Need a simple, integrated solution for email and business software for your business?
Getting started with software for your small business can be overwhelming. There are many different ways to go with Google products, Microsoft products, or solutions offered through 3rd party platforms, such as hosting providers like Go Daddy. A lot of companies opt for free services like google to start. This is definitely an option, but usually the free services end up limiting your options long term. Changing solutions then becomes cumbersome and not ideal for small businesses.
Choosing the Right Microsoft Office 365 Plan for My Business?
This article will tackle the different types of Microsoft Office 365 Plans and their inclusions. Hopefully, this guide can help you decide which plans best fit your business.
Microsoft 365 Business Plans
As stated earlier, this suite is designed for SMBs with under 300 users. It comes in three affordable plans that offer basic office functionality suitable for most small and medium businesses.
Business Basic
As the name suggests, this is the most basic plan in the Business category. It offers secure cloud storage services and online versions of Office applications. It is best suited for businesses with employees who require easy remote solutions.
License | Premium Office Apps Included | Secured Cloud Services | Features |
Microsoft 365 BUSINESS BASIC
$6 / User / Month | Web and mobile versions of:
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Business Standard
This plan offers complete remote work and collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams, secure cloud storage, and business email. What’s excellent about Business Standard is that it provides premium Office applications across different devices.
This plan is ideal for businesses that don’t want the complete online experience of Microsoft Office 365 but require their latest Office products.
License | Premium Office Apps Included | Secured Cloud Services | Features |
Microsoft 365 BUSINESS STANDARD
$12.50 / User / Month | Web, mobile, and desktop versions of:
Access (PC only)
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Business Premium
This is the top-tier subscription under the Business category. This plan is suited for businesses who want the complete Microsoft Office 365 experience without breaking the bank. This plan offers everything included in Business Standard, plus advanced cyber threat protection and device management. You also get to run full Microsoft Office Suite on PCs, Mac, and mobile devices with the latest software.
License | Premium Office Apps Included | Secured Cloud Services | Features |
Microsoft 365 BUSINESS PREMIUM
$22 / User / Month | Web, mobile, and desktop versions of:
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Considerations when Selecting Your Plan
Purchasing the right plan for your team shouldn’t be hard, but you shouldn’t be careless when doing so. It would be best to consider several factors before finalizing your purchase to avoid incurring costly mistakes. Here are some of them:
Cost
Pricing is one of the most significant differences between the two plans. While both Business and Enterprise features may look the same, the former comes at a lower price tag. The price for the Business Plans ranges from $6 to $22, while the Enterprise Plans are offered at a higher rate ranging from $10 to $38.
Opt for the basic plans if you’re running on a tight budget but want to use the Microsoft Office 365 suite. If budget is not an issue, consider subscribing to the premium plans.
Commitment
Business Basic and Business Standard Plans are available in a month-to-month subscription. If you’re the kind who doesn’t like being tied into a contract, then you may want to opt for these plans. However, this type of subscription yields additional fees of up to $2 in your monthly payment. Another thing to consider is the additional cost an MSP may impose on the management and support they provide with the subscription.
Meanwhile, the Business Premium and Enterprise Plans require an annual commitment. It means you’ll be locked into at least 1-year contract. Canceling your subscription before the end of your agreement will result in cancellation fees.
Number of Users and Features
The maximum number of users allowed for business plans is 300; this is more than enough for most small and medium businesses. If your team has that number of employees or less, you may want to consider getting a business plan.
Most features between the same tier of Business and Enterprise are the same (e.g., Business Standard vs. Office 365 E3), while the features among different tiers are significantly different. Basic plans have lesser Office app accessibility, space capacities, and security and compliance tools than standard and premium plans.
We suggest reviewing the features of each Business plan to see what best suits your team. You don’t want to spend so much on the premium plan only to use the basic programs available in the basic package.
Ready to Choose the Right Microsoft Office 365 Plans for Your Business?
We believe the best option for a new business is Office 365 Business Standard. This plan can get your business of the ground quickly. We love the flexibility of using the online tools or the actual Microsoft office desktop tools. Meaning you can load up your laptop with actual MS office products and work like an enterprise business. You also get centralized, secure network storage in the cloud. What does this mean? You can basically start a business employees the tools they need and not have to worry about having email servers and storage servers onsite. You and your team can work anywhere and always have your corporate data accessible and backup up!
Here is a link that goes into further detail: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business#office-ContentAreaHeadingTemplate-boh7ker