Save Money With Alternative Software Licenses

One of your biggest per-employee infrastructure costs comes from money tied up in software licenses. If you add new people, you could cough up thousands of dollars right then. And that money you paid stops working for you as soon as you lose employees, as those licenses sit unused.

Depending on your software, you can address both issues by buying subscriptions in bulk, choosing used licenses, or selling full licenses when no longer needed. Keep these options in mind, especially if you're scaling temporary workers.

Pay Monthly For Software

Many companies offer monthly subscriptions for software licenses. On the server side, for example, this model can save a big, single fee for per-user Exchange licenses. But a monthly plan for workstations can also help you save.

Microsoft offers these options for much of its software, including Office and Windows itself. If your business has five or more workstations, you can use the Open Value option to save. You'll choose between a subscription fee or a bulk-rate, up-front perpetual license, letting you choose to save in the short term or long term.

Microsoft, like other companies I contacted for this article, didn't quote specific cost numbers since they vary with company needs. You'll have to get a quote for your business to get a direct sense of savings. You'll also agree to a three-year commitment for Microsoft's subscription plan. However, you can scale the number of licenses during that time.

Contact your other software companies to see what kinds of licensing options they offer. Adobe, for example, doesn't yet sell a subscription license. However, the company recently tested subscriptions in Australia and is currently evaluating its results.

But like Microsoft and most other companies, Adobe still offers volume licensing discounts. Depending on your needs and volume, you could save between about 5-20% over buying individual copies of software. Contact Adobe for a specific quote for your business.

Buy and Sell Unused Licenses

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