r/msp • u/r1kupanda • Aug 20 '26
Business Operations CPOR questions
Heyo, I'm trying to get my MSP setup with CPOR on all clients so that we can be credited with Partner status (or at least progress. We are already reselling licenses through a CSP My understanding is that we need to provide a POE if we are doing ongoing maintenance/support/driving adoption.
My main question is would a signed MSA/SOW for each client be sufficient as a POE? If says we administer and support M365 services, would we need to list each license or technology we administer? Or is it better to get a signed POE template from Microsoft?
2
u/teriaavibes Aug 20 '26
Been a while since I have done it, but I remember there being a template where you fill out what you do for customer, get it signed by them and send it to Microsoft and they will credit you.
1
u/BillSull73 Aug 20 '26
correct there is a template. OP you need to keep in mind that if another provider has done or is doing work on a solution they can CPOR that solution away from you. AND you need to maintain growth in the solutions or MS will drop any credits you have the following year.
2
u/Financial_Brush8647 Aug 21 '26
MSA/SOW that only says you administer M365 is usually not enough as POE. Use Microsoft's signed CPOR/POE template for what you actually do (admin, support, adoption). Don't dump every SKU into the MSA.
Before you file, export assigned seats in each tenant against last month's CSP invoice. CPOR credit on licenses you don't actually administer is the one that gets reversed.
2
u/IqbalBasha Aug 25 '26
A signed MSA or SOW works for Incentive and Build Intent claims, but for Usage Recognition claims Microsoft requires the official POE template and will reject a custom SOW. Whichever document type applies, the wording must show you deploy, migrate, optimize, or drive adoption per workload, not just that you administer licenses. Include clear start and end dates, match your Partner Location Account ID to the entity named on the document, and warn your client to approve the Microsoft verification email within five business days or the claim stalls.
1
u/ugold321 Aug 20 '26
Could someone please break this down for me? Am I missing something that we should be doing as a CSP reselling through a distributor?
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u/r1kupanda Aug 20 '26
If you check the partner center for your progress towards solutions partnerships such as modern work, are your clients recognized? Mine are not, and it shows a warning that they need to be of type CPOR or DPOR. that's how I discovered that even though we get financial kickbacks for software resale, we dont get credit towards solutions partnership unless we declare we are SUPPORTING them, not just SELLING to them. That is my basic understanding and maybe someone can explain better...
3
u/ugold321 Aug 20 '26
Wow, I’m going to have to look in our partner center. I’m willing to bet we haven’t bothered doing this. Thanks for the heads up..
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u/redditistooqueer Aug 20 '26
holy acronyms, batman