Microsoft 365
We help Brisbane businesses move to Microsoft 365 (formerly known as Office 365) with ease. Whether you’re upgrading from an old Exchange server or switching from IMAP, Fix My Laptop Brisbane can handle the entire migration efficiently and with minimal downtime. We take care of mailboxes, files, calendars, and user accounts so you can focus on running your business. Our team also provides ongoing Microsoft 365 management and staff training to help you get the most from your subscription. Based in Clayfield, we deliver friendly, reliable support tailored to small businesses across Brisbane.
Are You Using a Free Email Service for Your Business?
Many small businesses use free email accounts from their Internet Provider or services like Gmail, Outlook, or iCloud. It may seem fine at first, but it can cause issues as your business grows.
Free email addresses might be costing you sales. Which one looks more trustworthy: brisbaneelectrician@bigpond.com or info@brisbaneelectrician.com.au?
When you use a free email, you miss the chance to promote your own business. Instead of showing customers where to find you online, you end up advertising your internet provider.
Your brand can also lose credibility. If you run a cleaning company and use mikescleaning@telstra.com, anyone could create mikescleaning2018@telstra.com or mikescleaning@gmail.com. Customers could easily get confused and contact the wrong person.
Free emails are also less secure. Hackers often target accounts from Telstra, Optus, and iiNet. Once hacked, you could lose all your emails and contacts. Worse, your address might start sending spam to your customers. That damages your reputation and forces you to start again with a new email and business cards.
Free services rarely come with real support. When your account stops working, there is no one reliable to call. Google, for example, will not offer personal help for Gmail users. Even if you reach someone, there is no guarantee they can fix the issue.
Free email services can also disappear overnight. In 2017, Vodafone in New Zealand shut down its email platform. Users with @clear.net.nz or @vodafone.co.nz had to make new accounts and notify every contact. Imagine the hassle of doing that for your business.
Your messages are also more likely to be marked as spam. Filters often flag free addresses like Gmail, Hotmail, or Yahoo because spammers use them too. As a result, your emails might end up in junk folders instead of your client’s inbox.
Are You Really Serious About Your Business? Wait, It Gets Worse…
It simply looks unprofessional. Which one of these messages do you want to send to your potential customers?
Some business owners still hesitate to invest in reliable email, thinking it’s an unnecessary expense. In reality, a professional domain name and Microsoft 365 email account are small costs that deliver big results. They help your business appear organized, trustworthy, and established from the very first contact.
When an email is sent from a personal account instead of a business address, it can raise doubts. Clients may wonder if your company is legitimate or if you’ll still be around when they need follow-up support. Using a custom domain shows that you take your business seriously and value your clients’ confidence.
A dedicated Microsoft 365 setup also improves productivity. You get secure access to emails, calendars, and files from anywhere, while keeping everything backed up in the cloud. Investing in proper email infrastructure means fewer missed opportunities, better communication, and a stronger professional image.
Getting Your Own Domain Is A No-Brainer!
Your domain and website is one of the cornerstones of a successful business
Domains aren’t expensive. They usually cost around $50 per year, depending on whether you register one yourself or get help from a professional.
Once your domain is registered, you can build a basic WordPress website in less than an hour. At the very least, include your company name, logo, address, phone number, and a short description of your services. It might not look perfect, but this simple step already puts you ahead of many startups. Most of them never make it past their second year in business.
Hosting, which makes your website files accessible on the internet, is also affordable. Plans start from around $10 per month. While we don’t recommend the cheapest options for serious businesses, it’s far better than having no website at all.
Most hosting plans also include free email accounts that match your domain name. These look much more professional than free email services and make a strong first impression on clients.
But We Already Have Our Own Domain and Emails…
Most website hosting companies offer free or low-cost email services, but you get exactly what you pay for
Your emails may not sync properly across all your devices. While there are workarounds, they’re often clunky and unreliable. How your emails behave depends on whether you use POP or IMAP.
You also won’t be able to store contacts or calendar appointments in your email account. To share files or collaborate online, you’ll need to rely on third-party services such as Dropbox or iCloud.
If your domain is ever added to a spam list, your email provider will offer little or no support.
Most hosting accounts also place limits on how many emails you can send, receive, and store. In many cases, mailboxes are restricted to around 2GB.
When sending or receiving emails, encryption is rarely enabled. This means any server between you and your contact could read your messages.
What Is Microsoft 365?
Microsoft 365 is the enterprise-grade cloud-based email solution
Microsoft 365 is built on the foundation of Exchange Server, but unlike older versions, everything now runs securely in the Microsoft Cloud. Many organisations have already made the switch. In fact, 85% of Fortune 500 companies use it, and that number continues to grow. Along with a reliable email service, you’ll also have access to familiar programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Microsoft 365 Pros and Cons
Microsoft 365 is the enterprise-grade cloud-based email solution
Pros
- Access Your Business Anywhere – Stay connected with Microsoft 365 Brisbane. Your emails, contacts, and calendars sync on every device.
- Cloud Storage and Mobility – Store files in the cloud and work anywhere. Access your emails and data safely, even while travelling.
- Flexible and Up to Date – Install Office 365 on all computers with one license. Automatic updates keep your apps consistent.
- Cost-Effective and Scalable – Enjoy predictable monthly costs. Add or remove users anytime as your business grows with Microsoft 365.
- Generous Cloud Storage – Each user gets 50 GB of email storage. Keep all messages organised and accessible in the cloud.
- Work Together Securely – Collaborate in real time with SharePoint. Edit, share, and chat with your team without sending files around.
- Security You Can Trust – Protect your business with enterprise-grade security, multi-factor login, and 24/7 spam filtering.
Cons
- Internet Connection Requirements – Microsoft 365 needs a stable and fast Internet connection. Slow rural services may struggle to keep up.
- Subscription-Based Model – Microsoft 365 runs on monthly or yearly subscriptions. Choose flexibility instead of large upfront costs.
- Compatibility with Business Apps – Some LOB applications require certain Office versions. Check software compatibility before upgrading.
- Frequent Updates and Changes – Microsoft often updates its interface and features. Be ready to learn new layouts and improvements.
- Feature Overload for Most Users – Many users only need email and cloud tools. Microsoft 365 offers far more features than most use.
- Choosing the Right Plan – Avoid retail Office 365 Personal or Home. Only business plans include Exchange Server and SharePoint.
How We Can Help You
We can help you switch your company to Microsoft 365!
We’ve helped businesses across Australia, New Zealand, and the United States modernize their systems and leave outdated setups behind. Our goal is to make your move to Microsoft 365 simple and stress-free.
To get started, we’ll visit your office to discuss your needs and review your current infrastructure. Together, we’ll identify what works well and what could be improved, then recommend a solution tailored to your business. Once we have a clear understanding of your requirements, we’ll prepare a migration plan designed to reduce downtime and avoid unnecessary disruption.
Our team will set up user accounts, migrate your emails, and consolidate your files into OneDrive or SharePoint. We’ll also configure your company devices and provide hands-on training so your team can get the most out of Microsoft 365.
How Much Does It All Cost?
Once we understand your needs and review your current setup, we’ll provide a clear estimate of the work involved. This helps you know what to expect and plan accordingly.
Microsoft 365 is simple to set up for a new business. The initial setup usually takes about an hour, plus roughly another hour for each user. To complete the process, we’ll need full access to your domain and DNS records so we can make the required changes.
If you already have your own domain and use email from your ISP, hosting provider, or another service like Google’s G Suite, the setup becomes a little more complex. In that case, we’ll migrate your existing emails and stored files from the old accounts to Office 365. Even so, the migration rarely takes more than two hours per user.
When it comes to monthly costs, Microsoft 365 is flexible and adapts as your business grows. It’s licensed per user, so every employee who uses email will have their own license. The same license can be installed on all devices owned by that user, including their home computer if needed.
Shared mailboxes such as sales, info, or support can be accessed by several team members and don’t require a license. You can also mix and match plans. If some staff only need email access without desktop apps, you can save money by choosing lower-cost licenses.
Microsoft 365 can be billed monthly or annually. Annual commitments are usually cheaper, while monthly plans offer more flexibility.
Popular Microsoft 365 Plans
|
Microsoft 365 Plan |
Exchange Online |
Business Basic |
Business Standard |
|
Emails, Contacts and Calendar |
v |
v |
v |
|
Online Office Apps |
v |
v | |
|
OneDrive and SharePoint |
v |
v | |
|
Microsoft Teams |
v |
v | |
|
To-Do and Planner |
v |
v | |
|
Desktop Office Apps |
v | ||
|
OneNote |
v | ||
|
Monthly Fee (incl GST) |
$12 |
$18 |
$30 |