Do you live in Austin, Texas? Starting a home business is exciting. You will no longer have a commute, you can set your own schedule, and you don’t have to listen to a boss. However, owning a home business also takes a lot of work and can come with its own set of frustrations.

Every home business in Austin, TX, regardless of what you do or sell, requires one commodity in particular. It is nearly impossible to run a home business in Austin without high speed internet access. A stable, reliable internet connection is essential to any business because it connects you to the outside world, to clients, and new revenue streams. 

Fast, reliable internet is the difference between your business floundering because you can’t get or keep up with clients, and your business succeeding beyond your expectations.

When it comes to your internet options, keep in mind that there are a variety of services from which to choose. You can subscribe to satellite, cable, DSL, or fiber optic internet depending on your needs and what you’re doing online.

Satellite: Satellite internet is typically the best option when you live in a highly rural area that is not serviced by other types of internet access. Satellite is not the fastest internet option, reaching speeds of about 25 Mbps. However, it is one of the most reliable because your internet comes from a satellite orbiting Earth and not from cables. Unfortunately, one element that can affect your connection is the weather. Foul weather can interrupt your service, so if that is a major downside for you, you should consider other options.

Cable: Cable internet is one of the most common connections available because most houses are already wired to accept cable service. Cable internet, such as that provided by Charter Spectrum, runs on coaxial cables that also provide your television programs. Cable is better than DSL and many other types of connections because of faster speeds and increased reliability. The major downside of cable internet is that at peak usage times, you might find that your internet has slowed down. If your connection is shared by others in your household or neighborhood, your speeds are greatly affected by the number of users online at one time.

DSL: DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line and is one of the earliest types of connections available. DSL uses phone lines to connect your devices, which makes it notoriously slow. However, DSL is one of the most affordable variations of the internet, which is excellent for a home business on a budget.

Fiber Optic: Fiber optic internet is the fastest option and is an excellent choice for a home business. The connection is more stable and reliable and allows you to work online throughout an entire day without slowdowns. Fiber optic works through cables with glass inside that sends light energy to bring you online. A fiber optic internet service enables smoother video conference calls, messaging and emailing, streaming, downloads, and gaming on your downtime. If you can afford fiber optic in your budget, it is the best way to go for any home business.

Conclusion

If you are running a smaller home business or operation in Austin, that does not rely on the internet for every aspect of the company, you can safely go for slower speeds or a lesser quality internet service. However, if an internet connection is the main way you run your home business, you should look into faster speeds and more reliable service like fiber optic.

When you’re searching for the right provider, make sure you do your due diligence and read reviews before you make a final decision. Not every service is built the same, and you need to make sure your home business is in good hands.

At the end of the day, look for the right internet service that works for your budget and needs.