How to Set Up a Hot Spot for Your Business

What is a business internet hot spot?

A business internet hot spot is a router that allows a business to connect multiple devices to the web. These portable Wi-Fi devices offer a quick, secure connection wherever the hot spot is located — whether it’s a home office, a brick-and-mortar store, a customer location or even on the go. A hot spot can be especially useful for fully mobile businesses that don’t have a traditional internet setup, such as food trucks, pop-up shops and construction sites. [Read related: Hot Spot vs. Satellite Internet]

A portable business internet hot spot is distinct from phone tethering, which is the process of sharing a mobile device’s internet connection with another device. Although phone tethering is a viable solution for connecting a single device, a business internet hot spot is necessary to connect multiple devices to the same network.

How do business internet hot spots work?

A business hot spot works similarly to a standard home or business Wi-Fi connection. The hot spot serves as an internet-enabled wireless access point, which communicates with devices using radio signals. (Signals are transmitted in a standardized manner.) The access point is typically connected to a router or server that controls who can access the network.

Businesses can enjoy a variety of hot spot options that match their connectivity needs. Although a 4G LTE connection is most common (with 3G for backup), an increasing number of devices now offer a 5G connection.

Two popular options are mobile hot spot routers and compact routers. A mobile hot spot router typically boasts higher connection speeds and longer battery life than compact routers do. Conversely, compact routers are a more affordable choice that still offers strong connectivity and enough battery life to last through the workday.

How do you set up a hot spot for your business?

If you’re planning to set up a business internet hot spot, keep these four best practices in mind to ensure a smooth and safe rollout.

1. Define the goals of the hot spot.

First, you must understand how your hot spot will be used. Consider how many people will be accessing the hot spot at one time, how long they will use it, and what kinds of activities they’ll need to conduct. This will depend largely on your business’s needs, your customer base and your type of business. For example, a quick email check requires less data than a video streaming session.

2. Choose the right equipment.

The right equipment is critical to ensure that both customers and employees can successfully connect to the hot spot. High-quality hardware and sufficient bandwidth will go a long way in the functionality of your business hot spot. If you plan to offer free Wi-Fi to your customers, look for a wireless router that can accommodate guest access.

“Make sure to use a business-class router and switch, as they will allow you to create both the public network for your customers but also set it up as an independent network separate from your business-critical network,” said Steve Panaghi, program manager at A Place for Mom. “This is very important, as you don’t want to use the same Wi-Fi network for both guests and your business.”

3. Secure the network.

Bjørn Ekeberg, chief executive officer of Recharge Health, said security is the top factor to consider when you set up Wi-Fi access for your guests. “If your business becomes the target of a data breach, the ramifications and costs of that can put you out of business,” Ekeberg noted.

At a minimum, you should set up a guest network and encrypt it with Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) or Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2). For additional security, you can turn off the SSID broadcast on the private network, which hides it from visitors’ lists of available networks.

It’s imperative to find the best internet provider that will help you secure your network. Do your research, and choose a plan that meets your needs. 

“When getting your guest hot spot set up through a service provider, consider asking the installer to block specific ports on the guest network to prevent things like torrenting,” Ekeberg said. “Torrenting can bring your hot spot to a crawl in speed, and certain ports can open you up to security exploits.”

Setting a connection time-out can also limit the impact of any unauthorized connections. “This helps to prevent any [hidden] devices from snooping on the network for longer than the time-out,” Panaghi said.

4. Make the network readily accessible to customers.

Once you’ve set up your business hot spot, advertise it to your customers by providing them with the network name and password. Ekeberg suggested clearly posting the name of your network with hot spot availability in various spots throughout your establishment. This not only encourages guests to use the network but prevents them from inadvertently logging in to another network with a similar name.

Although your network name should be open knowledge, the associated password should not be. Consider providing the Wi-Fi password only to customers who make a purchase, as this will increase the security and keep noncustomers from bogging down your internet speeds. One easy way to do this is to include your Wi-Fi password at the bottom of receipts or any other printouts the customer may receive. Another best practice is to change your guest business hot spot password regularly, especially if you are not going through an internet service provider. 

>> Learn More: Business DSL vs. Cable Internet

What are the benefits of internet hot spots for businesses? 

Internet hot spots offer various benefits for both customers and business owners. Here are some of the advantages.

Hot spots allow you to use multiple devices.

Compared with phone tethering, a mobile business hot spot allows more devices to be connected at once — a necessity if you plan to offer Wi-Fi to your guests. It also offers a faster and stronger connection with higher data limits than a tethered phone connection does.

Hot spots enhance the customer experience.

Guests tend to enjoy using a secure, branded internet connection while patronizing a store. Depending on your type of business, they may even expect it. Free Wi-Fi not only improves the customer experience but may also lead them to spend more time on your premises (and potentially buy more in that time). This is an especially important consideration with the rise of remote work, as it allows customers to work in public spaces such as restaurants and cafés.

It provides a safe and reliable connection for work devices.

For entrepreneurs, a business hot spot ensures that all work devices have a safe and reliable internet connection for daily operations. You can monitor and manage your company’s network in various ways, such as by filtering web content, pulling usage reports, and customizing your network name and login page. Many business hot spots also enable separate business and customer network access, which allows everyone to access the internet without compromising security.

Kimberlee Leonard contributed to this article. Source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.