Microsoft Licensing Optimization

Same Microsoft Licenses. Lower Price. Real Support.

If you’re buying Microsoft 365 or Azure directly from Microsoft, you’re paying list price and managing it alone. Move to WME’s CSP and get discounted pricing, a dedicated licensing team, and a plan that fits how many seats you actually use.

No cost, no obligation — we’ll show you where the waste is first.

Where the Money Goes

Most Growing Businesses Overpay for Microsoft — Quietly

Licensing waste rarely shows up as one big line item. It builds up: seats nobody uses, plans nobody reviewed, a renewal that rolled over on autopilot, and an Azure bill that keeps climbing.

You're paying list price

Buying straight from Microsoft means standard pricing with no partner discount applied.

Seats you stopped using

People left, roles changed, licenses stayed assigned — and kept billing every month.

The wrong plan tier

Everyone on the same license whether they need it or not. Some overpaid, some under-protected.

Azure spend creeping up

Pay-as-you-go with no reserved capacity, idle resources, and unused hybrid benefits.

Direct vs. CSP

Yes, You Can Buy Direct From Microsoft

We’ll be straight with you: the licenses and features are identical no matter where you buy them. What changes is what you pay, who supports you, and whether anyone is actively managing your account

	Buying Direct From Microsoft	Through WME's CSP
The licenses & features	Identical	Identical — same Microsoft product
What you pay	Microsoft list price	Discounted partner pricing
Support	Microsoft's standard support channels	A named licensing team you can reach directly
Account management	You manage it yourself	Ongoing review, right-sizing, and renewal planning
Buying flexibility	Standard subscription terms	Monthly, 12-month, or 36-month terms — mix and match
Minimum commitment	Varies by program	As little as a single license

The Growth Trap

Microsoft Caps Business Plans at 300 Seats

Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Business Standard, and Business Premium share a single limit: 300 seats total across your tenant. Cross it, and Microsoft’s guidance is to move to Enterprise plans like E3 or E5 — a different price point and a different licensing conversation entirely.

Under 300 seats

Business Premium is usually the value play — but only if every seat is on the right tier and actually in use.

Approaching 300

This is the moment to plan. Getting caught at the cap mid-year forces a rushed, expensive decision.

Past 300

You’re into Enterprise plans. A mixed approach often costs far less than moving everyone to E3 or E5.

Seat limits and plan guidance per Microsoft’s published licensing documentation. For reference, Microsoft’s Enterprise Agreement requires a minimum of 500 users or devices for commercial customers — which puts it out of reach for most growing businesses.

What We Do

Three Ways We Cut Your Microsoft Bill

Licensing resell, license optimization, and cloud cost control — handled together, because they affect each other.

Microsoft 365 License Optimization

Azure Cost Optimization

Licensing Resell & Subscription Management

How Buying Works

Microsoft's New Commerce Experience (NCE), Explained Simply

NCE is the current Microsoft cloud licensing program — what used to be called CSP licensing. It’s built around flexibility, and it’s how we buy on your behalf.

Flexible terms

Monthly, 12-month, or 36-month subscriptions. Mix terms across your organization as needs change.

7-day cancellation window

A short window to cancel or adjust after purchase, so a wrong call isn’t locked in for a year.

Buy one license or a thousand

No large minimum commitment — add a single seat when you hire, drop it when you don’t need it.

One place to manage it

Consolidated licensing, clearer reporting, and a single renewal date instead of scattered subscriptions.

Often Missed

Discounted and Donated Licensing You May Qualify For

Microsoft offers special pricing to certain organizations — and many never claim it because nobody told them it existed.

Non-profit organizations

Microsoft provides discounted and in some cases donated licensing for eligible non-profits. We handle the eligibility check and the setup so nothing is left on the table.

Educational institutions

Substantially reduced rates are available for eligible schools and institutions across cloud and on-premises licensing. We’ll confirm what you qualify for.

Eligibility is determined by Microsoft. We’ll tell you honestly whether you qualify before any commitment.

Getting Started

The Free Licensing Assessment

Low effort on your side. You’ll get a clear picture of your current spend and where it can come down — whether or not you move anything to us.

1 Share your current setup

A short call plus read-only visibility into your subscriptions and seat counts. No changes made to anything.

2 We find the waste

We review usage against what you’re paying for — unused seats, wrong tiers, Azure spend, upcoming renewals.

3 You get the numbers

A plain summary of what you’re spending, what you’d save, and what we’d change. Your call from there.

Common Questions

Straight Answers

Can't I just buy Microsoft licenses directly from Microsoft?

Yes, you can — and plenty of businesses do. The licenses and features are exactly the same either way. The difference is that buying direct means paying Microsoft's list price and managing everything yourself. Through a partner like WME you get discounted pricing, a licensing team you can actually reach, and someone reviewing your subscriptions so you're not paying for seats you don't use.

What is NCE, and how is it different from CSP?

NCE (New Commerce Experience) is the current version of Microsoft's cloud licensing program — it replaced what everyone called CSP licensing. It added more flexible subscription terms, the ability to mix monthly and annual commitments, a short cancellation window after purchase, and better pricing for longer commitments.

Is there a limit on how many Microsoft 365 Business licenses we can have?

Yes. Microsoft caps the Business family — Business Basic, Business Standard, and Business Premium combined — at 300 seats total per tenant. If you need more than that, Microsoft's guidance is to move to Enterprise plans such as E3 or E5. Many organizations use a mix rather than moving everyone, which is usually the cheaper path.

Can we move our existing licenses to WME without disruption?

Yes. Subscriptions can be transferred to WME as your provider without changing your tenant, your data, or your users' experience. Timing matters — we plan the move around your renewal dates so nothing lapses and you don't pay twice.

Can we mix monthly and annual subscriptions?

Yes. Under NCE you can run different terms for different groups — annual for your stable core team, monthly for seasonal or contract staff. It's one of the most useful ways to cut cost without cutting coverage.

What if we're locked into a renewal right now?

That's fine, and it's actually the best time to get assessed. Knowing what you're overpaying for before the renewal date is what gives you options. We'll map your renewal timeline and tell you the right window to make a change.

Do you only handle cloud licensing, or on-premises too?

Both. Cloud subscriptions through NCE, on-premises licensing such as Windows Server, SQL Server, Exchange Server and SharePoint Server, and hybrid arrangements that combine the two.

How much does the assessment cost?

Nothing. The licensing assessment is free and there's no obligation to move anything to us afterward. We'd rather show you the numbers and let you decide.

Free Licensing Assessment

Find Out What You're Overpaying

Tell us a little about your Microsoft setup and we’ll come back with where the waste is.

We respond within one business day. No cost, no obligation.