Services

Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.

Grapevine works exclusively on Oracle NetSuite contracts. Our services are delivered through a documented three-phase engagement — with a benchmark database of 1,000+ real negotiations behind every recommendation.

What We Do

Six ways we help you keep more of your software budget.

01
FIRST-TIME BUYER

New Contract Negotiation

First-time Oracle NetSuite buyer? We benchmark your proposed deal against real transactions and ensure you start from a position of strength — not Oracle's list price.

Oracle's initial proposal to a new customer is designed as an anchor, not a fair opening. We help you push back on it with the same data and leverage that experienced buyers use — before you commit to a multi-year term.

  • Benchmark analysis against comparable first-time purchases
  • Module and license right-sizing before you sign
  • Term structure and payment schedule optimization
  • Contract language review for future flexibility
When to engage us: As early in the evaluation process as possible — ideally before Oracle has issued a formal quote.
02
RENEWAL CYCLE

Renewal Negotiation

Renewal season is when Oracle expects complacency. We turn it into your biggest leverage point — using usage data and benchmarks to drive real reductions.

Most companies treat a renewal as a formality. Oracle counts on it. Grapevine treats every renewal as an opportunity to restore discounts, reset scope, and lock in protective terms for the years ahead.

  • Discount restoration against your current effective pricing
  • Scope consolidation and license right-sizing
  • Multi-year commitment structure with escalation caps
  • Escalation strategy to named NetSuite leadership when needed
When to engage us: 90 to 120 days before your renewal date. Starting early gives us maximum leverage before Oracle's sales team begins their renewal push.
03
UTILIZATION AUDIT

License Audit & Optimization

We analyze your actual utilization and right-size your agreement — eliminating licenses you're paying for but don't use, before Oracle locks you in.

Most Oracle NetSuite contracts carry embedded bloat: seats no one uses, modules bundled at signing that never got adopted, support tiers that don't match your usage profile. Every dollar of that bloat compounds annually.

  • User license utilization analysis by seat and role
  • Module adoption review and downgrade opportunities
  • Support tier right-sizing based on ticket volume
  • Recommendations delivered in a written report
When to engage us: Ideally 4–6 months before a renewal, so the audit findings can be applied to the negotiation. Standalone audits also available.
04
MARKET DATA

Benchmark Analysis

Receive a custom report showing exactly how your current or proposed contract compares to what comparable companies are actually paying — right now.

Oracle's sales team is trained to speak in relative percentages and discount language. We give you the absolute numbers: what companies your size, in your industry, with your module mix are paying for the same product today.

  • Peer-set pricing comparison drawn from 1,000+ negotiations
  • Effective per-user and per-module pricing analysis
  • Discount percentage benchmarking against Oracle list
  • Written report you can use internally or in negotiations
When to engage us: Any time. A benchmark report is often the fastest way to understand whether your current contract is a problem worth solving.
05
CONTRACT LANGUAGE

Contract Terms Review

Pricing is only part of the picture. We review SLAs, auto-renewal clauses, price escalation caps, termination rights, and every provision that affects your long-term exposure.

The terms Oracle proposes for a three or five year commitment can quietly determine what you'll pay two renewals from now. We surface the terms that matter and recommend the language changes worth pushing on.

  • Auto-renewal and price escalation cap review
  • SLA and support tier commitment analysis
  • Termination rights and mid-term change provisions
  • Recommended contract markup for your team's use
When to engage us: Before signing any new contract, renewal, or material amendment. Even a short review can surface terms worth changing.
06
RETAINED SUPPORT

Ongoing Advisory

Advisory support to help you manage your Oracle NetSuite relationship year-round — from mid-term add-ons to co-terming decisions and scope changes.

Oracle contracts don't sit still between renewals. Additional users get added, new modules get pitched, co-terming opportunities appear. Grapevine gives your team an experienced sounding board for every one of those decisions.

  • Mid-term add-on and true-up advisory
  • Co-terming and consolidation strategy
  • Scope-change and pricing-change review
  • Direct access to Grapevine advisors as questions arise
When to engage us: Best fit for larger customers or multi-entity organizations where Oracle contract activity is ongoing between renewals.
The Grapevine Process

Three phases, fully documented.

Every Grapevine engagement follows the same rigorous three-phase structure. Each phase produces documented work product that creates a clear record of the analysis, strategy, and advice provided — and supports attribution of any savings achieved.

Phase 1
I
Gathering & Analysis
The Lay of the Land

Before any strategy is developed, we build a complete picture of where your company stands today. We collect and review:

• Prior NetSuite contracts and order forms
• Oracle-provided renewal estimates
• Current usage and license utilization data
• Your broader software landscape
• Near-term business goals and constraints

Deliverable: A written Phase 1 Summary confirming what was reviewed, the confirmed baseline renewal cost, and any gaps affecting the analysis.
Phase 2
II
Strategy & Development
The Plan and the Playbook

With a clear baseline established, we develop a negotiation strategy tailored to your specific contract, usage profile, and business needs. This includes identifying opportunities across:

• Cost reduction levers
• Scope consolidation
• Discount restoration
• Tier right-sizing
• Term structure and cap design

Deliverable: A written Strategy Document outlining recommended negotiation positions, prioritized levers, and suggested sequencing for your communications with Oracle.
Phase 3
III
Deployment & Negotiation
Real-Time Advisory

Once strategy is in place, we support you through the conclusion of the negotiation. Our role is behind the scenes — you own every communication with Oracle. We provide:

• Review of every Oracle proposal and counteroffer
• Recommended response language for your team's use
• Advisory on sequencing and escalation strategy
• Final contract review before you sign

Deliverable: A running Advisory Log documenting the dates, topics, and recommendations covered at each touchpoint.
— Proof of Attribution
Every engagement closes with a
written Engagement Summary.
At the close of the engagement, we deliver a written summary covering the materials reviewed in Phase 1, the strategy delivered in Phase 2, the advisory guidance provided in Phase 3, and the final renewal cost achieved relative to the baseline. This summary serves as the complete record of work performed and the transparent basis for our performance fee.
Scope

What's included, and what isn't.

✓ INCLUDED IN EVERY ENGAGEMENT
The full advisory package.
  • Complete review of your contracts, quotes, and correspondence
  • License utilization analysis and right-sizing recommendations
  • Custom benchmark analysis against comparable transactions
  • Written negotiation strategy tailored to your situation
  • Recommended response language for every Oracle counter
  • Real-time advisory throughout the negotiation cycle
  • Final contract review before you sign
  • Written Engagement Summary at close
Every engagement is delivered by an experienced advisor with direct access throughout the process.
× NOT INCLUDED
Where our scope ends.
  • Direct communication with Oracle on your behalf — you own all Oracle-facing communication
  • NetSuite implementation, configuration, or administration
  • Technical work of any kind within the NetSuite platform
  • Legal advice — Grapevine is not a law firm
This boundary is intentional. It keeps us focused on the work we do best, keeps your Oracle relationship intact, and keeps you in full control of every decision.
Fees

A simple, aligned fee model.

We only make money when you save money. No retainers, no hourly billing, no floor, no surprises. The commercial relationship is designed to align our incentives with yours from day one.

HOW WE CHARGE
50% of Verified Year-1 Savings.
Our fee is fifty percent of your verified year-one savings — the difference between Oracle's baseline renewal cost and the final renewal cost you actually execute. That's the entire commercial relationship.
WHAT YOU DON'T PAY
No retainer. No floor. No hourly.
There is no retainer to engage us, no minimum floor on our fee, no hourly billing on top, and no ancillary charges. If we save you a dollar, we're paid on that dollar. If we save you nothing, you owe us nothing.
PAYMENT TERMS
Single invoice. Net 30.
We issue a single invoice within ten business days of your executing the renewal. The invoice is payable Net 30 by ACH or check. That's the entire billing schedule.
NO SAVINGS, NO FEE
If we don't deliver, you don't pay.
If you execute the renewal at or above Oracle's baseline cost — for any reason — no fee is owed. If you decide not to renew with Oracle at all, no fee is owed. Our fee only exists when your savings do.
Get Started

Ready to see what we can do?

Our initial contract review is complimentary. Share your current agreement or upcoming renewal, and we'll come back within one business day with an honest assessment of what we believe you can save.

Request a Contract Review