Starting a small business today is a good decision if you want to have other income streams. Despite the overly saturated market for online companies, it is still highly in demand given that people got used to buying things online because of the Covid-19 pandemic and because it is more convenient, especially for those who are always busy.
Before you start a small business, you have to consider some factors that can affect the business, such as internet speed. The internet plays a crucial role in the operations of the companies of today because online companies would be useless without it. In addition, most people now are active online buyers, and if you want to reach a broader market, you need to put your business on the internet.
If you are here, you might have been thinking about starting a small business at home, but you do not know what internet requirements you need to push through. Finally, you have come to the right place as we will walk you through some internet facts that will help you start a business at home.
Here are four facts about the internet that you should know before you start a business:
Bandwidth Is Important
It’s probably your first time hearing the word bandwidth if you are not techy, so let us explain it in simpler terms. The bandwidth affects the speed of the internet.
The amount of data sent over to the internet connection in a specific period, or what we often call “megabits per second or Mbps. If you choose a package for an internet connection and pick a lower bandwidth because it is relatively cheaper, the less data you can send with it, which can cause a slow internet connection because the bandwidth pipeline is clogged. The higher bandwidth you choose, the higher the connection will be.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you need to choose the package with the highest bandwidth. You still need to assess how much bandwidth you will need for the business, and you can determine this by listing out all the possible internet activities you will perform to run the business. For example, if you think you will need simultaneous video conferences at once, you must choose a high bandwidth internet connection. On the other hand, if you only need the internet to manage your business’ social media engagements, then 1.5 Mbps is enough for every staff you have.
The Number Of Mbps Is Crucial
50 Mbps is enough for a small business with 5-6 staff doing regular administrative functions like responding to emails and chats. Still, if you want to ensure your team can open multiple browsers at once to attend to your customers, you need a connection with higher Mbps.
Mbps or megabits per second is the unit of measurement used to measure network bandwidth. They show how fast an internet connection is. Mbps will tell you the network transfer speed, such as the download speed for an application or the transfer speed of files. Usually, internet providers are the ones who will tell you the maximum possible speed of a network in Mbps.
So if you want a smooth internet experience, get an internet connection with high Mbps for a faster network speed. Anything above 100 is considered fast internet because it can connect several devices simultaneously.
Fiber Optic Internet Is The Best Internet Service
Many different internet services are available, but how can you tell which one is the best to start a small business? It’s not a matter of which is the most fitting internet service for a starting business, but it’s a matter of the best internet service for any business, and by far, it is fiber optic internet.
Fiber optic internet is considered the best option because the maximum speed can reach up to 5,000 Mbps, enough to start running a corporation. After all, it is fast and reliable. You may think that you do not necessarily need that many Mbps, but if you want to have a fast and reliable internet connection, then go for the best option if you have the budget for it.
Your Mbps Needs Will Depend On The Number Of Devices Connected
Have you ever wondered why most local coffee shops have slow internet connections? This is because there are so many devices connecting all at once, which can slow down the network. Another factor to consider when choosing an Mbps is the number of staff you will need for the business because that’s highly likely to be the number of devices that will connect to your internet.
Here’s a short guide on how much Mbps you need depending on the number of people connecting and their internet activities:
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- 1-3 persons who do regular administrative functions – maximum of 25 Mbps
- 3-5 people who do regular administrative functions and gaming – 50-100 Mbps
- Above five people who do regular administrative functions, gaming, and streaming HD videos – 150-200 Mbps
Conclusion
The internet can introduce your business to many potential customers across the globe, so if you are a starting business owner, take advantage of the internet.
You have to keep in mind that fast and reliable internet is essential for any online business, whether big or small. A solid internet speed can give you a solid online presence.
