Which Microsoft 365 plan should I buy for a small business?

Comparison of Microsoft 365 plans

Initially released in June 2011, Office 365 has become Microsoft’s flagship software programme, integrating full scope of applications. Rebranded during 2020 from Office 365 to Microsoft 365, the plan encompass your favourite productivity plans, that can be used on any device.

If you're looking to compare Microsoft 365 plans, then this article will help you to find right package for your business needs.

If you are looking to purchase Microsoft 365 for your small business, take a look at the plans, we've also added our recommendation. The plans listed below allow up to 300 users.

Three plans are covered and compared in this article:

• Microsoft 365 Business Basic
• Microsoft 365 Business Standard
• Microsoft 365 Business Premium

What does Microsoft provide with every business plan?

While applications and programmes can vary from plan to plan, Microsoft do promise that all Office 365 business plans come with the following;

Option 1:
Microsoft 365 Business Basic

What Microsoft 365 Business Basic?

Office 365 Business Essentials is exactly what it says on the tin. The smallest package available through Microsoft gives you the essentials apps you need for communicating with your team.

What Microsoft 365 Business Basic plan come with?

Microsoft 365 Business Basic comes with the following;

• Online version of Office apps.
  You will be able to use Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Business class email and calendars with 50GB mailbox per user
• 1TB file storage and sharing per user
• HD videoconferencing and Skype
• Access to Microsoft Teams

How much does Microsoft 365 Business Basic cost?

The Office 365 Business Basic plan comes with two options;

• £3.80 per month per user (if paid annually) *
• £4.50 per month per user (if paid monthly) *

*Prices do not include VAT

If you paid the annual fee instead of monthly, you would save £8.40 every 12 months per user. For a company of 50 users that would provide an annual saving of £420. For a company of 50 employees, you could purchase Microsoft 365 Business Basic for £2,280 a year, excluding VAT.

Is the this the plan for you?

Microsoft 365 Business Essentials is by far the cheapest plan for a small business. If you want the essentials of Microsoft 365 on a budget, this is the plan for you.

Keep in mind you will not have access to the installed or mobile versions of the Office applications. If you’re looking to use Office mainly for communication (email/messaging/video), then consider this plan.

Option 2:
Microsoft 365 Business Standard

What is it? Microsoft 365 Business Standard is the middle tier of Microsoft 365 packages and provides you with all the office applications that millions use every day. It’s the only plan of the three listed in this guide that doesn’t come with business grade email.

What does the plan come with?

Microsoft 365 Business Standard comes with the following:

• Fully installed Office applications on up to five PCs or Macs per user. Also the online versions of the Office applications. (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Office applications on up to five tablets and five phones per user
• 1TB file storage and sharing per user

How much does it cost?

Office 365 Business comes with two options?

£7.90 per month per user (if paid annually) *

£9.60 per month per user (if paid monthly) *

*Prices do not include VAT; a free trial is available.

Paying annually instead of monthly would save you £20.40 per user per year. A company of 50 users would save just over £1,000 per year. If you purchased this plan for a company of 50 employees it would cost, you £4,740 a year*.

*Excluding VAT

Is this the plan for you?

Microsoft 365 Business Standard comes with all the office apps that millions are familiar with but doesn’t come with high spec email or other things such as web conferencing or Microsoft Teams. If you’re looking to use Office for documentation rather than conversation, then consider this plan.

Option 3:
Microsoft 365 Business Premium

What is it? Microsoft 365 Business Premium is the package that comes with everything. The most expensive of the three packages as you would expect gives you all applications and software bundled into one.

What does it come with?

Microsoft 365 Business Premium comes with the following;

• All of the Office 365 applications both offline and online for up to five PC’s or Macs per user and five tablets and phones per user
• 1TB file storage and sharing per user
• Business grade email with a 50GB inbox per user.
• Unlimited online meetings
• Access to Microsoft Teams
• All other applications and support

How much does it cost?  

The Office 365 Business Premium plan comes with two options;

£9.40 per month per user (if paid annually) *

£11.30 per month per user (if paid monthly) *

*Prices do not include VAT; a free trial is available

Paying annually instead of monthly would see you save £22.80 per user per year. If you had a company of 50 employees, this would see you make a saving of £1,140 over a year by paying the annual fee. For the same sized company, it would cost anything upwards from £5,640 to have Office 365 Business Premium for the year.

Is this the plan for you?

If you’re a business looking for the full Microsoft 365 experience, then this is the plan for you. Of course, it will come at a cost but if your team frequently use the applications available it becomes a very cost effective service.

There are three Microsoft 365 plans for you to consider for your small businesses. If you have any questions about the Microsoft 365 plans let us know in the comments below or across any of our social channels.

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