Broadband Connection Provider for Your Small Business We understand that starting a small business is like walking into a world of nightmares, where you have to put out fires constantly. No business can survive in today’s world without the Internet. Internet services are crucial to launch your business and keep your operations running smoothly.

The Internet also allows you to make room for the future growth of your business. We understand that cost can be an obvious factor for any small business owner. But Internet services for a business can mean more than just price, so there are certain things you should look for while choosing the right broadband connection for your business.

Types of Internet Connections

The types of Internet connections available for your business will depend on your location. You could have a large list of Internet service providers available in your area, or you may have to choose the only available option. Therefore you should understand the different types of Internet connections while choosing one most suitable for your business.

DSL

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) was considered a major upgrade over dial-up connections at one point in time. However, DSL connections offer average Internet speed these days because they use traditional telephone lines.

A DSL Internet connection might be sufficient if you plan to run a small shop with a couple of employees. The only good thing about a DSL connection is that it is cheap. But you should not expect the connection speed to reach the triple digits of Mbps.

Cable

Cable Internet services transmit data through the coaxial TV lines, which exist almost everywhere. The Internet speed is good but not great and can reach up to 100 Mbps.

However, you may notice that the speed would fluctuate if several businesses and homeowners are using the Internet at the same time as you. The prices for cable Internet services can be a bit expensive as well, and the deals may not seem worth the money. 

Satellite

You might be thinking that if cable connections can provide Internet speed of up to 100 Mbps, satellite Internet connections must be far better than that. Unfortunately, satellite Internet speed can match up to DSL speed at the maximum, which may not be sufficient for most businesses.

Moreover, they are not as reliable as ground connections because they can be interrupted by the weather. However, they can be the only possible option if your business is located in the middle of nowhere. 

Fiber Optics

You may not realize that, but fiber optics is the oldest form of data connection because the foundation of the Internet was built on them. In the case of fiber optics, the data gets transmitted as pulses of light traveling through microscopic strands of plastic or glass.

Therefore, the connection does not get affected by outside electromagnetic interference, which makes it extremely fast. The only downside is that it is not available in almost half of the United States, and the prices can be a bit expensive. 

Internet Speed Requirement for Your Business

You may think that a small business with a few employees would not need a lot of Internet speed. However, if your employees have to constantly transfer large files, or need to videoconference all day, you would have to think of greater bandwidth. 

On the other hand, if you have a workforce of more than 50 employees that only need the Internet to trade emails, you should not be paying for 500 Mbps bandwidth. Therefore, you should determine the speed requirements for your business before choosing the right broadband connection.

You should also find out whether you need your upload speeds to be equal to the download speeds. Only fiber-optic connections can upload data on the Internet as fast as downloads. So make a list of your Internet requirements, which will help you determine the right connection for your business.

Internet Service Provider Details

Speed is not the only factor you should consider when choosing the right Internet service provider. You should also check the following aspects.

• 24/7 customer service and technician support
• An average monthly and yearly downtime
• Imposed data caps
• The average length of contracts
• ISP net neutrality stance
• The fine print of the contract

Extra Features

As a business owner, you should consider certain extra features that might be beneficial for your company. Some of these are as follows:

• Look for ISPs that provide bundles of features that you may need, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), phone connection, or TV services. Even if you have these services already, bundles can reduce your overall cost, saving you hundreds of dollars every year.
• Check if the ISP provides static IP addresses at an extra cost. If you need to host servers or Virtual Private Networks (VPN), static IP addresses will provide you more security and stability for external access.  
• Business email services
• Cloud storage services
• VPN services
• Internet equipment like modems or Wi-Fi routers
• Security services like antivirus, anti-malware, or backup protection services
• Web hosting services
• POS connectivity

Choosing a suitable broadband service provider for your small business may seem like a complicated job, but it does not have to be so if you have a grasp of the crucial factors.

We would suggest that you think about the aspects we discussed in this article instead of considering cost as the only deciding factor. It will enable you to choose the right Internet service provider suitable for your current and future business needs.