How to get the most out Microsoft 365 Business Premium? A guide for small and fast growing businesses

If you’re running a small or fast-growing business, chances are you’re juggling a lot! Emails, meetings, documents, security, and everything in between. That’s where Microsoft 365 Business Premium comes in. It’s more than just Word and Excel; it’s a powerful toolkit designed to help you stay productive, collaborate easily, and keep your data secure. But with so many features packed in, it can be tricky to know where to start. In this guide, we’ll break things down in a simple, practical way so you can make the most of your subscription and focus on what really matters – growing your business with confidence!

What’s included in a Microsoft 365 Business Premium licence?

So, let’s start with the obvious four applications, imagine a world where you buy a Microsoft licence and it didn’t include the ones below! 😂 We take them for granted, but they are the basics of doing pretty much anything. With a Microsoft 365 Business Premium Licence you get access to all four not just as web applications, but also as desktop applications, which come with all the bells and whistles!

1. Word: Create and edit documents.
2. Excel: Manage data and perform complex calculations.
3. PowerPoint: Design presentations.
4. Outlook: Handle email, calendar, and contacts.

The next layer of applications, take what you create and give you a place to store, collaborate and manage your business.

1. Teams: Collaborate through chat, meetings, and calls.
2. OneDrive: Store and share files with 1TB of cloud storage per user.
3. SharePoint: Manage and share content and applications.
4. Exchange: Use enterprise-grade email with a custom domain.

The stuff you didn’t know you needed! As small a business owner you might find that you need to do a thing, and often search the web looking for an application that will support you to do it, but so many times we have turned to clients and said “have you used X?, that does what Y does!”, and clients didn’t even know they had access to these applications, all included Microsoft 365 Business Premium licence!

1. Access (PC only): Create and manage databases.
2. Publisher (PC only): Design professional publications.
3. Microsoft Loop: Create shareable project workspaces.
4. OneNote: Keep notes for notes and ideas.
5. Clipchamp: Edit videos online.
6. Bookings: Schedule appointments and manage staff.
7. Planner: Organise tasks and projects.
8. Forms: Create surveys, quizzes, and polls.
9. Visio for the web: Create diagrams and flowcharts.

AI and automation are the big at the moment, and we have a dedicated service called Future Workplace that helps businesses to fully understand how to utilise AI and automation to grow. Your Microsoft 365 Business Premium licence includes some of the functionality you need.

1. Copilot: Embedded in Teams and your browser to help generate content. An add-on licence is required to get the full, integrated Copilot.
2. Power Apps: A great starting point for low-code app development, upgrade to Power Apps Premium to get all the bells and whistles.
3. Power Automate: A solid foundation for automating internal workflows and saving time, upgrade to Power Apps Premium to go full automate!

Where Microsoft 365 Business Premium licence really ups its game, is with the security functionality, that helps to protect your organisation from the security threats that impact businesses everyday.

1. Intune: Manage mobile devices and apps.
2. Microsoft Purview: Protect and govern data.
3. Microsoft Defender: Secure against cyberthreats.
4. Entra ID: Manage identity and access.

Why is a Microsoft 365 Business Premium Licence so good for small businesses?

A Microsoft 365 Business Premium licence is especially valuable for small businesses because it combines productivity tools, collaboration features, and advanced security – all in one package. Here’s why it stands out:

All-in-one productivity suite

You get the full suite of Office apps – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more – across desktop, web, and mobile. This means your team can work from anywhere, on any device, without missing a beat.

Professional communication tools

With Outlook and Exchange, you can set up a custom business email address (like yourname@yourcompany.com), which helps build trust with clients and partners.

Collaboration made easy

Microsoft Teams makes it simple to chat, call, meet, and collaborate on documents in real time. It’s like having a virtual office where your team can stay connected and productive.

Robust cloud storage

Each user gets 1TB of OneDrive storage, making it easy to store, share, and back up files securely in the cloud.

Built-in security

Small businesses are often targets for cyberattacks, but Business Premium includes enterprise-grade security features like Microsoft Defender, data encryption, and multi-factor authentication to help keep your data safe.

Device and app management

With Microsoft Intune, you can manage company devices and control access to apps and data – especially useful if your team uses personal devices for work.

Scalable and cost-effective

It’s designed to grow with your business. You can add or remove users as needed, and the monthly subscription model helps manage costs without big upfront investments.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium Licence included with WorkReady IT support!

WorkReady is our brand new IT support package designed for small/medium sized, fast growing businesses. Included in this fantastic new service is exceptional, super fast IT support, AI and automation workshops, advanced cybersecurity, technical check-ups, a brand new laptop, but also a Microsoft 365 Business Premium Licence!

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