Updated April 2026
Overview
This post explains how Dynamics 365 Business Central is licensed, what each licence type includes, and how to buy licences through a Microsoft Partner. It focuses on cloud-based (SaaS) pricing and does not cover on-premise deployment costs in detail.
Cloud Licensing: The Basics
When you deploy Business Central from the cloud on Microsoft Azure as a SaaS application, it is priced per user, per month on a subscription basis. This suits most businesses looking for a flexible, scalable solution without large upfront hardware costs.
That said, cloud deployment does not suit every business. Some organisations need to deploy an ERP solution on their own infrastructure for specific reasons. In those cases, an on-premise installation is available, but it comes with additional costs for servers, installation, and ongoing maintenance.
For most businesses, cloud-based SaaS pricing is the right starting point. So that is what this post focuses on.
Types of Licences
Microsoft offers Business Central in two main licence tiers, so you can match functionality to what each user actually needs. Licensing changes infrequently, but visit the Business Central pricing page for the most current figures, as Microsoft can update pricing every six months.
Business Central Essentials
The Essentials licence covers the core features most businesses need day to day. It includes:
Financial Management, Purchase and Payables, Sales and Marketing, Sales and Delivery, Job and Project Costing, Inventory Management, Supply Planning and Availability, Project Management, and Warehouse Management.
Business Central Premium
The Premium licence includes everything in Essentials and adds two further areas: Manufacturing and Service Management. If your business makes products or manages field service contracts, Premium is the tier you need. For a full breakdown of what each tier covers, see the Business Central features overview.
Business Central Team Members
There is also a Team Member licence, which is designed for users who need limited access rather than full functionality. It is a lower-cost option for staff who need to view data or carry out light tasks without a full Essentials or Premium subscription. For more detail, read What Is the Business Central Team Member Licence?
Named Users, Not Shared Logins
Business Central operates on a named-user basis. Each individual who uses the system needs their own licence. You cannot buy one account for multiple people to share.
This means you need to think carefully about how many people in your business will need access. Because each role requires its own licence, matching users to the right tier from the start keeps costs sensible.
How to Buy Business Central Licences
Microsoft does not sell Business Central licences directly. Instead, you must buy through a certified Microsoft Partner. A Partner is a vetted business that Microsoft monitors closely to make sure it meets quality and professionalism standards.
You can start with a 30-day trial, but out of the box Business Central can appear deceptively simple. Once you look more closely, the depth of functionality is considerable. A Partner can show you what the system can do for your specific business. They can also help you identify where the biggest efficiency gains are and how to get a return on your investment.
A personalised demonstration saves significant time. It gives you a much clearer view of Business Central’s capabilities than any trial period can. To understand how to choose the right one, read How to Choose the Right Business Central Partner.
How Long Does It Take to Get Started?
The honest answer is that it depends. When businesses see what Business Central can do, there is a natural temptation to switch everything on at once. That enthusiasm is understandable, but it rarely leads to a smooth go-live.
Adoption is the priority. Minimising disruption matters more than speed in the early stages. A structured Business Central implementation that focuses on user confidence first will outperform a rushed deployment every time. For more on what to expect, read How Long Does It Take to Implement Dynamics 365 Business Central?
We cover Tecvia’s implementation approach, and how it differs from other Partners, in a separate post. It is worth reading before you commit to a timeline.
FAQs
For anything not covered here, get in touch directly. We’re happy to answer questions specific to your business and your ERP requirements.
Pricing depends on the licence tier and the number of users you need. Essentials and Premium are the two main full-user options, with Team Member available at a lower cost for light users. Visit the Tecvia pricing page for current figures, as Microsoft updates pricing periodically.
Essentials covers financial management, sales, purchasing, inventory, warehousing, and project management. Premium includes everything in Essentials and adds Manufacturing and Service Management. If your business makes products or manages service contracts, you will need Premium licences for the relevant users.
No. Microsoft requires you to buy Business Central licences through a certified Microsoft Partner. Partners are vetted businesses that Microsoft monitors for quality of service. Working with a Partner also means you get implementation support, training, and ongoing help rather than just the software itself.
No. Business Central operates on a named-user basis, but not every user needs a full Essentials or Premium licence. Staff who only need to view data or carry out light tasks can use the lower-cost Team Member licence instead. Matching each user to the right tier from the start helps keep your monthly costs in check.
Microsoft offers a 30-day free trial for Business Central. The trial gives you access to the system, but without guidance from a Partner it can be difficult to see how Business Central applies to your specific business. A personalised demonstration from a Partner like Tecvia is typically more useful than a standalone trial.
