subject: Start-up tips: Home vs business broadband [print this page] One of many questions you will need to ask yourself when setting up your own business is whether to go for a home or business broadband package. As would be expected, there are numerous advantages to the latter, which can provide faster speeds and minimise downtime, helping your business stay online 24/7 at this crucial early stage.
With many operators offering fixed monthly charges and flexible payment plans, depending on the needs of the company, business broadband can prove to be a very cost-effective option, especially when considering the benefits of the service over a traditional broadband line that you might use in your leisure time.
Enhanced connectivity is one of the core features of business broadband, and one that appeals most to many businesses who wish to avoid lengthy periods of manual reconnection when their network fails. With faster speeds, sometimes up to 40 times faster than home broadband, business broadband can also provide near-instantaneous access to all the websites and services you need to use on a daily basis, even ones incorporating Flash or videos that may have caused problems in the past.
These faster speeds can be achieved due to the smaller number of users existing on dedicated business servers, which sometimes only accommodate up to 20 simultaneous users - much lower than the standard 50 of home broadband servers. These speeds can be essential if your business site has e-commerce functions.
Business broadband also offers access to an invaluable knowledge bank and customer support, with experienced technicians available with a quick phone call if anything goes wrong. This can be just as effective as having your own dedicated IT team on call 24 hours a day, with the added bonus that you don't have to employ anybody.
When you set up a business broadband package it will usually come with a business phone line too, which can offer free calls and represent another big saving for your start-up. You can even choose a business number to give your company an even more professional image, including free 0800 numbers that could be more appealing to potential customers.
Home and business broadband services each have their advantages, but businesses will generally find it's worth paying a little extra to enjoy the myriad benefits of business broadband. Having faster speeds, greater connectivity and round-the-clock support can provide all the help you need to grow your start-up into an online business to be reckoned with.
