Anyone who buys Microsoft 365 or other online services through a partner in the Microsoft CSP program buys under the rules of the New Commerce Experience. It defines how long a subscription runs, what it costs and when the quantity can change. The most important consequence for companies: licenses can no longer be returned at any time.
Terms and prices
- Monthly term: flexible, but 20% more expensive than the annual term.
- Annual term paid annually: the list price, for example €19.06 per user and month for Microsoft 365 Business Premium since 1 July 2026.
- Annual term paid monthly: a 5% surcharge compared with annual payment since 1 April 2025.
- Three-year term: for selected products, for example for Microsoft Copilot.
The price stays fixed during the term. Price increases from Microsoft only take effect at renewal.
Cancelling and reducing quantities
Licenses for users can be cancelled within seven days after purchase or renewal. Microsoft then refunds the prorated amount. After that, the quantity is paid for until the end of the term. Fewer licenses are only possible again at renewal.
More licenses, on the other hand, can be added at any time. Anyone who buys ten licenses on an annual term for a project in the autumn therefore pays for them until the end of that term, even if the project ends earlier. For fluctuating quantities, a mix of annual and monthly licenses is therefore often cheaper.
What happens at the end of the term?
Since 4 May 2026, there is no longer a free grace period. At the end of the term there are three options:
- Renew: at the prices valid at that time, also with a changed quantity or term.
- Cancel: the subscription ends.
- Extended Service Terms (EST): the subscription continues at the monthly-term price plus 3% and can be cancelled at any time.
If auto-renewal is switched off and the subscription is not explicitly cancelled, it lands in Extended Service Terms. That is more expensive than a planned renewal.
What companies should keep in mind
- Keep the renewal dates of all subscriptions in one place and check the quantity in good time beforehand.
- Reconcile departed employees in IT onboarding and offboarding with the license inventory.
- Put the base demand on annual terms and peaks on monthly terms.
- Before each renewal, check whether the term still fits, for example switching from a monthly to an annual term once demand has become stable.
- Volume agreements such as the MPSA and the Enterprise Agreement have their own rules. Moving to CSP also means moving to the NCE logic.
NCE with TOMORIS
How TOMORIS provides subscriptions through CSP, plans renewals and reviews inventories is described on the page Microsoft licensing.