Can Microsoft / Office 365 personal or Family be used commercially - for a small business?

Question

Looking at this: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Useterms/Retail/OfficeinMicrosoft365/Personal/Useterms\_Retail\_OfficeinMicrosoft365\_Personal\_English.htm

I read:

f.Noncommercial Use. The noncommercial use restriction in the Microsoft Services Agreement does not apply to Microsoft 365 Personal Subscriptions or Microsoft 365 Family Subscriptions.

So this is clear that it CAN be used for commercial use. If this is not the case, please explain what f. means? I've read some opinions in here but am yet to get a clear explanation of the above... please respond with clear details, not "you should really be using..."

Thank you!

Answer 1

Hi Wedwo

I'm Anna and I'd be happy to help you with your question. In this Forum, we are Microsoft consumers just like yourself.

The noncommercial in this context refers to the listed NGOs and governmental bodies who have different subscriptions example Microsoft 365 Military Appreciation Subscription which comes with certain restrictions such as "You must be a Qualified Military User to subscribe to and use the service/software designated as Military Appreciation subscription"

F. Noncommercial subscriptions such as these do not apply to the personal and family subscription which are for consumers and also can not be used for a business

To use Microsoft 365 for your business, you need to purchase the Microsoft 365 for business

https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/get-started-with-office-2021#office-ContentAreaHeadingTemplate-eri5pno

I hope this helps ;-), let me know if this is contrary to what you need, I would still be helpful to answer more of your questions.

Best Regards,

Anna

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Answer 2

The EULA for Home Use states "f.Noncommercial Use.  The noncommercial use restriction in the Microsoft Services Agreement does not apply to Microsoft 365 Personal Subscriptions or Microsoft 365 Family Subscriptions." Does that mean I can create documents, spreadsheets, databases, etc. using my home office 365 programs for use in the business portion of an American Legion Post operations? Such as recording bar sales, reports on operations (charitable & business)?