Verizon Fios is an internet service provider (ISP) that only offers fiber-optic network connections (the fastest kind available). In fact, ‘Fios’ is an acronym of fiber optic service.

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Verizon Fios (also marketed as ‘Fios by Verizon’) is available in nine U.S. states:

  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • Virginia

Check out our roundup of the Best Business Internet Service Providers

Verizon Fios: Best internet provider for a reliable connection

Verizon Fios is unique for guaranteeing working internet 99.5% of the time. That’s great for small businesses who need a reliable connection, such as:

Businesses using cloud-based software

  • Brick-and-mortar stores with cloud-based point of sale (POS) software
  • Sales companies using cloud customer relationship management systems (CRMs)
  • Projects being coordinated through online management systems like Asana or Trello
  • eCommerce businesses using platforms like Shopify

If any of these cloud-based systems become unavailable it damages operations and costs money. For example, if a shoe store can’t collect customer details in its cloud-based POS because the internet is down, that hurts marketing efforts, putting a dent in future sales.

Companies relying on the internet to communicate

  • Businesses offering customer service via online chat (including online service providers like press release distributors, banks, web hosting services, or even online stores)
  • Companies with multiple locations using email, video chat and conferencing, or internet messaging platforms to coordinate operations across their business
  • Sales and recruitment companies using the internet to make phone and video calls to prospects, clients, and candidates

Spotty internet can cost any of these companies large sums of money. For example, a recruitment company lives or dies based on the relationships it builds with its clients. A missed Skype call with a big client can damage its reputation, cause deals to fall through, and hurt trust.

Businesses providing their core service through the internet

  • Media companies that regularly distribute their products online, such as indie game developers
  • Digital marketing agencies that handle social media and/or online advertising using Facebook, Google, or Twitter
  • Web services companies in areas like web hosting, back-end site management, or web developers

For these companies, the internet is critical; it’s how customers get the product or service they’re paying for. An online ad agency needs a reliable connection to manage its clients’ campaigns. No internet means they can’t do their job, and angry clients wanting compensation.

As Verizon Fios’ Service Legal Agreements (SLAs) for small business services (their 99.5% guarantee) make them liable for dropped internet, they’re incentivized to provide a reliable connection.

Is Verizon Fios internet expensive?

Verizon Fios’ lowest speed plan offers enough speed (75 mbps up, 75 down) for small businesses with five or fewer people. It also costs less than the average monthly fee most small businesses pay ($84.99 versus around $100).

Larger businesses or those needing higher bandwidth will pay more.

As Verizon Fios only offers fiber optic, customers get much faster speeds on average. Better yet, these speeds don’t vary based on things like distance from the ISP or time of day (unlike DSL or cable connections).

This makes Verizon Fios good value for businesses who need a very fast connection, particularly if they need faster upload speeds.

Companies on a tight budget who need faster connection speeds than the Fios internet (75/75 mbps) and Fios internet (150/150 mbps) plans offer might want to try other providers.

Verizon Fios offers a choice between 2-Year Term Packages or No Term Packages, each with different price plans:

2-Year term packages

  • Fios Internet (75/75 mbps) – $84.99/mo first year, $94.99/mo second year – recommended for small businesses with only a few employees
  • Fios Internet (150/150 mbps) – $114.99/mo first year, $124.99/mo second year – provides enough bandwidth for companies with more users and devices
  • Fios Internet (300/300 mbps) – $189.99/mo first year, $199.99/mo second year – for businesses with heavy multimedia needs
  • Fios Internet (500/500 mbps) – $219.99/mo first year, $229.99/mo second year – better for companies with dozens of users performing multiple large file uploads
  • Fios Internet (940/880 mbps) – $219.99/mo first year, $229.99/mo second year – for businesses of up to 100 employees with the most demanding online operations, like running applications in the cloud, using VoIP phone systems, offering CRM services, and large database management or analysis

No term packages

These plans provide identical services as the 2-Year Term Packages, but at different prices and without term duration conditions

  • Fios Internet (75/75 mbps) – $89.99/mo
  • Fios Internet (150/150 mbps) – $119.99/mo
  • Fios Internet (300/300 mbps) – $194.99/mo
  • Fios Internet (500/500 mbps) – $224.99/mo
  • Fios Internet (940/880 mbps) – $219.99/mo first year, $229.99/mo second year – the same price structure as the 2-Year Term Package version

How good is Verizon Fios’ customer service?

Verizon Fios has technical support available over the phone 24/7.

Customer service for non-technical issues only is available between 8am and 6pm EST.

Representatives are polite and knowledgeable. However, some users have reported that their record keeping was an issue and took multiple calls to get their issues fixed.

Because fiber optic takes longer than other kinds of connections to install (unless a location comes pre-wired for it, which is unusual), it’s worth setting aside several hours on set-up day.

Pros of using Verizon Fios

  • Reliable internet backed by a binding guarantee
  • Verizon Fios’ (75/75 mbps) plan is affordable and fast enough for most businesses
  • Extremely fast speeds
  • Technical support available 24/7 via phone

Cons of using Verizon Fios

  • Only available in nine states (including DC)
  • Most plans more expensive than average
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