What License Partners does

License Partners B.V. is a privately held Dutch company headquartered in Almere that has operated since 2011 as a specialist reseller of pre-owned Microsoft volume licenses (Open License) within the Benelux region. The company's core offering is the legal resale of perpetual Microsoft licenses — covering Office, Windows Server, SQL Server, Exchange Server, and RDS CALs — sourced from organizations that have made them surplus through cloud migrations. Operations rest on the July 2012 European Court of Justice ruling that permits resale of software licenses within the EU without rights holder consent, enabling the firm to market 30-80% cost savings versus new Microsoft purchases while maintaining claim of 100% audit-proof documentation.

The product portfolio extends beyond license resale into adjacent cloud and managed services delivered through its sister company License Partners Cloud Solutions B.V. (LPCS), which holds Microsoft Tier 1 Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) and Silver Partner status. Offerings include Microsoft 365 and Azure subscriptions, the LiberWorkspace® unified digital workspace with Single Sign-On, CloudPerfect® cloud marketplace, E-Mail Security 365, Cloud Backup & Security / Disaster Recovery, and a Second Opinion advisory service for license optimization. Proprietary features center on integration and security architecture rather than novel technology, with two registered trademarks (LiberWorkspace® and CloudPerfect®) anchoring the brand.

The business combines one-time perpetual license resale with recurring cloud subscriptions and professional advisory services, distributed via direct B2B sales, an inbound quote-based web channel with 2-hour response SLAs, and a partner/reseller network that includes Crayon and Effect ICT. The customer base spans Dutch government (Ministry of Defence, police zones), healthcare (OLVG), and enterprise clients (CRH Group, Vos Logistics), with a stated secondary focus on SMBs and commercial data centers evaluating alternatives to SPLA licensing. The firm remains founder-owned, with no disclosed external funding, and operates with a sub-10-person team from its relocated Almere headquarters.

Name

License Partners

Legal name

License Partners B.V.

Website

https://licensepartners.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

License Partners is a Benelux-based reseller specializing in pre-owned Microsoft volume licenses (perpetual Open License) and adjacent cloud, email security, and workspace services, serving enterprise, government, healthcare, and SMB customers seeking 30-80% cost savings versus new Microsoft licensing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Software License Resale

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Rental & Leasing (7377), Wholesale-Computers & Peripheral Equipment & Software (5045)

akta.pro primary industry

Software License Resale & Optimization (Perpetual/Subscription) (BPAEAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

IT Procurement & Sourcing Services (Hardware/Software) (BPAEAOAG), Lease, Warranty & Maintenance Management Services (BPAEAOAL)

Keywords

• Used software licenses
• Microsoft licensing advisory
• Cloud solution provider
• Pre-owned volume licenses
• License optimization services

Headquarters

HQ city

Almere

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Pre-owned Microsoft Volume Licenses: One-time sale of surplus Microsoft volume licenses (Open License) including Windows Server, Office, SQL Server, RDS CALs, and Exchange Server. Licenses are perpetual with no ongoing fees.
2. Cloud Solutions (CSP): Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider offering Microsoft 365 subscriptions, Azure, and related cloud services through their sister company LPCS B.V.
3. License Advisory Services: Second opinion consulting services for license optimization and hybrid licensing scenario design.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

License Partners buys and resells pre-owned Microsoft volume licenses (Open License programs) that have become surplus from organizations transitioning to the cloud, covering Office, Windows Server, SQL Server, Exchange Server, and RDS CALs as perpetual licenses. The company also operates as a Microsoft Tier 1 Cloud Solution Provider, offering Microsoft 365, Azure, Dynamics, and SharePoint subscriptions, and delivers proprietary software solutions including LiberWorkspace®, CloudPerfect®, E-Mail Security 365, and Cloud Backup & Security.

Product overview

License Partners operates as a Microsoft license reseller and CSP (Cloud Solution Provider) offering a portfolio of licensing products and advisory services. The core offering is pre-owned Microsoft volume licenses (perpetual licenses from Open License programs) covering Office suites, Windows Server, SQL Server, Exchange, and RDS CALs. Complementing the license resale business, the company provides cloud solutions through Microsoft 365 subscriptions, digital workspace tools (LiberWorkspace®), email security (E-Mail Security 365), cloud backup and disaster recovery services, and the CloudPerfect® marketplace. Advisory services include Second Opinion reviews to optimize license spending through hybrid cloud/used license scenarios.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LiberWorkspace®: Digital workspace solution providing single sign-on access to all available applications, combining legacy and cloud in one unified digital workplace.
• CloudPerfect®
• E-Mail Security 365
• Cloud Backup & Security
• Second Opinion

Products and services

• Pre-owned Microsoft Volume Licenses (Tweedehands Microsoft Licenties)

Quantifiable outcome

• 30-80% cost savings compared to new Microsoft licenses depending on version and scenario
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LPCS B.V. (License Partners Cloud Solutions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company specializing in cloud adoption, implementation, and consultancy services. LPCS operates as Microsoft Direct CSP (Cloud Solution Provider) handling Office365, Dynamics, SharePoint, and Azure services. Provides complete Microsoft platform modernization and digital transformation services. License Partners provides attractive rates for Microsoft 365 licenses through this partnership.
• MicrosoftcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLicense Partners is a Microsoft Tier 1 CSP (Cloud Solution Provider) and Silver Partner. Authorized to resell Microsoft cloud services (Microsoft 365, Azure, Dynamics) and pre-owned volume licenses. Listed in Microsoft Solution Provider directory.
• ICT WaarborgfondsminorOthersCertified member of ICT Waarborg, a Dutch quality assurance fund for ICT companies providing additional credibility and trust for customers.
• CrayonminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on a joint event in November 2019 with Crayon and Spaarne Gasthuis to demonstrate licensing optimization strategies. Crayon provides software asset management and consulting services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SHI International: Major IT solutions and licensing reseller with deep Microsoft practice, including software asset management. Provides similar license advisory and resale services but across a global enterprise book versus License Partners' Benelux focus.
• ALSO Group: European IT distribution and licensing platform with Microsoft cloud and licensing offerings across Benelux and DACH. Comparable in Microsoft license supply chain, but operates at wholesale/distribution scale rather than License Partners' advisory-led model.
• Insight Enterprises: Large global IT solutions provider with significant Microsoft licensing volume and CSP capabilities. Overlaps with License Partners on Microsoft license resale and cloud solutions but operates at much larger scale and broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• Bytes Software Services: UK-headquartered Microsoft licensing specialist and CSP with a strong focus on volume licensing and cloud migrations. Closely comparable business model of license resale plus managed/Microsoft cloud services.
• UsedSoft: German pioneer of pre-owned software license resale and the named party in the 2012 CJEU ruling that underpins License Partners' legal model. Direct competitor in second-hand Microsoft and volume software license trading.
• Crayon: Software asset management and Microsoft licensing advisor offering cloud economics and license optimization. Direct comparability in Microsoft SAM and licensing advisory; Crayon co-marketed an event with License Partners in 2019.
• SoftwareONE: Global software licensing and cloud services specialist with a large Microsoft licensing practice. Compares to License Partners as the most direct scaled competitor in Microsoft license resale and CSP/advisory services across enterprise customers.

Emerging players

• Lizengo: German retailer of low-cost Microsoft software keys highlighted in License Partners' own 2022 press note as a cautionary tale regarding illegal license resale. Compares as a peer product (second-hand Microsoft licenses to end buyers) but operates with less rigorous legal compliance.
• Rencore (used-software marketplace elements): Software asset management tooling that touches on license transfer and compliance workflows adjacent to License Partners' audit-proof positioning. Not a direct reseller, but technically overlapping in the secondary-license / SAM toolchain.

Regional players

• Trust-IT Group: Benelux-focused IT and software licensing services provider active in Microsoft licensing optimization. Regionally comparable in customer base and market (Netherlands/Belgium) with overlapping Microsoft licensing advisory scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about License Partners