Describing Pricing Options

The tutorial will help you to learn about Describing Pricing Options for MS-365. The Cloud Solution Provider program (CSP) helps you go beyond reselling licenses to being more involved in your customer’s business.

• Firstly, Deeper engagement with your customers – meeting regularly with your customers means you will develop a better understanding of their business and needs.
• Secondly, Increase your profits – Offering increased support and billing services, whether on your own or through an indirect provider, opens up new revenue streams.
• Also, Add value – You’ll be able to offer customers industry-specific solutions bundled with Microsoft products.
• Lastly, Provide managed services – You’ll be well positioned to meet customer demand for managed services.

Which CSP model is best for me?

Direct bill model

In the direct bill model, partners purchase Microsoft products and subscriptions directly from Microsoft and sell them directly to their customers through their in-house sales staff. Partners who already operate with, or are willing to develop, the appropriate sales, billing, and support infrastructure may choose the CSP direct model. The requirements to become a direct partner have recently been changed and will take effect as of August 31, 2018. Direct partners will need to meet the new requirements as of their next enrollment period after August 31, 2018.

New expanded requirements:

Support

• Expand your support capabilities by purchasing one-on-one, prioritized cloud support with a Microsoft Advanced Support for Partners package. Or, choose a Microsoft Premier Support for Partners package to access the complete catalog of proactive services, 24/7 elevated break/fix support, and technical account management across cloud, hybrid, and on-premises.

Services

• Demonstrate that you provide at least one managed service, IP service, or customer solution application. Learn more about adding managed services
• Meet the minimum infrastructure capabilities, such as billing and provisioning. We are monitoring annual performance to confirm that direct bill partners who meet these requirements are demonstrating steady business growth. There are no specific performance goals in place at this time, but Microsoft may implement a performance bar in the future.
• An active Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) ID for the location you want to sell in

Indirect model

In the indirect model, providers (also known as distributors) purchase Microsoft products and subscriptions directly from Microsoft, but sell to customers through a network of indirect resellers. The prerequisites for enrolling in CSP as an indirect reseller include:

• An active Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) ID for the location you want to sell in
• The ability to sign legal agreements on behalf of your organization
• A relationship with an official Microsoft provider

Where can people sell through the CSP program?

Your company’s location Describing your market. Your market includes the regions and/or countries where you can sell CSP offers. See Cloud Solution Provider program regional markets and currencies for the complete list of CSP markets and currencies.

Before you can order CSP offers on behalf of a customer, the customer must sign the Microsoft Customer Agreement. You can find the applicable Microsoft Customer Agreement for your customer’s location here.

What can be sold through the CSP program?

You can sell the full range of Microsoft cloud services, as well as a variety of additional offers that change frequently.

Understand billing concepts

Before you view your invoice, it’s helpful to understand a few key billing concepts.

Invoice balance vs. order balance

Describing Invoice balance is the amount shown on your invoice, and is only the amount due for that particular billing period. Your total order balance is the sum of all unpaid invoices. You can view your order balance in the Billing section of the admin center.

Billing frequency vs. invoice frequency

Describing Billing frequency means how often you are billed. Subscriptions are billed either monthly or annually, depending on what option you chose during the subscription purchase. Invoice frequency means how often you receive an invoice. If you chose annual billing, you’ll only receive one invoice per year, unless activity for your subscription requires a charge or a credit.

If you have more than one order, you’ll receive an invoice for each order.

Change your purchase order number

If you pay by invoice, you can add or change the purchase order (PO) number for your subscription. You can’t add a PO number to an existing invoice. The PO number will appear on all future invoices.

1. In the admin center, go to the Billing > Your products page.
2. If you’re in Table view, select Cards to switch views.
3. Find the subscription that you want to change.
4. In the Billing section, next to invoice, select Edit.
5. At the bottom of the Edit payment details pane, enter your PO number, then select Save.

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Reference Documentation – Understand your bill or invoice for Microsoft 365 for business

Cloud Solution Provider program benefits and different models