The internet is a basic and critical business requirement that has a direct impact on your profitability. According to a research report by The Value of Connectivity, 75% of the surveyed commercial tenants say that bad connectivity impacts profitability. 84% of the respondents are ready to pay more for the same space with reliable connectivity. However, you don’t want to pay unnecessarily more when you are running a small business. This guide is all about reliable small business internet that you can easily afford.
You can save money by using a standard residential connection. However, you have to consider the following:
- Dedicated internet
- Static IPs
- Support and service
There are benefits of having dedicated small business internet connection, especially when you also want to take advantage of 3CX VoIP and other additional services. You cannot use these services when you share bandwidth with your neighbours. Imagine you are in a video conference with a potential client and your internet slows down unexpectedly. This can be disastrous. So, you must have a dedicated small business internet.
A static IP address provides an extra layer of security. This helps in protecting sensitive information. If you use remote access tools such as VPN or host a server then a static IP is necessary.
You want it to be fixed immediately when something goes wrong. If you are using a small business internet, the services providers understand that interruptions can be far more critical for businesses. This is why they provide fast and 24X7 tech support.
Types of Internet Connections
Small business internet providers offer different types of internet connections including satellite, fibre, cable and DSL. The price and speed depend on the type of connection you are using. Fibre connections are not as common as others. So, this type of connection is not available in certain buildings or neighbourhoods.
DSL
A digital subscriber line uses a phone line for signal transmission. Bundling these two services saves some money for you and it is also a dedicated connection. However, your internet goes down when your phone line goes down. The distance sensitivity can also be an issue. This is not the fastest but affordable connection.
Cable
It is more expensive than satellites and DSL but faster. Some small business internet providers are using fibre-coax networks to offer better speed. However, cable connections are shared and therefore become congested. Cables too have the distance sensitivity issue.
Fibre
This is a new kind of connection with symmetrical download and upload speeds. Fibre internet connection is not affected by power lines and the signal does not slow down over long distances. This is the most reliable and fastest internet connection.
Satellite
If other types of connections are not available in your area then you can use a satellite connection. However, physical and weather obstructions can affect speed and uptime. It is affordable and bandwidth is not shared with anyone.
Additional Factors
You need some parameters to compare different small business internet services providers in your area. Speed, price and add-ons depend on your location and type of connection. Following are the factors you have to consider:
- Speed
- Price
- Wi-Fi
- Internet Security
Speed
The productivity of the most productive team member declines when internet speed declines. Determine your internet speed requirements and measure the bandwidth you need.
Price
Cost is an important factor for small businesses. However, if you calculate your speed and bandwidth requirements accurately and compare different small business internet providers, you can save money.
Wi-Fi
There are benefits of having wireless internet. Wi-Fi is beneficial for both your staff and customers.
Internet Security
Even businesses have people working from remote locations. When you are sharing sensitive information over the internet, you want to make sure that it is encrypted.