Use cases

Office for small business (1–10 staff)

Owners under 10 employees usually overpay for Microsoft 365 Business when a perpetual Office Home & Business covers email and meetings without the per-user recurring cost.

Who it's for

Independent professionals, freelancers, small agencies, family businesses.

Why this works

  • Outlook included — own POP/IMAP mail server keeps your @domain.com working
  • One-time cost per machine, not per user per month
  • Works fully offline — useful on site, in the field, on planes
  • No tenant migration if you later move to Microsoft 365

Recommended licenses

Alternatives

Things to know first

  • If you need a shared calendar across staff, Microsoft 365 Business Standard is cheaper than building Exchange yourself.
  • Office Home & Business is licensed per device — buy one key per PC, not per user.

FAQs

Can two employees use the same Office key?
No. One key = one PC. Buy one key per device.