For most small businesses, Microsoft 365 Business Standard is a sensible starting choice, because it includes business email and desktop Office apps. Business Basic is suitable for people who work mainly in a browser, while Business Premium is for roles where you need device management and more advanced protection. Choose the licence by role not everyone needs the same package.
Package comparison and current price
The prices below apply to Slovenian packages with the Teams app, billed annually and excluding VAT. They were checked on 1 September 2026. Microsoft also offers monthly billing and versions without Teams, so always check the current price list before ordering.
Swipe the table left to see the full comparison →
| Package | Price / user / month | Desktop apps | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Basic | €6.07 | No | Email, Teams and Office in the browser |
| Business Standard | €12.13 | Yes | Most office users |
| Business Premium | €19.06 | Yes | Managed devices and higher security requirements |
Check Microsoft's official price list for packages with the Teams app .
Which Microsoft 365 package to choose by role
The biggest saving usually does not come from picking a single cheapest package for everyone, but from the right combination of licences. First map out who needs desktop apps, who works only in a browser and which devices the company needs to manage.
- Business Basic: users who need business email, web apps and shared files, but not local Word or Excel.
- Business Standard: colleagues who use desktop Outlook, Word, Excel or PowerPoint every day.
- Business Premium: users and devices where you need more advanced security policies, device management and threat protection.
Premium is not automatically the right choice for every company with sensitive data. The decision depends on risk, devices, client requirements and other security controls.
What Microsoft 365 actually connects
Microsoft 365 is not just Word and Excel. Business value is created when email, documents, calendar, meetings and access rights work as a single environment.
- Exchange Online for business email with your own domain,
- OneDrive for personal working files,
- SharePoint for shared documents, departments and projects,
- Teams for communication, meetings and teamwork, when included in the chosen package,
- Microsoft Entra ID for identities, sign in and user permissions.
OneDrive or SharePoint?
OneDrive is the user's personal workspace. SharePoint is the company's shared space. A practical rule: a draft used by one person can live in OneDrive; a document the team depends on belongs in an organised SharePoint library with agreed permissions.
The most common mistakes in a rollout
- The licence is chosen by name, not by role. As a result the company either overpays or the user is missing a feature they actually need for their work.
- There is no clear administration. Nobody knows who has admin rights and how access is restored.
- MFA and phone changes are not set up properly. Before a problem occurs, define backup methods and a re registration procedure. If the problem has already happened, read the guide Microsoft Authenticator is not working.
- SPF, DKIM and DMARC have not been reviewed. This can affect deliverability and protection of the domain against abuse.
- SharePoint has no structure. Shared files become just another disorganised folder.
- Built in recovery is mistaken for an independent backup. Retention and recovery requirements need to be defined based on the company's data and risk.
How the setup or migration works
- Inventory of users, roles, devices and current licences.
- Choosing packages and defining administrative and security rules.
- Preparing the domain, DNS records and an email migration plan.
- Setting up OneDrive, SharePoint, groups and permissions.
- Testing with a smaller group, then moving the remaining users.
- Handover of documentation, access and the procedure for future changes.
The scope and time depend on the number of users, the volume of mail, the current provider and security requirements. More on the implementation is on the page Microsoft 365 support for small businesses.
What Microsoft 365 actually costs
The licence is only the first part of the cost. When switching over, also factor in initial setup, email migration, organising documents, security requirements, user onboarding and later administration. Choosing the right combination of licences is usually more important than picking a single package for the whole team.
It is better to have a correctly set up Standard than an incorrectly set up Premium.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Business Basic, Standard and Premium?
Business Basic includes business email and the web and mobile Office apps. Business Standard adds desktop Word, Excel, Outlook and other apps. Business Premium adds more advanced protection for identities, data and devices. Versions with and without the Teams app are available.
How much does Microsoft 365 cost for a small business?
As of 1 September 2026, Slovenian packages with the Teams app, billed annually and excluding VAT, cost €6.07 for Business Basic, €12.13 for Business Standard and €19.06 for Business Premium per user per month. Always check the current price on Microsoft's price list.
Does the package include desktop Word, Excel and Outlook?
Business Standard and Business Premium include desktop Office apps. Business Basic includes the web and mobile versions, but not the full desktop apps.
Does Microsoft 365 include business email and Teams?
Business Basic, Standard and Premium all include Exchange Online for business email. Microsoft offers versions of the packages with and without Teams in the European market, so check the selected version before buying.
Do all employees have to have the same package?
No. It makes sense to combine licences by role, if the terms of the individual services allow it. A user who works in a browser might need Basic, someone with desktop Office might need Standard, and a managed device with higher security requirements might need Premium.