A 2007 poll concluded that 20% of all businesses would go out of business without the internet.
Today, that number is much higher. It’s easy to assume that the vast majority of businesses would go out of business without the internet. People wouldn’t be able to work remotely, labor costs would be much higher, and it would be more expensive to get new customers.
If your business relies on the internet for day-to-day operations, you’d have to consider the costs of getting small business internet installed in your office.
How much does business internet cost? Keep reading to find out what the costs are and what you need to look for in an internet plan for your business.
How Much Does Business Internet Cost?
The cost of business internet depends on several different factors. Your location, the service provider, discounts or bundling options, and internet speeds will contribute to the costs. The type of internet service you have will be another determining factor.
You could pay anywhere from $50 a month for business internet if you’re a sole proprietor and you work from home. You could pay as much as $500 a month if you have an office with 50-100 people and they’re all online at once.
Types of Internet Connections.
Choosing an internet service provider for your business isn’t that simple because there are different types of internet connections. Each type can have a significant impact on how you do business. These are the most common types of business internet connections you’ll come across.
Fiber-Optic
This is a big deal in internet service plans. Fiber-optic internet is made up of glass lines and has a high capacity for data. The problem with fiber optic right now is availability.
There are internet companies investing millions of dollars to build a fiber-optic infrastructure, but these dollars are being spent in urban areas. That’s because internet companies stand a better chance of recovering that investment because there are more potential customers.
Since fiber-optic plans offer high speeds and broad bandwidth capacity, it makes sense for large offices or small offices with big data needs to turn to fiber optic plans. These plans cost less than they did a few years ago, but they will cost a bit more than cable internet.
Cable
Cable has been the source of high-speed internet for most businesses and residential customers for many years. The availability overall has been high because most people already had cable television in their homes.
Internet data travels through coaxial cable lines, which can provide a lot of bandwidth and high speeds. A cable plan is appropriate for many small offices.
Is Residential Internet Just as Good as Business Internet?
When you look at the costs of internet plans, you’ll feel like you’re getting fleeced because you have a business. Business internet connections tend to be much more expensive than a regular internet plan.
There are a few good reasons for this discrepancy. The first is that there are more features that business plans get. Businesses often need to upload and send large files.
On a residential plan, the time it takes to upload large files can seem like forever. That might be a tolerable inconvenience if you have a few large files to send.
On the other hand, a large office that has many employees trying to send large files and documents at once can be frustrating if the upload speeds are slow. It could hamper productivity, so it would be worth it to upgrade to a business account.
Features that you’ll find on a business internet service plan are guaranteed uptimes and fixed IP addresses. These features are necessary if you plan to host your own website or servers.
Choosing an Internet Service Provider Plan.
Now that you know the costs of business internet and have some knowledge of what to consider, you need to know how to find the right service provider in your area. These are some of the top internet options to consider.
Determine Your Business Internet Needs.
You need to pick the right plan for your business because if your internet bandwidth is too slow, any project will take forever. If you get too much bandwidth, you’re paying for more than you need.
You want to calculate the number of users you’ll have in your office at one time. You also need to consider how many devices each employee will use. There is an average of 8 devices per person connected to the internet.
Bundling Options.
Providers can bundle other services with your internet plan. You may not need them, but if you do, you could save money. For example, you could sign up for phone and internet plans.
The issue with these plans is that you’re given a promotional discount for the first 6-12 months. After that, you may be under contract to pay the full rate for another 12 months.
That full rate can be at least twice as much as the promotional discount, so you need to check your contract carefully.
Customer Service.
Cable companies have notoriously bad customer service. You can’t afford to deal with that if your business internet goes down. You should make sure that you have an account executive that you can call up if you have any problems.
The Cost of Doing Business Online.
Your business has to find ways to be more productive and efficient. It’s hard to imagine doing both without technology and an internet connection.
How much does business internet cost? It depends on your business needs and the type of internet connection you have. When you search for internet service providers, you want to make sure you assess your needs.
You also want to make sure that you choose a provider that offers discounts and has outstanding customer service. Be sure to read the entire contract for clauses that tell you if there are cancellation or other fees.
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