The short answer
If you work from home for an employer, a normal home (residential) broadband contract is often all you need, though it's worth checking your provider's usage rules (see below). If you run your own business from home, look closer: some home terms restrict business use, and a business contract offers things like written repair targets, a fixed internet address and back-up connections, but with fewer of the protections home customers get.
Speed is rarely the deciding factor. What matters is whether your provider's home terms allow what you're doing, how long you could cope offline, whether anything needs to connect into your network, and which protections you'd rather keep.
We checked these rules against the latest available Ofcom and provider pages in October 2026, and say where a page is older. This isn't legal or tax advice.
Working for someone else or running your own business?
Working from home for an employer. Of the two home broadband acceptable use policies (AUPs, the provider's rules for using the service) we read, Virgin Media's bans trade or business use of a home service but makes an exception for remote access to your employer's corporate network. Vodafone's says its service is for personal consumer purposes and doesn't mention working for an employer, so don't assume every provider takes Virgin Media's line. After that, the real questions are connection quality and your desk set-up, which our guide to broadband for working from home covers in detail.
Running your own business from home. You might be a sole trader, a freelancer or the director of a small limited company. Here the AUP matters more, because some home contracts say the service is for personal use.
Are you still a consumer?
Under section 2 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a consumer is an individual acting for purposes that are wholly or mainly outside their trade, business, craft or profession. If a trader says someone wasn't acting as a consumer, it's up to the trader to prove it.
So a household that does some freelance work may still be acting mainly as a consumer. That's the general legal test, not a promise about how a provider will treat you: Ofcom's rules are organised by type of customer, and whether you're a home or business customer depends on the product you buy. The Act's definition is about individuals, so it won't usually help a contract in a limited company's name.
What home broadband terms say about business use
Most providers publish an AUP or similar usage rules alongside their terms. The two we read take different approaches.
Virgin Media: business use needs a business product
Virgin Media's AUP prohibits "trade or business use of our services" (apart from remote access to an employer's network) unless you're on a product specifically stated as a business product. It points residential customers who want business use to Virgin Media Business, and says it isn't liable for any loss from such use. The same policy also:
- bans selling on (reselling) its services;
- says anyone running servers must secure them against abuse and is wholly responsible for their traffic.
Vodafone: personal use, with a business clause that's unclear for home plans
Vodafone's broadband AUP (the version we read says "Updated: 11 January 2018") says you must use its services "for private, personal, and legitimate consumer purposes only", and that not doing so may lead to the service being restricted or lost. As the account holder, you're responsible for how anyone at your property uses it. Reselling is banned.
Clause 7.4 adds that if you have purchased the service for your business and have confirmed this to Vodafone, your use of it on a commercial basis is authorised. The clause doesn't say whether that covers someone on a home (consumer) plan who simply tells Vodafone they work from it, or whether it's aimed at customers who bought the service as a business. Given the policy's age and that uncertainty, ask Vodafone in writing before relying on a home plan for business use, and keep the reply.
Everyone else: how to check your own provider
We haven't verified the business-use wording for every provider, so don't read the two examples above as a rule for the market. To check yours:
- Find the provider's acceptable use policy and residential terms (search its site for "acceptable use"), and note the date on them.
- Look for words such as personal, private, consumer, trade, business, commercial, resell and servers.
- Check for an exception for remote employees, and whether telling the provider about business use changes anything.
- If the wording is unclear, ask the provider in writing, and keep the reply.
Letting a property to paying guests raises the same questions; our guide to broadband for a second or holiday home covers the practical side.
What business broadband typically adds
BT Business sums up the difference this way: compared with residential broadband, business internet typically comes with more features, such as guarantees about performance and added security. Taking BT's own business range as an example (checked October 2026):
- business broadband includes a minimum speed guarantee, Guest Wi-Fi and Content Controls;
- a static IP address and 4G back-up "in case your broadband ever drops" are add-ons;
- BT says its support team is there to help "within seven working hours";
Other big names sell business broadband separately from their home deals: Virgin Media through Virgin Media Business, and Three with a business service that needs no landline or engineer visit.
Repair promises (SLAs)
An SLA (service level agreement) is a written promise about the level of service. It might be a repair target, an availability figure (BT's separate dedicated internet access product advertises a 100% availability SLA) or how quickly the provider will respond, so check which you're being offered. A repair-time promise is the main thing most home contracts lack. Ofcom's rules require providers to publish SLA details in their standard contracts for businesses with fewer than 250 employees and give them to you free, in a durable form (one you can keep), so ask for the document before you commit.
A static IP address
Your IP address is your connection's address on the internet. Some providers use CGNAT (carrier-grade network address translation), which shares one public IPv4 address between many customers. ISPreview, the UK broadband news site, says it can cause problems for some IT uses and that providers rarely publicise it.
You're most likely to need a static IP (a fixed address that's yours alone) if something outside your home has to connect in: remote access to an office machine, a server, or a supplier's system that only accepts approved addresses. Our guide to CGNAT, static IP and IPv6 explains how to check.
Repair times explained: care levels and the repair clock
On Openreach's network, how quickly a fault is fixed depends partly on the care level (also called a service maintenance level) that your provider buys for your line. Back in January 2021, ISPreview reported that most consumer broadband on Openreach tended to come with one of the two lowest levels (a fix aimed for by the end of the next day or the day after), while better business packages often used higher ones, up to a 6-hour target. Treat that as background: it's five years old, and the names VoiceHost uses today are different.
VoiceHost, a business internet provider, describes the Openreach-based options it can supply today as Standard Care, with a 40 clock-hour target; Enhanced Care, 20 hours, 24/7; and Critical Care, 7 hours, 24/7. It says CityFibre's standard target is the end of the next working day, with an eight-business-hour target on eligible business services.
Before paying for faster repairs, note three points from VoiceHost's explanation:
- The clock usually starts when the network accepts the fault, not when you first call, and it can pause for things like missed appointments, no access or a cause on your side.
- Higher care normally has to be ordered before a fault happens.
- It's a target, not a guarantee. ISPreview makes the same point. VoiceHost adds that service credits are not automatic: any credit depends on the service agreement's eligibility rules, claim process and limits.
VoiceHost's own advice is blunt: a business that can't tolerate an outage shouldn't rely on a single connection, whatever its care level. Its suggestions include a second line on a different network and automatic 4G or 5G failover.
For comparison, on a home contract with a provider in Ofcom's automatic compensation scheme, compensation starts if a loss of service isn't fixed after two full working days. That's money for the delay, not a faster repair.
The middle ground: home plans with business-style features
You don't always have to choose between a basic home package and a business line. Several home providers sell business-style features (checked October 2026 unless stated; confirm before you order):
Provider | What it offers home customers |
|---|---|
Home Worker 900 plans with a "1 working day SLA", which Hey describes as a guaranteed response to technical issues within one working day (not a fix time); Home Worker Pro 900 adds one static IP | |
A static IP included with every full fibre package | |
A static IP listed on every package card (four packages) | |
A static IP on request, per its April 2026 help page; in September 2026 some customers were told otherwise (see below), so confirm first | |
A static IP on request by emailing support | |
One static IP available as an add-on on residential service | |
CG-NAT as standard; a static IPv4 address as a paid monthly rolling add-on (not on toob essentials) |
One caution: in September 2026, ISPreview reported that some former Cuckoo customers moved to Onestream lost their static IPs and were put behind CGNAT, and one was told "we do not currently offer IP addresses without CGNAT". Onestream later said a product update had affected 88 customers and that it expected to restore service. If a fixed address is critical, ask how it's provided and what happens if it changes.
Mobile back-up, which BT also sells as a business add-on, is available on some home packages too (see our guide to back-up broadband connections):
- Vodafone Pro 2 and Pro 3 include a 4G back-up dongle with 100GB of data a month that takes over if the fixed line fails.
- BT's Hybrid Connect switches to a mobile connection if your broadband goes down.
- EE lists 4G Connectivity Backup as an optional extra.
A reality check on speed
Microsoft recommends about 2.5Mbps up and 4Mbps down for each person in a Teams video meeting. Add up what everyone does at once, check upload as well as download, and see our fibre broadband deals for what's available at your address.
Your protections on a home broadband contract
Know what you'd be giving up before you move to a business contract.
Automatic compensation. Providers in Ofcom's scheme pay set amounts without you having to claim: BT, EE, Hyperoptic, Plusnet, Sky (including NOW Broadband), TalkTalk (with restrictions off the Openreach network), Utility Warehouse, Virgin Media, Vodafone and Zen. Ofcom describes the scheme as covering residential fixed broadband and landline products. The amounts from Ofcom's July 2026 update (they rise with inflation each year):
- £10.34 for each calendar day a lost service isn't repaired after two full working days;
- £32.31 for each missed engineer appointment, including one cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice;
- £6.46 for each calendar day a new service starts late.
You must report the fault, nothing is paid if equipment or activity in your home caused it or you delayed the repair, and payment is normally a bill credit within 30 calendar days. Our guide to broadband automatic compensation has the details.
Cooling-off period. Citizens Advice says you can usually cancel free within 14 days if you signed up by phone or online (you may pay for service already used), with no legal cooling-off right if you signed up in person. Strictly, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 also cover service contracts made away from the trader's premises, such as one signed at home with a salesperson, so it's sign-ups in a shop that miss out. These rights only protect consumers, so don't expect them on a business contract. Our broadband cooling-off period guide explains how to cancel in time.
Speed guarantees. Providers that have signed Ofcom's voluntary speeds code must give you a busy-time speed estimate and a minimum guaranteed speed before you buy (busy times are 8pm to 10pm for home services, 12pm to 2pm for business). See our minimum speed guarantee guide.
Complaints. If a complaint isn't resolved after six weeks, or you get a deadlock letter (the provider's written statement that it won't do any more), you can take it to a free alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme.
Your protections on a business contract
Ofcom's General Conditions, its rules for phone and broadband providers, protect business customers in tiers by size. Ofcom's summary of them (last updated January 2025) sets them out like this, and says the full text decides the exact scope:
Who | Main protections |
|---|---|
All business customers | At least one 12-month contract option for each service; a month's notice of any change not to your benefit, with the right to leave without a penalty; end-of-contract and annual best tariff notifications; accurate billing; proportionate steps if you have trouble paying; switching protections (below) |
Small and medium businesses (fewer than 250 employees) | Published details of any SLAs and service level guarantees in standard contracts, given to you free in a durable form when you sign |
Businesses with 10 or fewer employees | Key contract information and a short contract summary before you're bound; no phone or broadband commitment longer than 24 months; your consent before a contract renews at the end of its commitment period; no extension of the contract when you add services or equipment unless you agree; being told the technology behind your broadband; an alert when an allowance is used up; a complaints code that meets Ofcom's standards and access to a free ADR scheme |
The free ADR schemes (CISAS or the Communications Ombudsman) also cover not-for-profits with up to 10 workers. Our contract summary guide explains what that document should show.
Switching protections apply to all business customers. The switch should happen on the date you ask for where technically possible, any loss of service should last no more than one working day, the new provider mustn't switch you without your express consent, and you should get compensation if the switching rules are broken. You can take your phone number with you, without a direct charge, for at least a month after you switch. If customers know your number, see our guide to keeping your landline number when you switch.
Automatic compensation and business lines
Ofcom describes automatic compensation as covering residential products, so don't assume a business contract qualifies. On a business line, what you get for a slow repair depends mainly on the SLA. As VoiceHost puts it, service credits are not automatic: any credit depends on the agreement's eligibility rules, claim process and financial limits, so read those parts before you sign.
The SLA isn't your only protection, though: the rights in the table above, such as switching compensation and leaving penalty-free after a change that isn't to your benefit, still apply.
How to decide: a checklist
- Who is the customer? You as an individual, or your company? Are you running the business or an employee working remotely?
- Does the home contract allow your use? Read the provider's AUP. If it rules business use out, look at a business product. If it seems to allow business use once you've told the provider, ask them in writing to confirm that applies to your plan, and keep the reply.
- How long could you cope offline? If a day or two offline is an inconvenience, a home plan with mobile back-up may do. If an hour offline loses you sales, compare business SLAs, and have a back-up either way.
- Does anything need to connect in? Remote access, servers or address-restricted systems point to a static IP; check for CGNAT.
- What contract length suits you? Every business customer is entitled to a 12-month option, and firms with 10 or fewer employees can't be tied in for more than 24 months.
- Which protections would you give up? On a business contract, slow-repair remedies depend mainly on the SLA rather than automatic compensation, consumer cooling-off rights don't apply, and firms with more than 10 employees miss out on some protections in the table.
- Is your phone number part of the business? Plan the number port before you switch.
Questions to ask a business provider before you sign
If a business line is right for you, get answers to these in writing first:
- Can I have the SLA document for this product?
- What repair target applies, which care level is it on the underlying network, and when does the clock start?
- What do I get if a target is missed: a service credit, a refund, or the right to leave?
- Is a static IP included, and is the connection behind CGNAT without it?
- Is there a 4G or 5G back-up that switches over automatically?
- What are your support hours, and what's the minimum term?
Using our comparison
The comparison on our broadband deals pages is run by a partner and shows live home broadband deals for your postcode, not business lines. We don't switch you ourselves: you choose a deal and order from the provider. If a home plan fits, compare what's available at your address or browse our broadband providers, then check the AUP and contract summary before ordering. For a business line, go to the provider's business arm.
To see how your current connection copes, run our broadband speed test from a computer plugged into the router, at the times of day you work.
Home or business broadband FAQs
Can I use home broadband to run a business?
It depends on your provider's acceptable use policy. Virgin Media's bans trade or business use on home products, except remote access to an employer's network. Vodafone's says commercial use is authorised if you bought the service for your business and confirmed this to Vodafone, but it's unclear whether that covers a home plan, and the policy dates from 2018. Read your own provider's policy and, if it's unclear, ask in writing before you rely on it.
What is a broadband SLA and do home plans have one?
An SLA (service level agreement) is a written promise about the level of service, such as a repair target or how quickly the provider will respond. They're standard on business broadband and rare on home plans. Hey!Broadband's Home Worker 900 plans come with what Hey calls a "1 working day SLA": a guaranteed response to technical issues within one working day, not a guaranteed fix time. Home customers with providers in Ofcom's scheme get automatic compensation for slow repairs instead.
Does automatic compensation apply to business broadband?
Don't assume it does. Ofcom describes its automatic compensation scheme as covering residential broadband and landline products. On a business contract, what you get for a slow repair or missed appointment depends mainly on the contract's SLA, so ask for the SLA document before you sign and check what happens when a target is missed.
Am I still a consumer if I'm a sole trader using broadband for work and family?
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a consumer is an individual acting for purposes wholly or mainly outside their trade or business, and a trader who disputes that must prove it. Mixed household and freelance use may still count as mainly consumer use, but whether you're on a home or business product depends on what you buy and the provider's terms, so check them and ask in writing.
Is business broadband faster than home broadband?
Not necessarily. Business broadband mostly adds repair promises, support, static IPs and back-up options rather than extra speed, and BT's business range adds a minimum speed guarantee. Everyday work tools need less than people expect: Microsoft recommends about 4Mbps down and 2.5Mbps up for a Teams video meeting. Check upload as well as download.
