Whether it’s virtual meetings through Microsoft Teams, designing flashy presentations in PowerPoint, or wrangling financial data with Excel, it’s nearly impossible to conduct day-to-day business without Microsoft.

“Cost is an important factor, but it shouldn’t be the only consideration you make when you decide which Microsoft 365 solution is best for your needs.” Jeremy Wanamaker, CEO of Complete Network

Anyone in charge of making business decisions probably knows that 365 Business is the go-to platform to access many of Microsoft’s products. However, sometimes the pricing can prove tricky to navigate. That’s what we’ll address today.

This article clearly explains Microsoft 365 Business pricing plans and features. Before the end, readers will have all the facts needed to make an informed decision regarding what will work best for their organization.

 

Overview of Microsoft 365 Business Plans

The 365 for Business platform is a wide-ranging suite of apps, tools, and other services designed for small to medium-sized organizations with up to 300 employees. Microsoft provides three primary 365 subscription tiers: Business Basic, Business Standard, and Business Premium.

Business Basic is a bare-bones, low-cost option that grants web and mobile access to the apps and tools required for everyday business productivity.

Microsoft 365 Business Standard offers a larger suite of apps as well as tools for video editing, no-code development, automation, and project co-creation. Additionally, 365 Standard includes desktop versions of apps, allowing users to work while offline.

The Business Premium plan is the most feature-rich option for demanding organizations with advanced needs. It incorporates all previously mentioned features but adds business-class threat protection, device management, and controls for information rights.  Given that 35% of employees regularly check work emails on a mobile device, its mobile management capabilities are particularly valuable.

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Detailed Breakdown of Microsoft 365 Business Premium Pricing

Starting at $22.00 per user, Business Premium is the top offer intended for modern organizations requiring a fully comprehensive platform that combines world-class business productivity, collaboration, security, and compliance in one package.

Premium offers particular value for businesses that handle sensitive information, deal with frequent cyber risks, or need to meet strict regulatory requirements. Many organizations find the higher price point worthwhile as Microsoft delivers peace of mind, knowing your data and systems are protected by the company’s robust security capabilities.

365 Business Premium includes:

  • Protection against phishing and zero-day attacks
  • Data discovery, classification, and protection tools for legal and compliance needs
  • Advanced management control of all devices, endpoints, and applications
  • Business-grade identity and access management
  • Built-in continuous data backup and recovery solutions
  • Accessible across Windows, macOS, iOS

TLDR – Business Premium aims to meet the complex needs of modern businesses, providing all the necessary products and services to create, collaborate, and secure data across the organization. We recommend this pricing tier for businesses that:

  • Have heightened security and compliance requirements
  • Need to manage a diverse set of devices and operating systems
  • Work with sensitive information or in regulated industries
  • Require advanced data and document protection

 

Understanding Microsoft 365 Business Standard Pricing

Priced from $12.50 per user, the 365 Business Standard plan offers a balance between functionality and cost, making it suitable for growing businesses. Most notably, it provides the flexibility of both web-based and desktop applications, allowing users to work efficiently whether in the office, at home, or on the go.

While this pricing plan offers a fair number of tools for most day-to-day needs, it doesn’t include the advanced security and endpoint management features found in the Premium option.

365 Business Standard includes:

  • Full-featured desktop, web, and mobile versions of Office365 applications
  • Custom and secure business email domain
  • Advanced spam and malware protection
  • Low code and no code task automation solutions

TLDR – Microsoft 365 Business Standard represents a significant step up from the Basic plan, offering a richer suite of productivity apps to support a wide range of business activities. We tend to recommend this plan for those who require:

  • Offline access to Office365 applications
  • Sophisticated email and calendar management
  • More tools for customer engagement and team collaboration
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Basics of Microsoft 365 Business Basic Pricing

Microsoft 365 Business Basic offers a simple, streamlined solution for companies seeking essential workforce tools at an affordable price point. Beginning at just $6.00 per user, this entry-level option strikes a balance between functionality and affordability and is particularly well-suited for businesses embracing remote or hybrid work models.

365 Business Basic plan includes:

  • Web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
  • Cloud services such as OneDrive, Teams, and SharePoint

TLDR – Business Basic covers all the fundamentals with access to Office365 apps plus cloud storage and meetings. We recommend Basic to clients who need:

  • Virtual team meetings and collaboration
  • Real-time co-authoring of documents
  • Secure cloud file sharing and storage

 

Comparing Microsoft 365 Business Pricing Plans

For this section, we present a list of facts and figures to keep in mind as talking points when comparing the various 365 Business pricing plans with other stakeholders.

Business Basic Facts and Figures

  • Microsoft 365 Business Basic is the entry-level plan set up for those with small budgets and minimal requirements
  • Prices start at $6.00 per seat with annual commitment and up to $7.20 per seat paid monthly
  • Web and mobile versions of core Office365 applications
  • Cloud access to OneDrive, Teams, and SharePoint

Business Standard Facts and Figures

  • 365 Business Standard is the company’s mid-tier pricing plan intended for fast-growing businesses
  • Pricing starts at $12.50 per user/month with an annual commitment, $15.00 per user/month billed monthly
  • Includes full functionality desktop versions as well as web and mobile versions of Office apps.
  • Access to create custom business apps and automated workflows without coding using Microsoft Power Automate and Power Apps

Business Premium Facts and Figures

  • Microsoft 365 Business Premium is the top-tier plan designed for businesses requiring advanced security, compliance, and device management capabilities
  • Priced at $22.00 per user billed annually or $26.40 per user with monthly billing
  • Includes all apps and features from Basic and Standard plans, plus enhanced security and compliance tools
  • Sophisticated endpoint threat detection and response via Defender for Business
  • Tools to discover, classify, and label sensitive emails, documents, and data to prevent unauthorized access

 

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Microsoft 365 Business Plan

When selecting a Microsoft 365 Business plan, there are three key factors to consider: licensing, security/compliance, and growth trajectory.

  1. First and foremost, you should recognize that Microsoft 365 is purchased on a per-user basis. For instance, you can mix and match different pricing plans based on the particular roles and responsibilities of each user.
  2. Security and compliance requirements should be a paramount consideration. 365 Business Premium offers the most robust compliance and security features, thus the additional cost may be justified for many businesses.
  3. All three tiers are intended for organizations with less than 300 users. Larger organizations, or those anticipating expansion beyond this threshold, should consider Microsoft 365 for Enterprise. With Enterprise, you can purchase unlimited user seats as well as access more sophisticated apps, management capabilities, additional features, customization options, and higher security standards.

 

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Complete Network is Your Microsoft 365 Business Guide

We know well the challenges and obstacles that businesses face in choosing and implementing the right Microsoft products for their organization. The team of IT professionals at Complete Network has a long track record of helping clients deploy the Microsoft products they need to maximize productivity.

Contact our friendly team at 877 877 1840 and [email protected]. We look forward to speaking with you!

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This guide covers:

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