Which M365 Plan Is Screwing You Over? A Detailed Breakdown for Microsoft Partners

 

Did you know all three M365 Business plans look great on paper? But only one protects your client’s business. And most partners sell the wrong one — because they’re thinking about cost, not context.

Stop Selling What Looks Good. Start Selling What Works in the Real World.

If you’re a Microsoft Partner, MSP, or IT consultant, you’ve probably made this mistake at least once:

You pitch Business Basic because the client “just wants email and Teams.”

They love the price. You onboard them. Everything seems fine until:

• They ask why they can’t install Office.
• They open a phishing email.
• They can’t locate a lost laptop.
• Their accountant gets hacked and blames you.

Now you’re not just underpaid — you’re on the hook. Let’s break down the real, on-the-ground difference between these three plans — not the marketing garbage.

M365 Business Basic — The Bare Minimum That’s Almost Too Bare

What Microsoft Says:

• Web + mobile versions of Office apps
• Email via Exchange
• 1 TB OneDrive
• Teams access
• $6/user/month

What Happens:

• No desktop Office = “Why can’t I open Word files properly?”
• Outlook Web = “Why does my calendar sync weirdly?”
• Teams is fine for chat, but no full integration with Office apps.
• No device protection, no admin control, no remote wipe

Real-World Risk: You’re flying blind with no control over devices, compliance, or security.

Best for: Freelancers, non-critical accounts, or clients who treat IT like a Netflix password.

Not for anyone with multiple employees, customer data, or security obligations.

M365 Business Standard — The One That Should’ve Been Called Normal

What Microsoft Says:

• Everything in Basic
• Plus: full desktop Office apps
• SharePoint, Bookings, and Outlook desktop
• $12.50/user/month

What Happens:

• You stop getting questions like, “Can I install Excel on my laptop?”
• Much easier onboarding — you can script Office installs.
• Clients get real tools, not web-app workarounds.
• Still no real device management or endpoint protection

Real-World Risk: If their laptop gets stolen, it’s on them. No remote wipe. If ransomware hits, there’s no built-in defense. You’re still playing defense without shields.

Best for: Office-heavy users who don’t need to lock down devices or enforce compliance.

M365 Business Premium — The One That Saves Your Energies

What Microsoft Says:

• Everything in Standard
• Plus: Intune, Azure AD Premium P1, Defender for Business
• Conditional Access, BitLocker management, remote device wipe
• $22/user/month

What Happens:

• You can enforce MFA, not just recommend it.
• You can remotely wipe a compromised laptop.
• You can push baseline security policies to every device.
• You stop relying on “hope” and start relying on tools.

Real-World Risk: Yes, it’s the most expensive. But if your client stores PII, financials, or customer data, or works remotely, not using Premium is borderline negligence.

Best for: Any business where downtime, breach, or stolen devices = money or lawsuits.

The Real Cost of Selling the Wrong Plan

Let’s say your client is on Business Basic.

They get phished. You didn’t configure Conditional Access. No Defender, no threat logging, no security dashboard. Now they’re calling you at 2 AM because

• Payroll didn’t go through.
• Outlook is sending spam.
• Customers are getting sketchy emails.

Guess who they’re blaming? Not Microsoft, only you. All because you “saved them $16/month.”

So what should you do?

If you’re a Microsoft Partner, here’s the real move:

1. Lead With Business Premium

Always pitch from the top. Start with Premium as the default. Only downgrade when it’s truly unnecessary.

2. Use This Framing (it works):

This is the plan I use to protect my business — and yours deserves the same level of protection.

3. Bundle It With Managed Services

Don’t just sell the license, Instead:

• Device setup
• Security baselines
• Monitoring + remote support

Now you’re not just selling software. You’re selling peace of mind.

Microsoft Made 3 Plans — But Only One Has Your Back

• Business Basic is a brochure.
• Standard is a toolkit.
• Premium is a seatbelt, helmet, and airbag — and most people don’t realize they need all three.

The next time a client says, “We just need email,” you should say:

Cool — and do you want it to keep working after someone clicks the wrong link?