I'm planning a SaaS product that integrates with Microsoft 365. I have a concept and some initial tests, but no funding yet. I'd like to build a proof of concept using Azure and eventually offer it to customers through Microsoft Marketplace. When I tried signing up, I was told I wasn't eligible without a Visual Studio license. Is there a separate developer or partner registration process I should use, and can I build the proof of concept in Azure before submitting the finished product?
4 Answers
Keep the first version as lean as possible and watch the free-tier limits closely. Also validate that your product solves a specific problem—there are already many people building generic Azure and Microsoft 365 SaaS ideas, so differentiation and real customer feedback will matter more than simply getting listed.
You generally only need a Microsoft partner account to begin the publishing process. You don’t have to wait until you have funding or a Visual Studio subscription, although you should have a functional app and a clear business and billing setup before submitting it.
If you qualify, forming a legitimate company such as an LLC may make you eligible for Microsoft for Startups benefits, including Azure credits. That can help with prototyping, but startup credits aren’t required to join the partner program or publish a marketplace offer.
A Visual Studio license isn’t required to develop or publish an Azure Marketplace product. You may have landed on the Microsoft 365 developer tenant signup instead of the marketplace or Azure signup. Create a regular Azure account, use the free tier where possible, and build your proof of concept there. When the product is ready, register through Partner Center and complete the marketplace onboarding and policy requirements. They’ll want a working product and valid company and billing details, not proof that you have substantial funding.
The signup you saw was probably for an M365 developer tenant, which is a different program from registering as a marketplace publisher.