if i transfer management of my google workspace from reseller whois.com back to google what do stand to lose or gain . i have 14 licenses expiring on the 24th of september. i want to delete 4 to remain 10 licenses . the reseller says i must pay for all 14 for one month before i can delete the 4 accounts after one month !
It’s a complex situation, and the reseller’s policies can significantly impact your options. Here’s a breakdown of what you stand to lose or gain by transferring your Google Workspace management back to Google, with a focus on your specific situation.
What You Stand to Gain
- Direct relationship with Google: You will manage your account directly through the Google Admin console, which can provide more control and a single point of contact for support.
- Flexible licensing (potentially): With a direct Google account, you can often switch between a “Flexible Plan” and an “Annual/Fixed-Term Plan.” The Flexible Plan allows you to add or delete licenses at any time and only pay for the licenses you have that month. This is the key benefit for your situation, as it would allow you to immediately reduce your license count from 14 to 10.
- No reseller-specific policies: You won’t be subject to your reseller’s specific billing and management policies, such as the one requiring you to pay for all 14 licenses for a full month before you can remove any.
What You Stand to Lose
- Reseller-specific support and services: Resellers often provide additional services that you might lose, such as:
- Personalized or faster support than Google’s standard support.
- Assistance with setup, migration, or training.
- Customized billing or payment options.
- Bundled services or tools (e.g., cybersecurity, advanced analytics).
- Potential cost differences: While some resellers offer better pricing than Google’s direct rates, others might not. You’ll need to compare the cost of a direct Google subscription to what you’re currently paying.
- Billing changes: Your billing cycle and payment method will change. You’ll be billed directly by Google. If you’re on a fixed-term plan with your reseller and you transfer before the renewal date, you might not receive a refund for any prepaid period of service.
Addressing Your Specific Situation
Your reseller’s policy—that you must pay for all 14 licenses for one month before you can delete 4 accounts—is likely tied to the type of contract you have with them, most likely an Annual/Fixed-Term Plan. With this type of plan, you commit to a specific number of licenses for the entire term, and you can usually only reduce the number of licenses within a 30-day window around the renewal date.
Here’s how transferring to Google could help you:
- Transfer Process: You, as a super administrator for your Google Workspace account, can initiate the transfer process. You would need to sign in to your Google Admin console, find the “Subscriptions from resellers” section, and generate a transfer authorization.
- Billing Plan: When you transfer back to Google, you will be prompted to set up a new billing plan. Choosing the Flexible Plan would allow you to pay for only the licenses you use each month.
- Reducing Licenses: Once the transfer is complete and you are on the Flexible Plan with Google, you can immediately remove the 4 licenses you no longer need. This will reduce your monthly bill.
Important Considerations:
- Expiration Date: Your licenses expire on September 24th. This is a critical date. Initiating the transfer before this date is highly recommended. The transfer process can take some time, and you don’t want to be in a situation where your reseller’s contract has already renewed for another year with all 14 licenses.
- Data Preservation: The transfer of management typically does not affect your data (emails, files, etc.). Your users will be able to continue using Google services without interruption. However, it’s always a good practice to back up critical data if possible.
- Communication: While you can initiate the transfer yourself, it’s a good idea to inform your reseller. They may be able to provide guidance or offer alternative solutions. However, be prepared for them to hold firm on their contract terms.
In summary, given your desire to reduce your license count and the reseller’s restrictive policy, transferring management back to Google and switching to a Flexible Plan seems to be the most direct way to achieve your goal and avoid paying for unnecessary licenses.
can i transfer to another reseller can you recommend some
Yes, you can transfer your Google Workspace management to another reseller. This is a common practice, and the process is similar to transferring from a reseller back to Google directly.
The Transfer Process
- Find a New Reseller: The first step is to find a new Google Workspace reseller you’d like to work with.
- Generate a Transfer Token: You, as the super administrator of your Google Workspace account, will need to generate a “transfer token” (also known as a “reseller transfer token” or “customer auth token”).
- Provide the Token: You will then provide this token to the new reseller. This token gives them authorization to take over the management of your account.
- New Reseller Takes Over: The new reseller will use this token to link your Google Workspace account to their management console. They will then set up your new subscription plan with them.
Key Considerations for a Reseller-to-Reseller Transfer
- Billing Plan: The most critical point for you is the billing plan. When you transfer, the new reseller will have to set up a new plan for you. If you are on an Annual/Fixed-Term Plan with your current reseller and are not within 30 days of the renewal date (September 24th), the new reseller may be required to place you on a new Annual/Fixed-Term Plan. However, you should explicitly ask the new reseller if they can place you on a Flexible Plan. The ability to do this depends on their specific policies and the timing of your transfer.
- Refunds: As mentioned before, if you are on an Annual/Fixed-Term Plan and have already paid your current reseller for the entire year, you are unlikely to receive a refund for the remaining months. The new subscription with the new reseller will be a new contract, and you’ll begin paying them from the transfer date.
- Data and Services: A management transfer does not affect your data (emails, Drive files, etc.). All your user accounts and data will remain intact. However, any additional services or support your current reseller provides may be lost. You should inquire about these with the new reseller.
- License Count: A new subscription must have an equal or greater number of licenses than the previous commitment. This is the core issue you’re trying to solve. You must be within the 30-day renewal window to reduce the number of licenses with a new reseller. This makes transferring back to Google directly and using a Flexible Plan a more straightforward path to achieve your goal of reducing your license count from 14 to 10.
Recommending Resellers
It is not possible for me to give specific recommendations for a reseller because the best choice for you depends on several factors, including:
- Your location: Resellers often specialize in specific geographic regions and offer local support.
- Your company size: Some resellers cater to small businesses, while others focus on large enterprises.
- Additional services: What kind of support do you need? Some resellers offer managed services, training, migration assistance, or other value-added services.
- Pricing: You’ll want to compare pricing plans and any additional fees.
Instead of recommending a specific reseller, I can guide you on how to find a suitable one:
- Google’s Partner Directory: Google provides a public directory of its certified partners. You can use their “Find a Partner” tool to search for resellers by location, specialization, and other criteria. This is the most reliable way to find a legitimate and certified partner.
- Ask for Recommendations: Network with other businesses in your industry or location. You can also search online forums or communities (like Reddit’s r/googleworkspace) to see what other users recommend.
- Check with your domain registrar or hosting provider: Many domain registrars and web hosting companies are also Google Workspace resellers. This can sometimes simplify billing and management by consolidating services.
When you contact potential new resellers, be sure to ask them directly about their policies regarding license counts, especially with a fixed-term contract that is nearing its renewal date. Explain your situation—you have 14 licenses on an annual plan expiring on September 24th and want to reduce the count to 10. Their response will tell you if they can help you achieve your goal more easily than your current reseller.