The advent of the Internet has introduced several profitable business opportunities, including ISP business management. In the United States, ISP management firms collectively earn $30 billion each year – making managing an ISP a profitable and successful business pursuit for many entrepreneurs.

Interested in becoming an ISP manager? Basic requirements for starting up an ISP business include capital to cover start-up costs, staff, equipment and an adequate place to store all of your equipment. Once you have the basic tools in place, you will need to learn how to run an ISP business. Successful ISP managers are savvy business professionals with efficient business operations and good marketing strategies.

There are three basic factors to consider when managing an ISP:

1. What equipment will I need to purchase to provide ISP management services?

2. How will I market my product?

3. What staff and other service providers will I need to adequately service my subscribers?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Determine all necessary tools for managing Internet service and other support

ISP management firms generally offer Internet access, website design and other technical support services. To provide these services, you will need to purchase servers to store customer information, software to manage subscribers' dial-up access and Internet connections and routers to connect servers to the Internet.

I recommend: Defacto Wireless Distribution offers a broad range of wireless equipment and advises businesses on choosing the right equipment. Hutton Communications provides ISP managers with a full range of wireless equipment.

Market your ISP business resources

Marketing for business Internet services can be accomplished by direct mail campaigns and wide range of other advertising strategies. Choose the most efficient and cost-effective marketing tool for your business.

I recommend: Rosetta Marketing offers companies targeted marketing strategies and has experience with ISP business management firms. ISP-Market, LLC is a marketing services firm specializing in helping technology professionals develop business.

Hire staff and select service providers

Choose a stable and reliable telecommunications company to provide high-speed access lines, dial-up access lines and several IP addresses. ISP managers must decide which technology their ISP will leverage to access new bandwidth sources and transport services to subscribers.

I recommend: Qwest Communications is a leading telecommunications company that provides backbone connections for ISP business management firms. Coretel is a wholesale dial-up provider.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be sure to establish a system to monitor your data center 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• •  Subscribers look for companies that offer secure, reliable and quality services. Build and maintain a good company reputation by quickly addressing all systems issues, using reliable products and vendors and quality professionals to manage system and subscriber issues.
• •  Consider joining an ISP association. These organizations are helpful in providing ISP management resources and keeping ISP managers up-to-date on legal and other regulatory issues affecting the industry.