The quick answer
To create a vendor in NetSuite, open Lists > Relationships > Vendors > New. Enter the vendor name and required details, review the subsidiary where applicable, then save. Check the saved vendor before using it on purchasing transactions.
Start with a clean vendor record so purchase orders and bills use the right supplier. This guide follows a basic company-vendor setup and checks what was saved. The screenshots use sample data and fictional person and operating-company names.
Before you start
Search for the supplier before creating a duplicate. Have its approved name and required business details ready. Your role needs vendor-record access. Subsidiary, tax, address, and payment requirements depend on your account and onboarding process.
01. Enter the vendor name
Open Lists > Relationships > Vendors > New. Select Company where appropriate and enter Company Name. The example uses Test Supplier.
Review the vendor ID and automatic naming settings on your form. Make sure the record will be recognizable when someone selects a supplier on a purchase order.
02. Review the subsidiary and required fields
Confirm Primary Subsidiary where shown. The example uses Parent Company. Complete the address, tax, contact, and financial fields your process requires.
This recording does not establish a complete payment setup. The saved example has no email address, and entering a vendor name does not verify bank details.
03. Save and verify the vendor
Click Save and wait for the vendor record. The example is saved as Test Supplier, with the same company name and Parent Company as its primary subsidiary.
Check the details you entered. Follow your vendor-onboarding process before treating the record as ready for payments.
Check the result
- The saved vendor identifies the intended supplier.
- The primary subsidiary is correct where applicable.
- Required onboarding details are complete and verified.
The vendor record exists. Complete any remaining onboarding checks before issuing purchase orders, entering bills, or arranging payment.
Common questions
How do I create a new Vendor record in NetSuite?
Open a blank Vendor form, enter the supplier’s company name and required details, complete any fields marked required, review the information, and select Save. You need permission to create vendors. The exact page, form layout, and required fields vary by role, custom form, enabled features, and account configuration.
Which fields are required when adding a vendor?
Start with the vendor name and fields marked required. Email is not universally required, and other information depends on your process. OneWorld accounts may require a primary subsidiary, while custom forms or enabled tax, classification, currency, or approval features can add requirements. Follow the fields marked mandatory on your Vendor form.
Does saving a Vendor record create a purchase order or vendor bill?
No. Saving creates the vendor master record only. A purchase order, vendor bill, vendor credit, or bill payment remains a separate transaction that must be created independently. Selecting the vendor on a later transaction may populate defaults, but transaction-specific amounts, terms, subsidiaries, and other values still require review.
Does entering an email address enable vendor payment processing?
No. The email address stores vendor contact information and may support communication, but it does not configure payment methods, bank details, electronic payments, approval status, or remittance settings. Payment requirements vary by account and may involve additional vendor fields, banking setup, permissions, approvals, or payment-processing features.