Microsoft Copilot for Business: Cost, Use Cases and Setup Tips

You’ve probably heard the buzz—Microsoft Copilot is changing the way teams get things done. From writing documents to summarizing meetings, this AI-powered assistant promises to revolutionize daily workflows in Word, Excel, Outlook, and beyond.

But here’s the thing: most businesses aren’t quite sure what Copilot actually does—or whether they’re ready for it. That’s especially true in industries like healthcare, where compliance, data privacy, and team efficiency matter even more.

This blog is your clear, no-fluff introduction to Microsoft Copilot for business. We’ll break down what it is, how it works, who it’s for, and what to consider before rolling it out. And yes—we’ll give you a downloadable checklist to help you figure out if your team is ready to make the leap.

Quick Navigation:

What is Microsoft Copilot?
How Copilot Works in Microsoft 365
Plans, Pricing, and Licensing
Use Cases for HME and Healthcare Businesses
Pros and Cons of Copilot
Are You Ready for Copilot?
Why Work with Forbin?

What Is Microsoft Copilot?

Think of Microsoft Copilot as your AI-powered sidekick inside Microsoft 365.

Instead of juggling between platforms and manually writing emails, creating spreadsheets, or summarizing meetings, Copilot does it for you—right inside tools you already use.

There are three main types:

Copilot for Microsoft 365 Business – For organizations with licensed users
Copilot Pro – For individuals and small teams
Free Copilot (limited) – Chat-based assistant via Bing or Edge

How Copilot Works in Microsoft 365

Copilot is built directly into Microsoft 365 apps like:

Word
Excel
Outlook
Teams
PowerPoint
OneNote

It pulls from your company’s internal data—emails, chats, documents, and calendars—to create smart suggestions and summaries.

Example:

In Word: “Summarize this report and draft a one-paragraph intro.”
In Excel: “Show monthly trends for CPAP mask sales.”
In Outlook: “Draft a reply to this patient’s billing question.”
In Teams: “Give me a recap of what I missed in this meeting.”

Security note: This all happens within your Microsoft environment, meaning Copilot has access only to what the user can already access.

Plans, Pricing, and Licensing: What You Need to Know

Copilot Plan	Price	Who It’s For
Copilot Pro	$20/user/month	Individual users
Microsoft 365 Copilot for Business	$30/user/month	Licensed business users

Must be paired with Microsoft 365 Business Standard or E3/E5
All users need a business account—not personal Outlook/Gmail accounts
You’ll need an active, secure M365 tenant

Use Cases for HME and Healthcare Businesses

How HME Teams Can Use Copilot:

Write and personalize patient education materials
Automate responses to common support emails
Summarize daily sales reports in Excel
Document workflows, protocols, or ABN language
Quickly prepare internal updates or policy drafts

For Other Businesses:

Draft project plans in Word
Generate insights from customer data in Excel
Capture and summarize Teams meetings
Create client proposals and emails in half the time

Copilot Isn’t Just for Big Corporations

Small businesses, HME providers, and healthcare orgs are using Copilot to work faster, serve better, and stay organized.

Let us help you implement it safely!

Talk to Forbin’s Microsoft 365 Team

Pros and Cons of Copilot

✅ Pros	⚠️ Cons
Boosts productivity across departments	Requires M365 licenses + $30/user/month
Integrated into tools you already use	Needs setup and user training
Secure within Microsoft’s environment	Not HIPAA compliant by default
Improves team communication and clarity	Risk of misuse if tied to personal email accounts

Are You Ready for Copilot?

Before jumping in, ask:

Are all team members using business Microsoft accounts?
Is your IT environment HIPAA-compliant and secure?
Do you have documentation you want to train Copilot on?
Is your organization ready for AI policies and access control?

Download Our Free Copilot Readiness Checklist

Why Work with Forbin?

Copilot is powerful—but if it’s set up wrong, it’s risky.

That’s why businesses turn to VGM Forbin.

We’re a Microsoft Partner with deep experience in:

Healthcare and HME environments
HIPAA-compliant Microsoft 365 setups
Managed IT and AI rollout training
Digital operations support from setup to strategy

We help make Copilot make sense—for your business.
Talk to an M365 Expert

Final Thoughts

Microsoft Copilot is an incredible leap forward for business productivity. But like any leap, it’s best taken with the right gear—and the right guide.

If you’re wondering how Copilot can work for your team, or just trying to wrap your head around the licensing and setup… We’ve got your back.

Schedule a Free Microsoft 365 Consultation with Forbin