Microsoft has announced its first price increase for Business Central in over five years.
The increase is set to take effect on 1 November 2025, following a previous date of 1 October being pushed back to allow partners time to communicate changes.
Why The Price Increase Now?
Microsoft emphasises that since the last pricing update, Business Central has grown in capability across finance, analytics, supply chain, manufacturing and more - introducing things like AI-powered account reconciliation, real-time financial analysis, sustainability modules, master data management and deeper localisation.
The message is: the platform has matured significantly, and the pricing is being realigned accordingly.
The headline changes are below in US dollars:
- Business Central Essentials: Up from USD $70 per user/month (2 GB storage) to USD $80/month (3 GB storage).
- Business Central Premium: Up from USD $100/month (3 GB storage) to USD $110/month (5 GB storage).
- Business Central Device License: Up from USD $40/month (1 GB storage) to USD $45/month (1.5 GB storage). Microso
These price changes apply to new subscriptions from 1 November 2025 or to existing subscriptions at their first renewal on or after that date.
UK pricing is yet to be confirmed but will align with exchange rates.
To coincide with the increase, Microsoft is upping the storage entitlement per user/device for each licence.
Microsoft notes that listed prices may vary by currency, region or variant, and encourages customers to engage their Microsoft partner for detailed regional pricing.
What This Means For Organisations
For large organisations, or those with enterprise-scale ambitions in manufacturing, construction, oil & gas or telecoms, there are several key takeaways:
- Budgeting is essential – With price increases already announced for November, organisations planning to subscribe, renew or expand their footprint should factor in the higher rates and storage entitlements now.
- Time-to-decision matters – For deals lining up now, locking in existing pricing prior to the change can represent savings. For renewals, understanding when your renewal date falls relative to 1 November will determine whether you’ll pay the new price.
- Focus on value, not just cost – The increase is positioned as justified by the added capabilities (AI, analytics, sustainability, master data, deeper localisations). For an enterprise moving beyond siloed systems, the cost must be weighed against the operational efficiencies, deeper insights and business intelligence these enhancements enable.
- Storage uplift is a benefit – Because the licensing includes more storage per user/device, organisations storing more data, performing deeper analytics or planning to scale will gain from that extra allocation.
- Regional/local variation matters – For UK, Europe and international firms, currency, tax, region and licensing model variations mean you’ll need to work with your partner or Microsoft account manager to map the exact impact for your location and structure.
- Renewal timing and contract strategy – If you have existing subscriptions, check the renewal date. If the renewal happens after 1 November 2025, you will transition to the new price. That gives you a window to evaluate whether to restructure licences, consolidate users, migrate to different modules, or negotiate partner terms.
- Transformation mindset required – As the price point rises, the expectation is that organisations are not just replacing legacy finance/ERP systems, but engaging in operational transformation: simplifying operations, supporting smarter data analysis, streamlining processes, responding to customers at scale, and winning more business.
In short: this isn’t simply a licence cost update, it’s a signal that Business Central is advancing, and organisations need to align strategy, operations and licensing accordingly.
How Akita Intelligent Solutions Can Help With Business Central Licensing
At Akita, we specialise in helping enterprise organisations to simplify their operations, drive smarter data analysis and increase profitability - using platforms like Business Central and the broader Microsoft ecosystem.
We assist organisations with licensing requirements and assessment of needs in a structured manner:
- We perform a licensing health-check, analysing current subscriptions, renewal dates, module usage, storage utilisation and cost impact under the new pricing regime.
- We conduct a needs assessment, aligning your operations, processes and strategic objectives with the right licensing model (user vs device, essentials vs premium) so you only pay for what you need—and are positioned for future growth.
- We provide roadmaps and cost models, showing how to transition or optimise so you maximise value (storage, analytics, AI) while controlling costs.
- We support negotiation and partner engagement, ensuring you’re informed, aligned with market practice and positioned to minimise disruption when renewal or licence change occurs.
- We integrate licensing decisions into your operational transformation roadmap, so the technology and licensing support process simplification, business intelligence and increased profitability—not just compliance.
Business Central Price Increase: Time To Act
With the price increase set for November 2025, now is the time to act.
Position your organisation with the right licence structure, align your transformation trajectory, and ensure you’re ready to leverage the enhanced Business Central capabilities to drive operational efficiency, smarter insights and profitability. Akita is here to guide you every step of the way.
For more about assistance with Business Central, Dynamics 365 or wider Microsoft licensing, please get in touch:
