Hosted business software provider NetSuite hopes to raise $75 million in an initial public offering.

The company, started in 1998 by two former Oracle executives, plans to use the money for working capital, to pay the balance of a line of credit and possibly to acquire other businesses or technologies, the company said in a filing made on Monday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

NetSuite, which targets its hosted CRM and ERP software at small and medium-size businesses, hasn't yet turned a profit. It reported revenue of $67.2 million and a net loss of $23.4 million for 2006

The company competes with giants like Salesforce.com, Microsoft, SAP and Intuit. NetSuite also competes with Oracle, even though Oracle's founder and CEO Larry Ellison, controls about 74% of NetSuite, individually and through his family members and an investment entity.

NetSuite notes that Ellison will continue to have control over most matters that require stockholder approval, such as the appointment of the majority of directors of the company and potential acquisitions. His interests could differ from other stockholders, NetSuite noted.

The SEC filing includes a long list of other risks to NetSuite's business in the future, including the likelihood of increased competition as more companies will probably enter the business. NetSuite will have to continue to convince medium-size businesses to use software-as-a-service rather than buy software outright and the company will have to upsell to those customers in order to grow the business, it said in the filing.

NetSuite's success in the future also is dependant on companies that it relies on, including Oracle, which supplies database software that NetSuite uses, as well as telecommunications operators that deliver the service to customers, the company said.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.