In this digital age, running a business is impossible without the internet. Most big businesses have long-term contracts with their internet service providers, offering them lightning-fast internet with multiple device compatibility. This helps the company ensure that every employee gets to enjoy the best internet speed without any disturbance. These firms pay high amounts to get seamless connectivity, which is negligible, considering its significance for business scalability.
However, when it comes to small businesses, this small price can be the biggest chunk of operational costs. In fact, experts believe that most small businesses end up paying more for the sake of some extra speed. As a small business owner, if you are looking for cheap and reliable internet in the USA, it is as difficult as finding a needle in the haystack. You are continuously choosing between compromising on speed, cutting costs, or going overboard with budget. With such a cutthroat competition in the market, any compromise can be challenging.
Within this write-up, we will explore some of the important deciding factors that will eventually help you choose a good internet service provider for your business in the US. Our goal is to focus on small businesses with very limited budgets. So, if you are a small business owner, here is your go-to guide for choosing the right ISP.
Running a small business is a constant struggle where even the smallest expense counts. As a business growth consultant, I always recommend the business owner stick with a good residential internet plan. Most of the big ISPs offer residential plans that have good speed and simultaneous device compatibility, yet when you look at their tag, it will not send you into a frenzy.
For instance, if you have just three to six people in your startup, you can start with Spectrum Internet. Spectrum is not just a credible internet company that offers affordable internet service but also offers speed up to one gig with multiple device compatibility. Although this package is good enough for you, you can always switch to a commercial plan once your company starts growing.
Internet without speed in this digital era is useless. If you have a sluggish internet, forget about all the documents, media files, online meetings, and client interactions that are essential for running any business. As a business growth consultant, I recommend you get the best speed plan that any ISP can offer.
In case you think this will cost you a lot, you need to keep in mind that within the US, internet speed and services are comparatively better than in the rest of the world. So when a company is advertising a good speed, they actually mean it. Moreover, as a small business owner, you do not need a lot of internet speed. Even a good enough residential plan will be appropriate for you if you don’t have a huge team.
Imagine paying a hefty internet fee, but the network keeps getting disconnected every now and then. Do you think it is worth it? Outage issues and losing connection are quite common because there are many factors involved in it. In this case, you need a locally-owned ISP that offers 24/7 customer service that is available every day of the year.
A good locally owned customer service will help you communicate much better, so there will be no room for confusion. Good customer service will solve most of your issues. From paying bills online to seeking technical guidance or even registering a complaint, you can do it all with customer service.
A good customer service will always be reliable. This does not mean your focus should be limited to just one factor; instead, seek an all-rounder company that does it all. A good way to evaluate a company is to check their online presence. You need a company that has a good online presence, multiple communication channels, and a brand voice.
All these things might seem superficial at first, but when a company has developed a reputation online, you can check their reviews, and they especially focus on resolving issues. My advice is to research the company offering your internet service and then analyse what their users say about them online.
As a business, data security should be your priority because you are not just responsible for your company data but also the data of your customers. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), more than 73% of US small businesses experience some kind of cyber-attack. This number is especially alarming when you look at the overall charges for cyber security. As a small business owner, this might cost you annual profit or maybe revenue.
A good way to deal with this issue is to choose an internet service that offers you data security. As a business consultant, I always recommend businesses rely on internet services that focus on their security because it will be enough to help you cover the basics. The rest can be covered via antivirus, and once you become a successful brand, you can think about hiring a cyber-security service.
There are so many other features that you must look for in a good business internet connection. However, considering the above five options is the basis for narrowing down the right choices. With all the information at your fingertips, you are well on your own to make a decision.
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