Business Plan 101: Microsoft Exchange vs. Google Apps (Cost Analysis)

So you want to start a business, but don’t know how to set up your company’s e-mail, or you already have a business, but want to reduce your IT costs. Then this tutorial is for you. I break down the costs related to Microsoft’s and Google’s products so you don’t have to do countless hours of research trying to break through the clutter and mass-confusion.

Here are your options:

(1) Use Microsoft’s numerous products for your company’s e-mail, calendar, contacts, and collaboration tools; or

(2) Use Google Apps for Businesses.

Microsoft’s prices are becoming so outrageous that you’re starting to feel that your business won’t be able to profit once you’re done implementing their “system.” First, you’ll have to pay for the hardware: a computer for each of your users and a server to handle your company’s e-mail. Then you’ll have to pay for the software: an operating system for your server, as well as the Microsoft Exchange software to run on the server. That’s not the end of the fees for Microsoft. Microsoft requires a license for each person who interacts with the system — a Microsoft Server license and the Microsoft Exchange license. We’re still not quite there yet, there are more fees involved. You’ll also need Microsoft Office for each user and and an IT professional to manage the server since it starts to become rather complicated, especially since Microsoft is likely to release a new version just two years after you bought the last version. Now it’s starting to sound like all of your business’s profits will go towards running the server.

This model of computing has become silly and outdated due to Google Apps. Google Apps for Businesses removes all of these costs and provides your business with a suite of applications to run your business easily. No more worrying about whether the server is up. No more calculating the costs involved to purchase the hardware, software, and licenses.

With Google Apps, your business receives e-mail; collaboration tools that work with Google Docs, Google Spreadsheets, and Google Presentations; video-conferencing tools; and intranet sites to keep your co-workers up to date with the latest details on projects. The cost: $50/user per year — that’s it! No hardware costs, no hosting costs, no software costs — just $50 a year. Compare that to the thousands you’ll be shelling out to implement Microsoft’s “system.”

e-Mail should be simple, easy, and fast — not about setting up servers and firewalls. Google provides simplicity and reliability.

Please contact us for more information on reducing you Email costs and improving business productivity using Google Apps!