Compare Business Broadband Deals

What is business broadband?

Business broadband caters for small to large businesses by providing a service beyond that of a personal broadband connection. Services vary depending on provider, but can range from free set up and free equipment such as routers, to bundles that include free calls and unlimited usage.

Which providers offer business broadband?

A number of providers offer broadband deals specially for business use. They include:

• bonline
• BT
• Onebill
• Plusnet
• Sky
• TalkTalk
• Trooli
• Virgin Media
• XLN

What are the benefits of business broadband?

Business packages differ from domestic broadband deals in a few ways, but the most obvious are that you may get dedicated technical support and you may experience a better bandwidth at peak times of the day, so your internet shouldn’t fall off when it is most needed.

In essence, you’ll get access to business-level features that you can’t get with a regular home broadband connection. Depending on the provider and package, you may get:

• Faster download and upload speeds
• Service level agreement (SLA), a guarantee that you will always receive a broadband service at a particular level
• A more secure connection, with additional cybersecurity
• Prioritised traffic, so you can always get the speeds you need
• Dedicated technical support to troubleshoot your connection issues
• Static IP address – essential for some business functions, such as hosting a server or setting up remote PC access
• Better routers, hardware, and Wi-Fi
• Extra digital features – for example, company email addresses, cloud storage, VoIP lines, or web hosting

Let's take a look at some of those in more detail...

Static IP address

Having a static IP address allows you to host your own servers. In layman’s terms an IP (internet protocol) address is the way other computers identify your business computer over the internet.

Most home broadband connections have a dynamic IP address, which means it changes each time you log on. But business broadband connections normally use a static IP address, which means your online identifier stays the same, much like a business address you would send and receive post to.

A static IP address is great for businesses because you can host your own servers, host websites, host email servers, create your own virtual private network (VPN), and log on to your network from anywhere in the world. Plus, if you wanted to, you could run a CCTV system via your network so you would be able to see the business premises anytime.

But of course, this is only the beginning, business broadband packages can also provide data management privileges, backup up and recovery services for your devices, and cloud-based software for when you are away from the office.

Technical support

How much technical support you need and receive will differ considerably with a business broadband account. This is due to the importance of your server and website. And if your server does go down, it is imperative that it is not down for too long because your company could lose business.

So when considering a business broadband provider, make sure you look though the service level agreement (SLA). The SLA will identify when you can get support (business hours or 24 hours), how much support you’ll get, if you can get engineers to fix the problem, and any response times. Any worthwhile business broadband provider will have an SLA and will often be open for negotiation n certain clauses.

You should also make sure to check for antivirus and anti-spam filtering features for your website and email, respectively. These security features are a must for businesses using a static IP address, because they are vulnerable and more easily hackable. Think about getting a password-protected extranet – a place to store data – which can be backed up daily or with a cloud-based network.

Business broadband mobile

It might be a good idea to get a mobile broadband account too, if you or your employees are out of the office a lot while going to meetings, for example. This will enable your company members to browse the internet, read and respond emails and generally keep on top of work when you are away from the business.

You should also check about whether your provider has cloud features, because you can then use your server and data from anywhere, making your business completely mobile. Obviously you could also have a business mobile contract, or use the local Wi-Fi but these might not be as secure as a dedicated mobile broadband package or cloud service.

What about web hosting?

Web hosting is different to broadband, but worth knowing about. Companies will often offer three different ways of hosting your business’s website.

• You can have shared hosting, which means you share a server with different companies. This can be slow at times but are good for websites with a slower bandwidth.
• If you have a dedicated server, then you have the entire server alone, which pretty much guarantees a faster performance.
• Finally, you can have a cloud-based server, which draws from a pool of resources allowing for dynamic hosting.

What is the best broadband for a small business?

A good number of business broadband providers have packages specially designed for small businesses.

They give you features perfectly suited for SMEs, such as appropriate speeds, service guarantees, a web domain and company email addresses, better Wi-Fi, and extra tech support – ideal if you don’t have an IT department.

Exactly what broadband package is best for your small business, of course, will depend on what you need broadband for.

If your business only really needs the internet for browsing and email, and nothing particularly technical (such as hosting a server), look for packages with slower speeds and fewer features. These will come with lower prices to match, while still giving you a guaranteed minimum service.

If you do need those more technical features (such as ultrafast speeds or a static IP), look out for lower-end packages that offer those too. Because while you’ll benefit from enhanced business broadband, you still won’t need a costly top-of-the-range corporate package.

Use the filters above, and we’ll show you all the broadband packages from our partners that fit what your small business needs.

Do small businesses need business broadband?

If your business relies on the internet in any way, a dedicated business broadband connection is a great idea.

At minimum, you’ll get guaranteed speeds when you need them, with an SLA promising compensation if it ever drops.

It’s also a simple and easy way to get certain IT functions, such as email addresses, guest Wi-Fi for your customers, or business-level cybersecurity.

It’s essential, too, if you need the internet connected at all times or require a static IP to host a server on.

On the other hand, if you’re a sole trader working from home, or constant internet access isn’t exactly vital for your firm, you may be happy enough with a standard home broadband connection.

How to compare business broadband

Before you compare business broadband, you need to be clear about your requirements. To get the best idea of what you need for your business you should do a data audit, so you know exactly how much data your company would download or upload – including documents sent over email or uploads and downloads to and from file sharing sites.

It’s advisable to get the best broadband package you can afford and then let your business grow into it, rather than opting for a cheaper deal that leaves you at risk of not having enough data, speed, or services.

There quite a few UK internet providers that offer well-priced and very fast business broadband connections, catering for small and large businesses and everything in between. When you compare business broadband deals, you can find options tailored to the needs of your company, whether that be high-speed fibre or unlimited data, or a dedicated support team for any problems that arise. But remember to give the postcode of your business premises, as some packages aren’t available everywhere.

What types of broadband can I get?

You’ll find a broad range of options for business broadband. They include:

• ADSL – The most basic kind of broadband, using copper phone lines. You’ll get slower speeds (around 10Mbps) but lower prices – making it ideal for very small businesses that only need internet for a couple of people to send emails and use the web.
• Standard fibre optic– Usually ranges in speed from 30-100Mbps. That’s fast enough to handle connections for several people’s computers and phones, and can likely handle hosting a server too.
• Ultrafast fibre optic– This is fibre broadband at speeds around 100Mbps-1Gbps (1,000Mbps). It may even be ‘full fibre’ or FTTP (fibre-to-the-premises), meaning the whole line is fibre optic from the exchange to your building. That makes it more reliable with very little lag, and it can handle all kinds of technical functions.
• Leased line – A solution for larger businesses that truly rely on stable, fast internet. A leased line is a broadband line that your business has all to itself, not shared with a single other premises. So your speeds won’t be affected by anyone else whatsoever.

Sources and methodology 

*Annual savings based on average monthly bill of £33.99 from nationally representative sample (1000) vs our cheapest monthly cost for superfast broadband (>55Mbs) £18.95/month, May 22. Annual saving: £180.48.

Can I get business broadband at home?

Yes, if your business is registered to your home address. Business broadband lines can be installed anywhere within the provider’s network, though usually only if it’s a registered business address.

It’s worth considering business broadband if your home business would seriously benefit from some of the features – like an SLA, the ability to host a server, or the dedicated IT support.

However, bear in mind it can be a fair bit more expensive than home broadband. If you don’t need any special business telecoms, it may not be worth it – you might be happy enough to work with a home broadband option.

Can I claim business broadband on expenses?

If you’re installing business broadband, you can claim it as a business expense, and therefore deduce it from your year-end tax bill.