Whether you are starting a career as a freelance writer or graphic designer or you are building a business that offers products or services, working from a home office offers many benefits. Becoming part of the 3.9 million Americans who work at least half of the week from their home office requires some preparation. Not only will you need a designated space to work effectively and efficiently, but you will also need proper internet service to conduct research, send emails, process invoices, and market your services or business. When shopping for the right ISP, make sure to consider these factors.

Connection

One of the first things you need to decide is how you want to connect to the internet. 

If you are working for a specific company, you may need to ask what type of internet connection they require. For example, some positions will require a hard-wired connection. If you need to be on the phone or computer constantly to handle calls and chats and to send emails, a wireless connection may not be able to support this constant internet usage.

Having the best of both worlds is ideal when working from home. Then, you will become mobile inside your home. You can enjoy working from a desktop computer in your home office or use your laptop or tablet in a different area of your home. A wireless connection can also allow you the opportunity to work in your outdoor living space, enjoying the outdoors while getting your daily tasks done.

The overall connection matters, but the type of connection is also important. High speed or broadband is standard with most internet service providers. However, a faster connection via fiber optic connections may be available in your area.

Speed

Knowing how much speed you need for your work can be difficult. One myth you may believe is that more is better, but that is not always true, especially since a faster speed will cost you more.

Remember that the more devices that are connected to your internet connection, the slower your speed will be. If you have family members streaming videos or playing online games while you are working, you will have a decreased speed.

Asking your family members to avoid using the internet while you are working is helpful, but you should also invest in a speed that offers enough Mbps to accommodate your work and household needs.

The total speed you need will also depend on how you use the internet for work. If you will just need internet to send and receive emails or for basic internet browsing, a download speed of 2 Mbps may be sufficient.

For creating or streaming high-definition videos, a faster speed is ideal. Also, for heavy use of the internet, consider speeds of 10 Mbps or higher.

Security

Finally, you need to consider your security needs when choosing an ISP for working from home. No matter what type of freelancing or business you work in, you will have private information stored or entered on your computer. From saving private client information to logging into your bank account or credit card account, this information can be stolen and shared across the internet if you do not have proper security.

Make sure your internet service provider allows you to encrypt your wireless connection. This will prevent people from accessing your network, using the connection you pay for, and stealing your personal and business information.

A great internet service provider can make or break your ability to work from home. This guide will help you find the best ISP so you can work from home with ease. Contact internet providers in your area to learn more.