Microsoft 365 Business Premium: The Cost and What Non-Profits Need to Know
Microsoft 365 Business Premium: Cost's and What Non-Profits Need to Know
Before we delve into the costs of Microsoft 365 Business Premium it’s important to understand what Microsoft 365 Business Premium is and how it boosts productivity and security for your business!
Microsoft 365 Business Premium:
M365 Premium is a subscription service for small and medium-sized businesses that includes a range of office apps: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to name a few! It is an amazing way for employees to share access to files, work remotely, secure cloud storage, and keep data secure with protection from cybersecurity threats. Microsoft 365 business premium is important for both standard enterprises and non-profits seeking productivity, collaboration, and security.
What Is Microsoft 365 Business Premium?
Here’s a breakdown of what M365 includes:
Office Apps: Full access to the suite of Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, both in desktop and web versions.
Microsoft Teams: A powerful collaboration tool for communication, video meetings, and team communication. (There are also plans that do not include teams if this is not something that fits your business needs.)
SharePoint and OneDrive: Cloud storage and file-sharing capabilities for seamless collaboration and data management.
Exchange Online: Business-class email hosting with a 50 GB mailbox per user.
Azure Information Protection: To classify and protect sensitive information within your business.
Microsoft Defender for Office 365: Protection against sophisticated threats like phishing, malware, and business email compromise.
Conditional Access and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Helps ensure secure access to company resources.
Intune: Mobile device and app management to safeguard company data across devices.
Before you make a commitment to your business premium license, you may want to see if the plan is right for your business. Microsoft usually offers a one-month trial for the business premium plan allowing you to test its features before making a commitment! Let’s have a look at the difference in cost with monthly vs annual subscriptions:
Monthly:
Cost: £18.60 per user/month (including VAT)
- Flexibility: You can pay on a monthly basis, with no long-term commitment, though it’s slightly more expensive than the annual plan.
Annual Subscription:
- Cost: £15.60 per user/month (billed annually at £187.20 per user/year, including VAT)
- Savings: There is a discount compared to the monthly subscription, as you commit to a full year of service.
Pricing for Non-Profits:
If you are a non-profit organization, the good news your subscription prices are significantly cheaper! As part of Microsoft’s mission to “empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.” They have made adjustments to the pricing of their business accounts!
For users seeking the business basic plan, Microsoft offers a free plan for up to 300 users with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, Exchange, OneDrive, and SharePoint. An amazing offer to get you started but as you grow and start to store personal data we recommend considering using Microsoft 365 Business Premium which is free for up to 10 users and then £4.50 per user/month for any additional team members! An obvious steel compared to the usual £18.10 per user/month for regular companies.
Here are a few of the key benefits to non-profit organizations:
Affordable Access to Tools: Non-profits get access to the full suite of Office apps, cloud storage, Microsoft Teams, and advanced security features at a lower cost.
Security and Compliance: Enhanced tools for data protection, compliance support, and cybersecurity at non-profit rates.
Flexibility: Non-profits can scale their plans up or down as needed, helping them manage budgets more effectively.
Setting up 365 for non-profit organizations:
When signing up for the non-profit license, you will need to create an account using Microsoft’s non-profit portal here.
Once you have signed up the process usually takes around 5-10 business days to verify but can vary depending on how quickly required documentation is submitted and reviewed.
To help ensure a smooth approval process for your non-profit here Are some key tips:
Proof of Charitable Status: Have official documents that verify your non-profit status and make sure to provide documents that outline your mission to show that your organization is charitable or community-focused.
Review Eligibility Criteria: Confirm that your organization meets Microsoft’s requirements for non-profits. Exclusions often include government agencies, schools, and healthcare organizations without a charitable mission.
Timely Responses: Keep an eye out for any communication from Microsoft or the verification partner, and respond promptly if additional information is needed.
Provide Evidence: Be prepared to provide examples of your non-profit’s work, such as annual reports, websites, or social media links showcasing your activities.
Polite Follow-Up: If you haven’t heard back within the expected time frame (usually 5–10 business days), follow up with a polite inquiry to check on the status.