SharePoint Intranet Cost Australia: What You Should Budget in 2026
Every Australian business with more than 20 staff needs an intranet. SharePoint is the most common platform for building one, partly because most organisations already pay for it through their Microsoft 365 subscription. But "included with M365" does not mean "free to build and run."
Here is what a SharePoint intranet actually costs in Australia in 2026, from a basic out-of-the-box deployment to a fully customised corporate platform.
The Licensing Reality
First, let us address the most common misconception: SharePoint is free.
Technically, yes. SharePoint Online is included in Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Business Standard, Business Premium, E3, and E5 plans. If you are already paying for Microsoft 365, you have SharePoint.
But that is just the platform. Think of it like this: having a Microsoft 365 subscription gives you a block of land. Building the house on it costs money.
What You Already Pay For
| M365 Plan | Monthly Cost Per User | SharePoint Included? |
|---|---|---|
| Business Basic | $9.00 | Yes |
| Business Standard | $18.00 | Yes |
| Business Premium | $33.00 | Yes |
| E3 | $51.00 | Yes |
| E5 | $71.00 | Yes |
If you are on a plan that includes SharePoint, your licensing cost for the intranet platform itself is $0 additional. The costs come in implementation, customisation, and ongoing management.
Implementation Costs
This is where the real expense begins. Implementation cost depends on complexity, who does the work, and how much customisation you need.
Basic Intranet (Out-of-the-Box)
Budget: $5,000–$15,000
A basic intranet uses SharePoint's modern experience with minimal customisation: - Home page with news and announcements - Document library for policies and procedures - Basic search functionality - Simple navigation structure - Mobile-responsive design (built in)
This can be done by an internal IT person with SharePoint knowledge, or by your MSP as part of an onboarding project.
Mid-Range Intranet (Branded and Structured)
Budget: $20,000–$60,000
A mid-range intranet adds: - Custom branding and design - Department-specific sites - Employee directory and org chart - Approval workflows (leave requests, document approvals) - Integration with M365 tools (Teams, Planner, Power Automate) - Content migration from existing sources - Training for content editors
This typically requires a SharePoint consultant or experienced MSP. Implementation takes 6–12 weeks.
Enterprise Intranet (Fully Customised)
Budget: $80,000–$250,000+
An enterprise intranet includes everything above plus: - Third-party intranet platform (Powell, Beezy, LiveTiles, Simpplr) - Advanced analytics and engagement tracking - Personalised content feeds - Employee social features - Integration with HRIS, ERP, and other line-of-business systems - Multi-language support - Compliance and records management - Executive dashboards
Implementation takes 3–6 months and typically involves a specialised intranet consultancy.
The Third-Party Tool Decision
SharePoint's native capabilities are sufficient for many organisations, but third-party intranet platforms add features that SharePoint lacks natively:
Popular Third-Party Options for Australian Businesses
| Platform | Cost Per User/Month | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Powell Intranet | $8–$15 | Advanced personalisation |
| Beezy | $8–$12 | Social and engagement features |
| LiveTiles | $10–$18 | Visual page builder |
| Simpplr | $12–$20 | Employee experience focus |
| Staffbase | $8–$14 | Mobile-first design |
For a 100-person organisation, third-party tools add $800–$2,000 per month ($9,600–$24,000 annually) to your intranet cost.
When to Skip Third-Party Tools
- Your organisation has fewer than 50 people
- You need a simple document repository and news feed
- Your budget is tight and you can invest time instead of money
- Your MSP can configure SharePoint's native features effectively
When Third-Party Tools Are Worth It
- You need advanced personalisation (showing different content to different roles)
- Employee engagement metrics are a priority
- You want a mobile app experience
- You need social features (activity feeds, likes, comments)
- You have complex approval workflows
Ongoing Costs
Building the intranet is a one-time cost. Running it is ongoing:
Content Management
Someone needs to manage the intranet. This is typically 5–15 hours per week depending on organisation size: - Writing and publishing news articles - Updating policies and documents - Managing permissions and access - Training new content editors - Monitoring usage analytics
Cost: Either a dedicated intranet manager ($70,000–$90,000 salary) or shared responsibility across HR, marketing, and IT.
Technical Maintenance
- SharePoint updates and new features (Microsoft releases updates continuously)
- Permission audits (quarterly)
- Storage monitoring and cleanup
- Integration maintenance (workflows, connectors)
- Security review
If your MSP manages your M365 environment, this is often included in your monthly service fee. If not, budget 2–4 hours per month for maintenance.
Periodic Redesign
SharePoint intranets typically need a refresh every 2–3 years as design standards evolve and business needs change. Budget $10,000–$30,000 for a refresh.
Total Cost of Ownership: A 3-Year Example
For a 50-person Australian business:
| Cost Item | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M365 Licensing (included) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Implementation (mid-range) | $35,000 | — | — | $35,000 |
| Third-party tool (optional) | $7,200 | $7,200 | $7,200 | $21,600 |
| Content management | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| Technical maintenance | $3,600 | $3,600 | $3,600 | $10,800 |
| Periodic refresh | — | — | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| Total (without 3rd party) | $43,600 | $8,600 | $23,600 | $75,800 |
| Total (with 3rd party) | $50,800 | $15,800 | $30,800 | $97,400 |
Per user over 3 years: $505 (without third-party) to $649 (with third-party).
How to Reduce Costs
- Start simple and iterate. Launch with a basic intranet and add features based on user feedback.
- Use your MSP. If your MSP manages M365, they should handle basic SharePoint configuration at no extra charge.
- Train internal champions. Build a network of content editors across the business so the intranet is not dependent on one person.
- Leverage Power Platform. Power Automate, Power Apps, and Power BI can replace many third-party features at no additional licensing cost.
- Avoid over-engineering. The most common cause of intranet project failure is scope creep, not technical limitations.
Related Guides
- M365 Governance Best Practices — Managing your SharePoint environment
- M365 Governance Mistakes — Common pitfalls to avoid
- MSP Pricing Comparison 2026 — Benchmarking MSP costs
- How to Choose an MSP — Selecting the right provider
- MSP Cost Calculator — Calculate your total IT spend
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