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One of the most exciting aspects of running a business is definitely NOT searching for business internet providers. However, it’s one of the most important. Your business depends heavily on a reliable internet connection to ensure maximum productivity and higher sales. But, unfortunately, picking an internet provider for your business isn’t a piece of cake. With a ton of options around, you can never be sure about picking one suitable enough for your business.
But with this brief little guide by your side, the process of picking an ISP for your business definitely becomes ten times easier. Keep reading to know more.
Speed is not the only factor that classifies an internet service provider as good enough. Your company needs more than just decent speed to run a successful business. This is where reliability, scalability, security and customer support should be the center of attention. Here are a few features a business internet service provider should deliver for your small business.
Business internet usually comes with a promising customer support system that is available around the clock every day to address your queries, offer technical guidance, and solve your problems. Customer support varies from provider to provider, so always ask about the kind of customer support available before you sign up with any provider.
Service-level agreements (SLAs) are designed to set the expectations between the customer and the provider. It describes the products and services, the metrics against which the effectiveness of the process will be measured and the point of contact for customer queries.
It covers areas like uptime, security, technical support, and more. A worthy business internet service provider will offer a service level agreement that guarantees security, low latency, no downtime, 24-hour customer support, flexibility, and scalability to support your business’s growth. Plus discounts, early termination, bill credits, and more areas are discussed in detail. These SLAs will make sure the provider compensates your company in case it fails to deliver.
Sign up for a business internet plan with a dedicated connection, to avoid sharing bandwidth with neighboring businesses. A business internet service provider should allow you to sign up for a dedicated internet plan to ensure you and your employees can browse, work, stream, and video call without worrying about anyone else draining the connection.
Although it’s an expensive option than simply sharing with other businesses, it’s a much-needed one if you really need fast internet speeds and 99% reliability for your business operations.
Comparing multiple business internet providers can be daunting. Here are some useful tips to help you find a reliable internet plan for your small business.
The availability of the type of internet in your locality is a must. The easiest way to weed out internet service providers right at the beginning of your search is by availability and type of connection. Do your day-to-day business operations require super-fast internet speeds that a fiber connection provides or will a cable connection be enough?
Moreover, the location of your business plays an active role in this search. If you live in a remote or rural region with access to limited internet options, then satellite internet does wonders. However, do not expect satellite speeds to be as fast as fiber, cable, or DSL.
To make sure you pick the right internet plan for your business, you must figure out the throughput your small business requires to get by and grow. Note down the number of employees you have, the kind of activities you will perform, the number of devices that need an internet connection, and the bandwidth needed for specific internet activities.
A small company with 5 to 10 employees requires up to 50 Mbps for sharing large files, using POS software and video conferencing, while a company with 1 to 2 employees doesn’t need more than 25 Mbps of speed. Choosing an internet plan all comes down to what the business goals and needs are.
How long will you be locked down by your internet service provider? Most business internet plans come with a 12-month to 24-month contract. So it all comes down to the timeline that works best for you. Will the contract be terminated if the provider fails to deliver on its promises highlighted in the SLAs? Will you pay additional fees for a plan upgrade before the term is over?
Inquiring about contract lengths is important before you sign up for any plan. You will find a few business internet plans that come without a contract, but usually at a high price. However, it’s a worthy fit if you need the internet connection seasonally.
When you’re signing a contract, make sure you’ve read the terms and the blocks of text hidden in the fine print too. Try to find terms like ‘early cancellation’ ‘installation fees’ ‘equipment rental fees’ ‘service activation charges’ ‘plan upgrade’ and etc. to learn about additional fees that you will be paying. You want to make sure that your contract terms promise flexibility and growth.
Bundles help you save a ton of money, especially when you’re using more than one service. Almost every internet service provider will allow you to bundle your business internet with TV or wired phone service at a pocket-friendly rate than if you bought standalone plans. The best way to go about it is by factoring in the extra fees such as installation, equipment rental and service activation fee when signing up for a business internet plan as business internet requires professional installation.
It’s important to check out reviews of business internet providers in your local area before signing up with any company. Real customer reviews tell you a lot about the provider’s customer service and user experience. Business internet providers differ from one another which is why checking out customer reviews and inquiring about customer support before signing up for a plan is necessary.
Based on key factors like availability, pricing, customer reviews, speed and contract flexibility, we’ve rounded up 5 internet service providers you can consider to satisfy your small business internet needs.
AT&T Business Fiber brings you the speed and connectivity you need to sustain a growing business. Enjoy benefits like symmetric speed capability, no contractual obligations, professional installation and 24/7 technical support with AT&T Business internet plans! Get a dedicated connection for your business and enjoy equal upload and download speeds. The pricing of AT&T business plans starts at $65 per month and offers speeds ranging from Fiber internet speeds of 100 Mbps to Hyper-Gig speeds of up to 5 Gbps, so there
Spectrum business internet plans start at $50/mo. when bundled with other Spectrum services and deliver speeds up to 1 Gbps which is enough for 20+ employees. So whether you use point-of-sale systems, transfer large files or run an e-commerce business, Spectrum has the ideal business solution for you!
With Spectrum bundles and plans you never have to worry about hidden charges, plus also get a 30-day money-back guarantee, static IPs, 25 custom email addresses, the latest internet modem, and dedicated 24/7 WiFi support! Talk about wide availability and affordable pricing!
Comcast business offers the best business solutions with no data caps, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and dedicated 24/7 customer support. Plus you get amazing deals on select Xfinity packages and a ton of smart add-ons such as Comcast Business SecurityEdge and Connection Pro to enhance your Comcast internet plan. Speeds range from 35 MBps to 1 Gig, making it easy for small and medium-sized businesses to explore their options based on how much they need.
To make sure you pick a broadband provider that works best for your business, narrow down your search by checking the availability of providers in your area. Figure out what you want and don’t want in a provider and compare available providers and their offers based on that information. That way you can support your business growth in the fastest and best way possible!
Fiber-optic connections offer speeds as fast as 940 Mbps with low latency and no lag, however, the lack of availability of fiber-optic connectivity in most regions makes cable connections a top choice among businesses. Satellite connection is ideal for businesses located in remote locations.
Business internet offers more benefits and features than residential internet and is generally slightly more expensive.
The broadband speed you need is entirely dependent on the number of employees you have and the number of devices that will connect to the Wi-Fi network. An average small-sized business can get by with 25 Mbps of download speed.
Business internet offers faster connection speeds, improved data transfer rates, better efficiency, static IP addresses, and much more!
Zion enjoys writing on a variety of different topics, especially those that involve gaming, and sports. With over 7 years of experience in digital marketing, he keeps up with the changing market trends. Zion specializes in how-to guides, is a technical geek, and routinely writes on Windstream, Mediacom, Cox, AT&T, and MetroNet. He closely works with the content team to ensure that customers get unbiased and fair reviews of all associated services. In his free time, Zion enjoys spending time with his pets, exploring restaurants, and gaming.