Businesses across Scotland are being urged to review their Microsoft 365 subscriptions ahead of major price increases coming into force in July 2026, with some licence costs set to rise as much as 43%.
Inverness IT consultancy WePurpose Technology has launched a campaign to help organisations understand the impact of Microsoft’s biggest licensing overhaul in recent years and identify opportunities to reduce or avoid the increases altogether.
From 1 July 2026, Microsoft will introduce new pricing across its Business, Enterprise and Frontline product ranges, with increases ranging from 5% to more than 40% depending on the licence type. Microsoft 365 Business Basic licences will increase by 16%, Business Standard by 12%, while Frontline plans could rise by as much as 43%.
However, according to WePurpose Technology, many organisations have a limited opportunity to retain current pricing for a further 12 months if they take action before the changes come into effect.
David Massey, Managing Director of WePurpose Technology, said, “Most businesses know Microsoft prices are increasing, but very few realise there is a small window of opportunity to avoid those higher costs for another year.
“By reviewing licence renewal dates and making changes before 30 June 2026, some organisations could lock in current pricing and generate significant savings.
“At a time when businesses are facing rising costs across the board, this is one of the few increases that can be planned for and, in some cases, largely avoided.”
The organisation has already identified savings opportunities for clients by analysing licence renewals and subscription arrangements.
One client with a Microsoft licence renewal due in February 2027 has been identified as being able to save £437.60 on a single licence by renewing before the pricing changes take effect. Across their wider Microsoft estate, the expected savings are substantially higher.
Microsoft says the increases reflect substantial new functionality being added to its licences, including enhanced artificial intelligence capabilities, improved security features, advanced threat protection and stronger device management tools. While businesses will receive additional features, the changes also highlight the growing importance of licence optimisation.
WePurpose Technology has developed a free Microsoft 365 savings calculator to help businesses understand the financial impact of the changes and identify potential savings ahead of the July 2026 deadline: www.wepurpose.tech/how-to-beat-the-2026-microsoft-price-increase/
The company, formerly known as The Apprentice Store, celebrates its tenth year in business this year.
The award-winning social enterprise provides IT support, Microsoft 365 services, cyber security advice and website development to organisations across the UK while creating sustainable employment opportunities for people of all ages entering the technology sector, who might otherwise face barriers to work. The organisation reinvests all profits into its social mission rather than distributing them to shareholders.