A fast internet connection is now a critical part of running any business. No matter what sector you’re in, or how many employees you have, trying to run an effective company without it will be almost impossible. Indeed, many people now regard broadband as an essential utility, just like electricity and water – something that firms simply can’t function without.
A poor broadband connection is therefore hugely detrimental to any business. But we believe you shouldn’t have to shell out huge amounts of money to secure a fast, reliable service. Therefore, a good cheap business broadband deal should be a top priority for any firm.
So how should you go about finding the best business broadband deals? Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is Business Broadband?
Business broadband is an internet connection designed specifically for businesses, not the same product as what you’d get at home, even if the cable coming through the wall looks identical. The difference is in what’s built around it: dedicated customer support, service level agreements, faster fault resolution and features like static IP addresses that consumer packages simply don’t include.
Is My Business Too Small for Business Broadband?
Whether you’re a sole trader working from your kitchen table, a startup with a handful of employees, or a growing team in a serviced office, business broadband is built for you. You don’t need to be a corporate giant to qualify. If you earn money using the internet (and who doesn’t these days?), you’ll benefit from a connection that takes your needs seriously.
Why You Need Business Broadband
A good business broadband connection is essential for any firm. Even if most of your activities don’t take place online, you’ll still need good connectivity for everything from dealing with suppliers and responding to customers to managing your finances.
Companies that are still stuck with an inadequate broadband connection suffer from a range of problems. These include – but are not limited to:
Poorer Customer Service
Today’s consumers expect to be able to reach businesses online and get a fast response to their queries. If you can’t react to a social media complaint because you’re not online, this gives off a poor impression of your business
Lower Productivity
Even simple things like sending emails or accessing online accounting software is made more difficult when you’re struggling with slow or unreliable internet speeds. This means even the most basic tasks take longer than they should, and these delays can quickly add up to become a major drain on your efficiency.
Reduced Morale
In turn, this lack of productivity results in frustrated users within the business who are unable to perform their jobs effectively. This can become particularly important if you’re trying to grow your company, as when more users are trying to access the same poor internet connection at the same time, the experience becomes worse for everyone, and overall morale quickly plummets.
Lost Revenue
All of the above issues can translate directly into reduced sales and revenue for the firm. Whether this is the result of unhappy customers taking their business elsewhere or employees being unable to access key applications, this can quickly have an impact on overall sales.
How Do You Order a Business-Grade Internet Plan?
Fortunately, setting up a business broadband connection, or moving across from an existing home connection, is a straightforward process. In many cases, you may not even need an engineer to come out to your premises.
All you have to do is contact your chosen business internet provider and they’ll begin the switching process for you. You can still make the migration even if you’re under contract with another provider – though this may incur a cancellation fee. Otherwise, the new provider will request to take over the line on your behalf.
How Quickly Can Your Business Broadband Be Installed?
Typically, new business broadband packages can get up and running in a few days. Once you’ve signed up online – which can take as little as two minutes over the phone, the provider will handle everything for you.
In most cases, all you’ll need is a new router that plugs into your existing internet port. At bOnline, we’ll send you your router between 24 and 48 hours prior to your activation date, so it should arrive in time for you to plug in and get started with no interruption to your internet service.
What Types of Business Broadband Are There?
There are three main types, and which one you need depends on how many people you have, what you use the internet for, and whether full-fibre has reached your area yet.
Standard Fibre (FTTC) — The No-Fuss Option
Most business broadband connections use fibre-to-the-cabinet technology, where fibre cables run to a street cabinet and the final connection to your premises uses existing copper. This typically delivers average download speeds of around 24Mbps. If you’re a small team mainly handling emails, social media, and basic online tasks, this is perfectly adequate and usually the most affordable entry point.
Fast Fibre — The Growing Business Sweet Spot
If your team is expanding or your internet demands are increasing, fast fibre delivers download speeds of around 76Mbps and upload speeds of up to 19Mbps with guaranteed, uninterrupted performance. This is worth considering if any of the following sound like you:
- You have ten or more regular internet users
- You share or upload large files regularly
- You use cloud-based tools like CRMs, project management software, or VoIP
- You host your own email or web server
Full Fibre (FTTP) — The Future-Proof Choice
Full fibre, or fibre-to-the-premises, runs fibre optic cable all the way to your front door — no copper in sight. This delivers speeds up to 20 times faster than standard broadband, unlimited uploads and downloads, and rock-solid reliability even for the most data-intensive tasks. Full fibre is still being rolled out across the UK with a target of nationwide coverage by 2027, so check with your provider whether it’s available in your area yet.
How Do I Know What Speed I Actually Need?
Start with these questions: How many people will be using the connection at once? What are they doing — emails and web browsing, or video calls, file uploads, and cloud platforms? Are you planning to grow your team in the next year or two?
A good rule of thumb: if you have more than ten regular users, frequently upload or share large files, or rely on cloud software for your operations, fast fibre is the safer bet. If you’re a small team doing relatively light internet tasks, standard fibre will serve you well — and save you money at the same time.
Is ‘Unlimited’ Broadband Actually Unlimited?
Almost every business broadband package advertises ‘unlimited broadband’ — but it’s worth reading the small print. Some packages include traffic management or fair usage policies, which can affect your speeds at peak times or if you exceed certain thresholds. Before you sign anything, ask your provider directly: are there any restrictions on usage, and if so, what are they? No nasty surprises mid-month is always the goal.
What Providers Offer Cheap Business Broadband?
There are a ton of business broadband providers. Some are able to provide better customer service than others or be more reliable than others. It is great to look at reviews, first-hand accounts, and testimonials, and customer experience stories. Plan your decision accordingly.
You can also look into getting a bundled service. For example, we at bOnline offer VoIP and Broadband packages for small businesses. This way your business can have voice calling and internet in one package that is simple to manage.
Finding The Right Cheap Business Broadband Provider
Because an internet connection is so essential to any business, it’s important to make sure you’re getting it from the right provider. You need one that can not only offer cheap business broadband but offer easy set-up and management so small business owners don’t have to worry about installation or maintenance.
When Should I Switch to Business Broadband?
There’s genuinely no bad time to make the switch. The installation process is quick, and a good provider will make it seamless. That said, there are a few moments when upgrading is particularly smart:
- You’re taking on more employees and the connection is starting to creak
- You’re moving to or launching an online presence for your business
- You need to access your network remotely (this is where a static IP becomes essential)
- You want to host a server or run applications from your premises
- Your current contract is coming up for renewal and you want to shop around before auto-renewing
That last one is worth flagging. If you’re approaching the end of a contract, don’t just let it roll over without checking what else is out there. You might be paying more than you need to for speeds you’ve already outgrown, or missing out on features that are now standard elsewhere.
Do I Need More Than One Router?
The business broadband package that you get also brings a company router, which, in most cases, is more than enough. Business routers are robust enough to deal with several business staff members at the same time, providing solid and effective business security. If your work space is large, multi-level, or has unserviceable zones, ask your service provider about mesh solutions and routers as many have these techniques. You should never have to feel satisfied with a bad signal for your services.
What Are Some Important Factors When You Compare Cheap Business Broadband?
Cost is of course a major consideration for small businesses in particular. When you’re running a firm on a small budget, even a few pounds can make a big difference. That’s why bOnline promises that if you do find a cheaper business broadband deal for the same service, our price match guarantee ensures we’ll meet it.
However, you shouldn’t look solely at the headline monthly costs. There are a range of other elements that go into your decisions. These include:
Reliability
What is your proposed partner’s record in delivering services? What availability guarantees do they offer and what will you be entitled to if there is an outage?
Customer support
How does the provider treat its customers? You can tell a lot from things such as online reviews about how responsive they are to any issues.
Futureproofing
What’s enough for your firm today may not hold up for the long term, especially if you’re a growing business. Look at what options are available for expanding your business broadband deal in future, either with faster speeds or the option to add on extra services as required.
Get the right deal and you stand to enjoy a wide range of benefits. Businesses with fast, reliable fibre broadband can be more productive, build closer relationships with their customers, and increase their revenue.
If you’re ready to take the next step or would like expert advice on what’s the right package for you, contact bOnline on 020 3697 4169.
