FY26 Microsoft Incentives: Fast Track to $1M+ in Benefits for ISVs

Hey there, Marketplace publishers👋

If you’re building or selling through Microsoft’s ecosystem, you’ve probably felt this:
“There’s so much potential here… but where the heck do I start?”

The good news? FY26 is loaded with real-deal incentives:

👉 Cash rewards, Azure credits, co-sell perks — even up to $1M in Marketplace rewards.
The challenge? Most ISVs either miss out completely or burn benefits in the wrong order.

So we built you this cheat sheet. Let’s turn FY26 into your breakout year.

First, What’s on the Table?

Microsoft has organized their FY26 incentives into 4 big buckets:

🧠 Smart Play: You can stack these. There’s no global ceiling. But you’ve gotta activate them in the right order.

1. Founders Hub + ISV Success → Your Starting Line

Best for: Startups or early-stage ISVs

Get up to $150K in Azure credits, GitHub, Visual Studio, and GTM guidance.
🪄 Magic move: Start with Founders Hub, use all credits, then move to ISV Success.

⚠️ Don’t overlap them. You’ll burn through benefits faster and leave money on the table.

2. Build & Publish (DCS) → Earn Up to $100K Cash

Best for: ISVs who are ready to get certified and prove their solution drives Azure usage.

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💡 DCS = instant credibility. It’s how you get Microsoft's field sellers to take you seriously.
Plus, it unlocks Migration grants and boosts MBS earning potential.

3. Marketplace Rewards (MBS) → Scale Sales, Get Credits

Already selling? Nice. Microsoft pays you in Azure credits based on your billed Marketplace sales.

🔥 Tip: Once you hit $100K in sales, Microsoft AEs start getting quota relief for pushing your offer. That’s a big unlock.

4. Migration & Modernize → $140K Per Project?!

Yes, seriously. If you’re DCS certified and deploying your customer in azure, Microsoft will pay up to $140K per project.

🎯 Your payout = ACR + Contract Value
⏱️ Duration matters. Bigger deals = longer sales cycle = more payout.

How to Sequence Smart (The Real “Secret Sauce”)

1. Start with Founders Hub → get setup + burn through credits
2. Graduate to ISV Success → publish your transactable offer
3. Get Designated Certified Software (DCS) → unlock cash + sales enablement + migration grants
4. Cross $100K in MBS → Microsoft reps start pitching for you

Pro Tips from FY25 ISVs Who Crushed It

• Forecast ACR early. You need it for DCS payouts and Migration grants.
• Get your offer transactable fast. Otherwise ISV Success and MBS won’t activate.
• Track everything. Use CRM integrations to link usage, sales, and incentives.

Final Word

Microsoft isn’t just throwing money around — they’re rewarding ISVs that play smart.
The gap between unlocking $25K vs. $1M+? It’s all about timing, sequencing, and execution.

So go get yours. And if you’re feeling stuck… just don’t stay stuck.

See how WeTransact can help you max out those incentives.