Business internet vs. home internet for your office

For a small office, it is tempting to sign up for the same internet plan you have at home. Sometimes that works for a while. But your internet connection now carries your phone calls, card payments, cloud apps and security cameras, so it is worth understanding what business internet plans are designed to do differently.

What a business connection is built for

Home plans are designed around household use: streaming, browsing and video calls in the evening. Business plans are designed around a workday, with more people and devices relying on the connection at the same time, and with the business depending on it to operate. The exact features vary by provider and plan, so always read the plan details, but these are the differences to look for.

Support and repair priority

Business plans typically come with business support channels and repair commitments that are written into the service agreement. When your office is down, how quickly the provider responds matters more than it does at home. Ask each provider what support hours and repair commitments come with the plan you are considering.

Static IP addresses

Many business plans offer static IP addresses, usually as an option. A static IP stays the same, which helps with things like remote access to your network, some security camera systems, servers and certain firewall or VPN setups. Home plans usually use addresses that can change.

Upload speed, not just download

Home plans are often advertised by download speed. In an office, upload speed matters too: video calls, VoIP calls, sending large files and cloud backups all use upload bandwidth. Fiber plans often offer upload speeds that match the download speed, while some cable and other plans offer much less upload than download. Compare both numbers.

Terms of service

Residential plans are generally intended for household use, and their terms may not cover running a business. Business plans are written for commercial use. It is a simple point, but it can matter if you ever need help from the provider.

Backup connections

If a single connection goes down, phones, payments and cloud apps can all stop at once. Many offices add a second connection from a different provider or a different technology, such as a cellular or wireless backup, with a router or firewall that can switch over automatically.

Questions to ask before you choose

1. Which providers and technologies (fiber, cable, fixed wireless) are available at your address?
2. What upload and download speeds does the plan include?
3. Are static IPs available, and how many do you need?
4. What support hours and repair commitments are in the agreement?
5. What is the contract term, and is there an installation timeline?
6. What will you use as a backup if the main connection goes down?

1-800GetConnected.com helps businesses compare providers, order the right connection and set it up for phones, card terminals and cloud apps, with backup connection options. See Business Internet for the providers we work with.

Talk to us

Every office is different, so the best next step is a short conversation about yours. Call (877) 849-9995 or request a free quote and tell us about your office and how you use your connection.