce features enabled
• Administrator role access to enable features and configure settings
• Web Store module activation (available after feature enablement)
• Customer Center permissions for self-service portal capabilities

Without Administrator permissions, you cannot access the feature enablement area where Web Store activation occurs.

Item Catalog and Inventory Preparation

Successful Site Builder implementations require clean product data:

• Complete item records with descriptions, pricing, and SKU numbers
• Product images sized appropriately (recommended 800x800px minimum)
• Category assignments for logical product organization
• Accurate inventory counts across all locations
• Configured price levels for different customer segments

Most implementations that exceed timelines do so because product catalog cleanup takes significantly longer than estimated. Address data quality issues before activating your web store.

Payment and Shipping Configuration

Prepare external service accounts before setup:

• Payment gateway merchant account (Authorize.net, PayPal, CyberSource)
• Shipping carrier accounts with API credentials (UPS, FedEx, USPS)
• Registered domain name for your online store
• SSL certificate (NetSuite can automatically provision and manage a DV certificate for your domain when you use the Automatic certificate option)

Having these accounts ready prevents delays during the payment and shipping configuration phase.

Step-by-Step: Activating the Web Store Feature in NetSuite

Navigating NetSuite Feature Settings

Feature enablement begins in your NetSuite account settings:

1. Look for the Setup menu and locate Company settings
2. Find the Enable Features option
3. Look for a Web Presence or eCommerce tab
4. Enable Website, Web Store, and Shopping Cart options
5. Consider enabling Advanced Site Customization for HTML control
6. Optionally enable Gift Certificates and Promotion Codes
7. Save your changes to activate features

Verifying Web Store Activation

After saving, confirm successful activation:

• Commerce menu appears in your navigation bar
• Web Site Setup options become available
• Domains section appears in hosting settings
• New transaction types appear for web orders

This process typically takes approximately 15 minutes. Once complete, you can proceed with NetSuite implementation configuration.

Configuring Your Site Builder Store Settings and Preferences

Essential Store Configuration Options

Create your foundational web store structure through the Commerce menu:

• Web Site Scope: Select "Full Web Store" for complete eCommerce functionality
• Site Name: Choose internal reference name for your store
• Logo: Upload brand image for header display
• Primary Domain: Configure custom domain or use NetSuite subdomain

The Web Site record serves as the central configuration hub for all store settings.

Customer Experience Settings

Configure shopping behavior through multiple configuration areas:

General Settings:

• Default language and currency settings
• Homepage content and featured categories
• Meta tags for SEO optimization

Shopping Preferences:

• Minimum order quantities and values
• Guest checkout enablement
• Shopping cart persistence settings
• Product display preferences

Checkout Configuration:

• Payment method visibility
• Shipping address requirements
• Order confirmation email templates
• Terms and conditions acceptance

Search Settings:

• Search result ranking algorithms
• Faceted navigation configuration
• Auto-complete suggestions

This configuration typically requires 45-90 minutes for basic setup. Complex B2B requirements may extend this to several hours.

Building Your Catalog: Adding Products and Categories

Setting Up Item Records for Web Display

Each product requires specific eCommerce configuration within the item record:

1. Navigate to your Items list and edit existing items
2. Look for a Web Store or eCommerce tab
3. Enable Display in Web Site for visibility
4. Configure Store Display Name for customer-facing product name
5. Add Store Display Description with marketing-focused text
6. Set Base Price for default pricing
7. Mark as Featured Item to highlight on homepage
8. Assign Web Store Category for organization
9. Upload Item Images to your file storage

For catalogs with hundreds or thousands of items, use CSV Import functionality to batch-configure products.

Creating Category Structures That Convert

Logical category hierarchies improve conversion:

• Create parent categories for broad product groupings
• Build subcategories for specific product types
• Set display order to prioritize high-margin categories
• Add category descriptions with relevant keywords

Organize categories around how customers shop, not how your warehouse operates. For retail and wholesale distribution businesses, this distinction significantly impacts findability.

Customizing Your Storefront Design and Layout

Working with Site Builder Themes

Site Builder provides basic themes with limited customization options:

• Select theme from available templates in your Web Site record
• Configure color schemes and fonts through style settings
• Upload logo and brand imagery
• Customize header and footer content

Unlike modern platforms with visual editors, Site Builder theme customization requires CSS knowledge for significant changes beyond basic branding.

Basic CSS Customizations for Branding

If you've enabled Advanced Site Customization, you can:

• Create custom HTML templates using NetSuite Web Site Tags
• Upload templates to your file storage
• Link templates to specific page types
• Apply custom CSS for unique styling

This work typically requires significant developer time depending on complexity. For businesses needing modern storefront UX beyond Site Builder's capabilities, SuiteCommerce services offer optimized order flows with contemporary design.

Setting Up Payment Methods and Shipping Options

Integrating Payment Processors

Configure payment gateways through a two-step process:

Step 1: Create Payment Processing Profile

1. Look for Payment Processing Profiles in your setup area
2. Create a new profile
3. Select gateway type (Authorize.net, PayPal, CyberSource)
4. Enter merchant credentials and API keys
5. Configure test mode for validation
6. Save profile

Step 2: Create Payment Methods

1. Navigate to Payment Methods
2. Create methods (Credit Card, PayPal, etc.)
3. Enable for web site display
4. Map to appropriate processing profile
5. Set display order

Common payment issues stem from exact name mismatches between gateway records and NetSuite payment methods. Verify case sensitivity and eliminate extra spaces.

Configuring Shipping Rules and Rates

Create shipping options that calculate costs accurately:

1. Navigate to Shipping Items
2. Create shipping method (Standard, Express, Overnight)
3. Configure rate structure:
4. Flat rate: Fixed cost per order
5. Weight-based: Calculated from item weights
6. Carrier-calculated: Real-time API rates from UPS/FedEx
7. Set geographic restrictions if needed
8. Enable for web site display

Real-time carrier rate calculation requires API credentials and carrier account setup. This adds time to implementation but provides accurate customer quotes.

Domain Setup and Going Live with Your NetSuite Store

Connecting Your Custom Domain

NetSuite provides hosting infrastructure with automatic SSL provisioning:

1. Look for Domains in your Commerce hosting area
2. Create a new domain record
3. Enter your custom domain (shop.yourcompany.com)
4. NetSuite provides DNS configuration details
5. Update DNS records with your domain registrar:
6. Set as your primary web site URL

DNS propagation typically completes within 4-24 hours. SSL certificates automatically provision once DNS resolves correctly.

Pre-Launch Testing Checklist

Before making your store public, validate critical functionality:

• Browse products from homepage through checkout
• Add items to cart and verify quantity adjustments
• Test checkout flow using test payment credentials
• Verify tax calculation for multiple shipping addresses
• Confirm order creation in NetSuite backend
• Check mobile display (likely requires responsive fixes)
• Validate email templates for order confirmations

This testing phase typically requires several hours to identify and resolve issues before customer traffic arrives.

Managing Orders and Customer Data in Site Builder

Order-to-Cash Automation

Site Builder's primary advantage is real-time ERP integration:

• Web orders automatically create Sales Order records
• Inventory commits immediately upon order placement
• Payment authorization flows to merchant account
• Fulfillment team receives pick/pack notifications
• Shipping updates sync back to customer portal

This automated workflow eliminates the manual order entry that costs businesses hours daily when running separate eCommerce and ERP systems.

Leveraging NetSuite CRM for Customer Service

NetSuite CRM capabilities extend to web customers:

• Customer records automatically created upon registration
• Order history accessible in Customer Service Center
• Support cases linked to transaction records
• Email communications logged against customer records
• Sales rep assignment for B2B relationships

For service companies and manufacturers, this unified customer view improves service quality while reducing support time.

Common Site Builder Limitations and Workarounds

Design and Functionality Constraints

Site Builder carries inherent limitations compared to modern platforms:

Mobile Responsiveness: The platform isn't mobile-responsive without custom development. As mobile traffic dominates eCommerce, this creates significant conversion challenges. Workarounds include investing in responsive customization or planning migration to SuiteCommerce.

Customization Restrictions: Unlike SuiteCommerce Advanced which provides complete source code access, Site Builder offers limited modification capabilities beyond basic HTML templates.

SEO Limitations: Basic meta tag support exists, but advanced SEO features like dynamic sitemaps, structured data, and optimized URL structures require custom development.

Performance Bottlenecks: Sites with very large product catalogs or high traffic volumes can experience noticeable slowdowns. Page load optimization becomes increasingly difficult as traffic scales.

When to Consider Migration Options

Plan migration to modern platforms when you experience:

• Mobile traffic exceeding 30% with poor conversion rates
• Catalog growth causing performance issues
• Customer feedback about outdated design or poor user experience
• Competitive pressure from brands with modern storefronts
• Business requirements for features unavailable in Site Builder

NetSuite actively encourages migration to SuiteCommerce platforms, providing upgrade paths and migration tools.

Migrating from Site Builder to Modern SuiteCommerce Platforms

Understanding Your SuiteCommerce Options

NetSuite offers two modern eCommerce platforms:

SuiteCommerce (Standard):

• $2,499 monthly license
• Responsive design with drag-and-drop content management
• Pre-built themes and moderate customization
• Advanced SEO capabilities

SuiteCommerce Advanced:

• $4,999 monthly license
• Complete source code access
• Unlimited customization potential
• Single-page application architecture
• Requires development expertise

Both platforms eliminate Site Builder's mobile and performance limitations while maintaining NetSuite ERP integration.

Planning a Smooth Migration Path

Successful migrations follow proven patterns:

Preparation Phase:

• Audit existing site functionality and customizations
• Clean up product data and remove obsolete items
• Plan URL structure and 301 redirect mapping
• Finalize design requirements and feature priorities

Testing Phase:

• Build site in NetSuite sandbox environment
• Configure new platform features
• Import test transactions and validate workflows
• Test payment processing and shipping calculations

Migration Phase:

• Execute final data synchronization
• Implement 301 redirects for SEO preservation
• Update DNS configuration
• Monitor order flow and system performance

Verification Phase:

• Validate inventory synchronization
• Check tax calculation accuracy
• Address customer feedback issues
• Monitor analytics for traffic and conversion patterns

Properly executed migrations maintain SEO value, while poor planning causes significant drops in organic search visibility.

Why Anchor Group Makes Site Builder Setup and Migration Seamless

While Site Builder setup is technically feasible for experienced NetSuite administrators, the difference between functional and optimized implementations often determines business success. That's where Anchor Group's specialized expertise delivers measurable value.

Deep NetSuite eCommerce Specialization

Anchor Group brings proven capabilities across the complete NetSuite eCommerce spectrum:

Award-Winning Expertise: As Oracle NetSuite Alliance Partner Spotlight winners for both Retail and SuiteCommerce categories in 2022, we've successfully implemented dozens of eCommerce transformations. When your business outgrows Site Builder, we provide the proven migration path.

Pre-Built Apps: Our library of SuiteCommerce applications solves common challenges faster than custom development. Whether you need advanced shipping logic, complex promotions, or customer portal enhancements, we've likely already built the solution.

Complete ERP Integration: Beyond storefront setup, our team configures NetSuite automation that streamlines order-to-cash workflows, reducing manual touchpoints and improving accuracy.

Practical Support for Your eCommerce Journey

Whether you're implementing Site Builder today or planning migration to modern platforms, Anchor Group provides:

• Realistic assessments of when Site Builder makes sense vs. when immediate SuiteCommerce upgrade delivers better ROI
• Clean data migration preventing the catalog cleanup delays that extend most implementations
• SEO preservation strategies ensuring you don't sacrifice organic traffic during platform transitions
• Mobile optimization for Site Builder stores requiring responsive capabilities before full migration
• Custom workflow development automating order processing, inventory management, and fulfillment

Our Midwestern approach means straight talk about what you actually need—not overselling capabilities you'll never use.

Ready to get your NetSuite eCommerce right the first time? Contact our team to discuss your specific requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is NetSuite Site Builder still supported?

Yes, Site Builder remains operational and available for existing customers, though it's officially treated as a legacy, deprecated platform. NetSuite continues to provide technical assistance for existing Site Builder implementations while focusing new development and roadmap investment on modern SuiteCommerce platforms. Businesses can continue using Site Builder without immediate migration requirements, but Oracle encourages planning eventual transitions to take advantage of improved capabilities, mobile responsiveness, and enhanced SEO features available in newer platforms.

How long does a Site Builder setup take?

Setup timelines vary significantly based on catalog complexity and data quality. Straightforward catalogs under 500 products with clean item records, properly sized images, and organized category structures complete setup faster than those requiring extensive catalog cleanup. The primary variable is product data quality. Professional implementation partners can often accelerate timelines through proven workflows and automation tools.

Can I customize Site Builder design?

Site Builder offers limited customization capabilities compared to modern platforms. Without Advanced Site Customization enabled, you're restricted to theme selection, color scheme adjustments, and basic branding elements like logos and headers. With Advanced Site Customization, you can create custom HTML templates and apply CSS styling, but this requires web development skills. Businesses requiring sophisticated design, mobile responsiveness, or advanced UX features should seriously consider SuiteCommerce platforms which provide drag-and-drop design tools and responsive templates without custom coding.

What are the main differences between Site Builder and SuiteCommerce?

The platforms differ across five critical dimensions that typically drive the business case: (1) Mobile responsiveness—SuiteCommerce provides responsive design while Site Builder requires custom development; (2) Pricing—Site Builder costs $999/month vs. $2,499 for SuiteCommerce; (3) Customization—SuiteCommerce offers extensions and modern development tools vs. Site Builder's basic HTML templates; (4) SEO capabilities—SuiteCommerce includes advanced optimization features unavailable in Site Builder; (5) Platform status—SuiteCommerce receives active development while Site Builder is deprecated legacy technology. For businesses prioritizing lowest cost and simple catalogs, Site Builder remains viable. Organizations needing modern capabilities, mobile optimization, or planning multi-year eCommerce strategies should implement SuiteCommerce from the start.

Do I need technical skills for Site Builder setup?

Administrator-level NetSuite knowledge is required for successful setup. You must understand NetSuite navigation, record types, permissions, and basic eCommerce concepts like payment gateways and shipping carriers. Product catalog setup, category organization, and basic preferences are accessible to non-technical users who invest time learning the platform. However, custom HTML development, advanced integrations, or responsive design modifications require developer expertise. Most businesses succeed with internal administrators handling configuration while partnering with NetSuite consultants for technical customizations and optimization.

Related Article: Combine Site Builder Features for Custom NetSuite Sites