What is the cost of MS SQL for small business servers?

 The cost of Microsoft SQL Server for small businesses can vary depending on the edition you choose and how you plan to use it. Microsoft offers several editions of SQL Server, each with different pricing structures. Here are the main editions relevant for small businesses:

1. SQL Server Express Edition:

   • Free: This edition is free to use and is limited to 10 GB of database size and 1 GB of RAM usage. It’s ideal for smaller, less complex databases or for development/testing purposes.

2. SQL Server Web Edition:

   • Pricing: Typically, this is sold through a hosting provider, and pricing can range from around $30 to $100+ per month, depending on the provider and the server specifications.
   • Use case: Designed for small to medium-sized web hosting environments. It supports up to 4 CPU cores and is cheaper than the Standard Edition.

3. SQL Server Standard Edition:

   • Licensing: The cost is usually based on either core-based licensing or server + CAL (Client Access License).
   • Pricing: Around $900 to $1,000 per core or around $900 per server + CAL. If you go with a core-based license, there is no need to worry about how many clients will connect. For a small business, the server + CAL model is often more affordable, depending on how many users access the database.

4. SQL Server Developer Edition:

   • Free: This edition has all the features of SQL Server Enterprise Edition but is for development and testing only, not for production environments.

5. SQL Server Enterprise Edition:

   • Pricing: This is the most expensive option, with a per-core pricing model, typically starting at $7,000 to $10,000 per core for full production use.
   • Use case: Best for larger businesses with more demanding workloads, not typically necessary for small businesses.

You’ll also need to factor in the cost of any additional infrastructure like hardware or cloud hosting (e.g., Azure, AWS), especially if you're running the SQL Server on a dedicated machine or in the cloud.

Would you be interested in a particular edition, or do you need more details on any of them?