Small business owners’ optimism touched a 35-year high last month, with businesses setting records in terms of job creation and hiring, while also being able to increase prices.

​In July, the NFIB’s Small Business Optimism Index marked its second highest level in the survey’s 45-year history, at 107.9 – just shy of the July 1983 record-high of 108.
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• 23 percent of businesses are planning to create new jobs, while 37 percent of business owners said they had job openings that they could not fill in July.
• 35 percent of owners expect better business conditions, while they said the availability of qualified workers was their No. 1 problem.
• 59 percent of firms were hiring or trying to hire, while 52 percent (88 percent of those hiring or trying to hire) reported few or no qualified applicants for the positions they were trying to fill.
• Twenty-three percent of owners said their biggest business problem was finding qualified workers.

Are you starting a business? Find out if you're using the right telecommunications systems by connecting with a broker. 

​Whether your company is B2B or B2C, 10 employees or 1,000, communication is an essential component to your success. That’s why it’s important to carefully consider your decision to choose a new business phone system.

There are three main types of systems:

Private Branch Exchange (PBX): these systems operate through phone lines, but because digital technology has almost completely replaced analog, PBX isn’t available to companies that don’t already have a system in place.

Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange (IP-PBX): this system switches calls between Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP or IP) users on local lines, while allowing all users to share a certain number of external phone lines.

​Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP): VoIP connects calls via the internet through a browser on your computer. Because it’s a softphone, VoIP eliminates the need for traditional or SIP phones.

​Each of these options provide pros and cons, which you can learn more about by downloading the Simplified guide to business phone systems here. 

Most mobile consumers today use 3G or 4G/LTE networks. Introduced to the public in 2001, 3G ushered in the smartphone era, while 4G/LTE, introduced in 2009, provided the high-speed connections that make it possible to stream high-definition video on our phones. The next generation, 5G, is expected to be available through some carriers as early as late 2018, with expanded access expected in 2019.
5G is projected to bring three main benefits:
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• Faster speed: Data transfer speeds are projected to be about 10 times higher with 5G than is possible with 4G.

• Shorter delays: 5G should reduce the brief lag time from when data is sent to when it is received (known as latency), making it possible to watch high-speed virtual reality video, among other things, with no delays or glitches.

• Increased connectivity: Cell towers equipped with 5G technology would have greatly increased capacity over 4G/LTE, which means more people — and more devices — should be able to communicate at the same time.

Losing internet connection can be a disaster for any business. Comcast Business now offers Connection Pro, which is an internet add-on for small-to-medium sized businesses that keeps business functions going during outages caused by power failure or network disruption. In any catastrophe, the Connection Pro will keep your business working for up to eight hours.
Comcast Business Connection Pro gives small businesses the peace of mind that they’ll stay connected and keep their business moving forward.

KEY BENEFITS

• Automatic Connection: 4G wireless automatic internet backup connection for complete reliability with no data usage limit!
• 8-Hour Backup Battery: Backup battery provides up to eight hours of power.
• Low Cost: Small Business owners can avoid costly disruptions to their operations for $29.99 a month (plus equipment).

​Interested in adding Connection Pro to your business? Connect with a broker and we will help negotiate the best contract for you.