As a consultant helping entrepreneurs start, run, and grow their small businesses, I‘m often asked about whether subscription services like Paramount Plus are worth the investment. With Paramount Plus now available as an add-on for Amazon Prime members, it‘s a timely question. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share my in-depth analysis of Paramount Plus pricing, content, and value to help you make an informed decision for your business.
Overview of Paramount Plus Pricing and Plans
Paramount Plus offers two main plans directly through their website:
- Essential Plan – $4.99/month: Includes ads & limited commercial interruptions. Can stream on 1 device at a time.
- Premium Plan – $9.99/month: Completely ad-free streaming. Supports up to 4 simultaneous streams.
As an Amazon Prime member, you can also subscribe to the Paramount Plus Premium Plan through Prime Video Channels for $9.99/month. This gives you full access to the Paramount Plus content library.
By comparison, popular streaming services like Netflix start at $9.99/month for their basic (ads) plan and $15.49 for the Premium plan. So Paramount Plus is competitively priced, especially for ad-free viewing.
A Consultant‘s Perspective: Key Benefits for Entrepreneurs
As a consultant, I see several benefits of Paramount Plus for small business owners and entrepreneurs:
Educational and Inspirational Content
Paramount Plus offers acclaimed documentaries, historical dramas, and biographies to enhance your business knowledge. As an entrepreneur, I found shows like American Greed and Going from Broke motivating and informative.
News and Analysis
Get live 24/7 news plus shows like 60 Minutes and CBS Sunday Morning to stay up-to-date on business, technology, and economic trends.
Background Entertainment for the Office
Having Paramount Plus available in the background while working provides a better environment than total silence. You can find enjoyable, light-hearted options like SpongeBob, Survivor, and funny talk shows.
Mobile Downloads for Travel
The ability to download shows and movies on Paramount Plus makes it great for business trips. I download episodes and documents before flights so I can watch offline while traveling.
Evaluating the Pros and Cons of Amazon Prime Video Channels
Adding Paramount Plus via Amazon Prime Video Channels provides some notable pros and cons to consider:
Pros
- Single billing through Amazon makes subscription management easier
- Access all content within Prime Video app interface
- 7-day free trial still offered for new subscribers
Cons
- Only Premium (ad-free) plan offered, at $9.99/month
- No discounted annual plan available like on Paramount Plus directly
- Can‘t manage Paramount Plus subscription settings in Amazon interface
Overall, I find the convenience of having everything in Prime Video worth the small trade-offs. But entrepreneurs should still consider signing up directly with Paramount Plus if they want cheaper tiers or annual plans.
Tips for Evaluating Paramount Plus as a Small Business Owner
As with any new service, it‘s wise for entrepreneurs to thoroughly test Paramount Plus before committing long-term. Here are my top recommendations:
- Use the free trial first – Take full advantage of the 7-day free trial, whether subscribed directly or through Amazon. This gives you adequate time to explore the library.
- Compare content – Evaluate Paramount Plus‘ movies, shows, live sports, and news compared to competitors like Netflix, Hulu, or Sling. Check if it offers enough unique value.
- Download for offline access – Be sure to download titles to mobile devices/laptops to test offline viewing. This is especially important for frequent travelers.
- Consider business uses – Explore documentary, educational, news or background entertainment content that could directly benefit your business.
- Split the cost – For solopreneurs and very small companies, consider sharing a Paramount Plus subscription with a business partner to defray costs.
The Bottom Line – Valuable for Business Owners Who Love Content
As an entrepreneurship consultant, I think Paramount Plus is a strong contender in the streaming space, offering wide-ranging content at a fair price point. For business owners who will make good use of its movies, documentaries, news and more, it can be a valuable subscription. I suggest using the tips above to fully test it yourself during the free trial. At $9.99/month, Paramount Plus provides quality viewing that both entertains and informs.
