A slow internet connection can kill your small business. Did you know that? Sluggish internet connection– whether it’s because of net neutrality or an unreliable wireless provider– affects productivity, efficiency, customer service, security, and data integrity.

Survey reveals that sluggish internet costs Brits up to two full working days a year. Another survey disclosed that 46% of businesses could see a drop in productivity due to wide area network (WAN) connectivity issues. 

Whether you run a brick-and-mortar shop or a tech startup, a reliable internet connection is a must for getting the job done. This is especially true if you run a small business, as one in five businesses fail within the first year of operation.

But with a myriad of options, how do you know which one would be ideal for your scaling small business? It’s hard, right? To help you out, we’ll discuss three business internet solutions that are worth considering.

#1. WOW! Business

A reliable and cost-effective internet solution is the need of every scaling small business. WOW! Business, one of the leading broadband providers in the nation, sits atop our list because it checks off both boxes. What makes it an excellent small business internet service provider is that its plans are tailored to the unique needs of small to large-scale businesses.

WOW! Business offers four internet plans, ranging from 60 Mbps to 1 Gbps. Prices range from $44.99 to $99.99. The basic plan supports heavy web browsing and medium email usage, which makes it ideal for companies with no more than ten employees or micro-enterprises. But as your business scales, you can upgrade the plans. You can, for instance, upgrade to the 600 Mbps internet plan if your business hosts web servers, security systems, or guest networks.

Despite offering high-speed internet at low costs, it doesn’t compromise on security. WOW! Business protects against spyware and viruses, block spam and phishing emails, and protect against identity theft. It also offers browsing protection by blocking harmful sites automatically.

Features

  • WOW! uses hybrid fiber-coaxial that can accommodate increasing bandwidth without significant changes in the infrastructure
  • Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services allow business owners to answer phones from anywhere
  • Enhanced Directory Listings gives customers exposure to an online portal where they can promote their business with ease

#2 Verizon Fios

Another top-tier internet solution for scaling small businesses is Verizon Fios, offered by Verizon Communications. You get the option to choose from three business plans– $69/month for 200 Mbps, $129/month for 500 Mbps, and $249/month for 1 Gigabit connection.

The 200 Mbps plan is basic. It offers symmetrical upload and download speeds for local supporting emails, apps, and WiFi-connected devices. The 500 Mbps allows for high-volume streaming, symmetrical upload and download speed, and reliable and secure backup and transfers.

While both these plans are ideal for small businesses, the 500 Mbps would be a better bet because of its reliability and security. The 1 Gigabit plan isn’t recommended for small but large-scale businesses requiring a high-capacity connection for video conferences or large file transfers.

Features

  • Verizon Fios business bundling can be paired with a Business Digital Voice plan for an additional $20/month
  • Ultra-fast fiber-optic internet with 99.9% network reliability
  • Allows users to upgrade to a static IP address for hosting computer servers and accurate geolocation

#3 Comcast Business

Micro-enterprises must consider checking out Comcast Business’ internet plans. Its plans start at 50 Mbps for $49.99/month and go up to 1.25 Gbps for $349.99/month.

This telecommunications company’s Business Internet Essential, Standard, Performance, and Advanced packs are well-suited for micro-enterprises. The Essential, Standard, and Performance packs support only three, four, and five devices, respectively. But you can scale as your business grows by upgrading to Advanced and Premium, which support eight and ten devices respectively.

Opt for the Business Internet Gigabit Extra plan if your business runs multiple cloud-based apps, servers, and backups. It also downloads large files fast and supports multiple devices. Thus, it would be ideal for small businesses with less than 20 employees.

Features

  • Comcast Business SecurityEdge protects connected devices on the network from ransomware, phishing scams, malware, and botnet attacks
  • Ethernet-dedicated Internet sends and receives huge files with matching downloading and uploading speeds
  • Access and control add-ons like WiFi Pro, Connection Pro, and Comcast Business SecurityEdge

To sum things up, these are the three best internet service providers for scaling small businesses. Whether you choose WOW! Business for its lightning-fast speed or security, Verizon Fios for its reliability, or Comcast Business for affordability, each of these solutions is unique in its own way.

Before you invest in any of them, consider factors like speed, reliability, scalability, and, of course, security. Don’t make pricing the only factor when choosing an internet service provider. Weigh the speed and other features with pricing and then decide which of them suits the needs of your business the best.