Pricing and Costs of Cable Internet

Tailor cable Internet access to fit your business budget

While almost every cable television company offers some sort of cable Internet service to its providers, not all of them specialize in providing cable Internet for businesses. That's just one of many factors that's going to influence what you pay for your cable Internet services.

While it's prudent to search out the best rates among cable Internet providers, you should always return to the bottom line: Does the access you're paying for serve your business needs? In the end, the cheapest service may not prove the most rewarding use of your business dollars. Keep the following in mind when comparing pricing and costs of cable Internet:

1. Always be ready to negotiate a special deal with your cable Internet provider.

2. Sometimes it's worth paying for the fastest in high-speed Internet access.

3. Dealing with a business specialist might better satisfy your business needs.

 

Track down special offers from cable Internet service providers

As with other service providers, cable Internet service providers are constantly competing for your business, trying to one-up each other with better prices, service or perks.
Try: TheISPGuide.com helps you sort through the various offerings from cable Internet providers by giving a quick overview of their offerings, including sign-up specials that typically offer a reduced rate, sometimes as low as $20 per month, for a limited period (six months is typical). Broadband National lets you compare broadband access products by provider or service type.

Find the best deals on the fastest cable Internet services

Whether you have a large number of employee computers to serve, regularly transfer very large files or just want the fastest service possible, you can expect to pay a premium for high-speed cable Internet.
Try: Super-fast cable Internet providers like Charter Communications and Comcast Business Services offer super high-speed plans up to 16 Mbps at rates as low as $24.99 per month for promotional periods. Expect to pay at least $200 per month for such fast Internet access once the promotional period is over, with an upper limit approaching $1,000 per month for the very fastest Internet access tailored to serve a large company.

Deal with a company that specializes in business cable Internet

While the equivalent of residential Internet access may be appropriate for some small businesses, finding the right high-speed Internet access to serve multiple computers or specific business needs means dealing with a business specialist.
Try: Home cable Internet providers like Cox and Time Warner sport specialized business branches--in this case, Cox Business and Time Warner Cable Business Class, respectively--that tailor their offerings to the business client's needs. You'll often find business Cable Internet access bundled with other business services, with the Internet portion starting as low as $30 per month in some states and topping $100 in others. If you need especially fast Internet access or to provide Internet access to many computers, expect to pay up to five to ten times the cost a smaller business with fewer demands would.

 

• When you're negotiating the pricing and costs of cable Internet access, remember that signing a service or commitment contract--which typically locks you in for anywhere from one to three years--may guarantee you a better monthly rate.

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