As a business owner, you probably don't use a free Internet provider as your main Internet service. However, there are still ways you can take advantage of free Internet using many business models. Businesses that have traveling employees or many customers visiting the business have the best chance of using these ideas.

Tips for making the most of free Internet access in your business include:

1. Look for free Internet service providers and Wi-Fi hotspots to save money on Internet costs while traveling;

2. Take advantage of your customers' desire for free Internet by providing free Wi-Fi services;

3. And find ways to make your paid Internet pay for itself by saving money on Internet phone services and other free Internet services.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn the features and limitations of free dial-up Internet

There are only a few national businesses that provide free Internet access. Most of these providers limit the service to personal accounts, so you may only be able to take advantage of this when traveling. If you re-locate, you may find a promotion where you get free or lower-cost fees for the first few months of a paid Internet service. Look for more ways to save by reading about low-cost and free Internet access providers.

I recommend: Find information about free ISPs, including companies that provide free Internet access in local and regional areas, at ISPbargains.com. Read the free Internet access guide at DailyeDeals.com to find specific information about pricing on low-cost Internet and limitations on the free Internet access that is available.

Find Internet access for free via Wi-Fi for business travel

If you travel out of town, look for airports and hotels that offer free Internet, so you can stay connected without paying extra. Some hotels require an Ethernet cable, so bring one along on overnight trips just in case. For local travel, stay connected with Wi-Fi hotspots in local restaurants and coffee shops, using your smart phone or laptop computer.

I recommend: Search by City or State at OpenWiFiSpots and get a list of open Wi-Fi hotspots along with a map showing each location. Click on your state's name or find a list of company names at Wi-Fi-FreeSpot to find a list of Wi-Fi hotspots in your location.

Provide Wi-Fi Internet service for free or for pay on your business premises

Bring in more customers and encourages existing customers to stay longer by providing Wi-Fi services for those who visit your business. Patrons can surf the Net while eating at your restaurant, or use it to pass the time while waiting in your waiting room. Depending on your business model, you can offer this as a free or pay service.

I recommend: Offer your own Wi-Fi service with billing support and roaming using the Boingo platform services. Set up a Wi-Fi hotspot with the management software available from PatronSoft. Learn how to build your own hotspot from CNET.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Think of providers of free Internet service as a way to save money on Internet when out of the office, rather than a substitute to the paid Internet service you have in your office.

In this high-speed world, rare is the business that can thrive without working online. Free Internet access is a great option to explore if you are looking to save a few dollars. With numerous free Internet service providers, you can find free Internet access that can keep your business sailing through cyberspace without taking the shirt off your back.

Here are some important things to consider about free Internet access:

1. Free Internet access is ideal for the home office and for companies with a very small number of employees who work online.

2. Keep in mind that some free Internet service providers may charge for certain services. Be sure to uncover any hidden fees upfront.

3. Free dial up may not be so free if the calls are considered long distance. Brush up on your geography to find out where your dial up is connecting before signing on the dotted line.

4. Free Internet access has the reputation of moving slower than other high speed options such as DSL and cable. If you are going to be online a lot, be prepared to have patience.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Is free Internet access really for you?

Factors such as how many employees you have, what you use the Internet for, and how much time you spend online will determine the minimum connection speed you need to keep your business up and running. Find out if free Internet access is a practical solution for your business needs before you make the next move.

I recommend: I recommend: To help determine your business’s needs, take the Surfers Can Be Choosers Quiz and receive ISP recommendations.

Choose free Internet service providers that work for your business

While free Internet access is not as common as it used to be, there are still some great options out there for small businesses.

I recommend: Check out NetZero, one of the first and still most reliable and respected free Internet service providers. For deals from additional free Internet service providers, visit ISPDiscounts or ISPBargains.

Take advantage of free wireless Internet access

If you have a laptop, look no further than your local coffee shop, lounge or public library for free Internet access. Many of these locations are set up for free wireless Internet access with the intention of drawing customers in. But even if you don't make an expensive purchase, you can still log on and surf the web on their dime. You'll need a laptop that is configured for wireless or equipped with a wireless adapter card.

I recommend: The Wi-Fi FreeSpot Directory offers listings of locations in every state and all over world that offer free wireless Internet access.

Know when free dial up is not the best solution

In the perfect world, everything would be free. But sometimes just because a service comes without a price tag doesn't mean you aren't going to pay the price. If your business depends on an online presence to survive, or if you are constantly checking email, uploading files or updating your website, chances are free Internet access may end up costing more than you think in terms of time.

I recommend: There are many ISPs that offer inexpensive but not quite “free” Internet access. To help make a decision, check out DSL Reports, Verizon, Charter, and AT&T are all popular Internet service providers that will hook you up at a reasonable monthly cost. Or, visit DSL Reports Local Search to find out what's available in your area and read reviews written by actual customers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Free dial up is great for businesses that need email and Internet access, but don't rely on the web to run their day-to-day operations.
• •  Beware of ISPs that try to up-sell you on a faster service, or lure you in with a free Internet access trial only to start charging high rates after a few months.
• •  If you work from home or are constantly on the move with your laptop in tow, take advantage of hotspots that offer free wireless Internet access.
• •  Like everything else in this world, you get what you pay for. Free Internet access will get you online, but don't expect any bells and whistles.

The free Internet service provider is harder to find, but not impossible. Free Internet providers severely limit the services they offer, which may make it insufficient for most users, especially business owners. Take advantage of free Internet access when you are traveling, but pay for broadband access when you are in the office or at home.

The more you know about free Internet access basics, the easier it will be for you to incorporate the service in your business. Most providers include the following limitations:

1. Free dial-up Internet can be found, but it is very rare to find free broadband Internet;

2. The amount of time you connect to the Internet each month is usually limited with Internet for free;

3. And the provider may offer email but limit the amount of storage.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Obtain monthly Internet access for free

A limited number of companies provide Internet access for free, and others provide either low-cost Internet or offer a month or more of service for free when you first sign up for pay service. Most free Internet will include some form of advertising like the commercials on TV, these ads pay for the service and allow the company to offer the service at no charge to the user. Local areas may have small Internet providers who have a free level of service.

I recommend: Get up to 10 hours of free Internet access and email each month with Juno. Surf the net for free for 10 hours each month and get email access with NetZero. Western Washington residents can get free Internet access from NoCharge. DialupForFree.com provides free Internet access compatible with Windows XP, prior versions of Windows and the Mac OS to anyone who already has an email address.

Search for providers of free Internet service in the US

Besides the nationwide companies that offer free Internet, some local areas may have a free Internet provider or several that offer it at very low cost. Search in your local area to find bargains that may not be available in every location.

I recommend: Search by state or telephone area code to find free and low-cost Internet providers in your area at All Free ISP. Browse a list of free and inexpensive Internet providers for each state at Freedomlist.com.

Find Internet access free of charge in other countries

If you plan a trip overseas and need Internet access while you're abroad, search in advance for low-cost or free Internet providers in the area where you will be traveling. Be aware that you may need to bring a phone cord or Ethernet cable with you in order to connect. The providers' websites should be able to help you know what you will need.

I recommend: Click on a country name at EmailAddresses.com to see a list of free Internet access providers in that country. Choose from a huge list of countries listed at free-internet.name that have free Internet service providers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you have dial-up Internet service at no cost and find it's slow or you get a busy signal during prime time, access it at other times when there are less users trying to access the network.

Access to the Internet is something that many of us believe should be free -- but others argue that because of the cost of maintaining networks, that's not going to be feasible. Either way, knowing about some of the basic terms for getting "free" Internet access can help businesses and individuals learn about the progress being made with free networks, as well as some of the dangers of using a "free" Internet connection.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Wi-fi free spots

Wi-fi free spots refers to places where a free public wi-fi connection gets set up by managers, business owners or others. Often, a retail or private sector free spot is meant to entice laptop workers or others to use the free Internet service while ordering drinks or food.

I recommend: Find more on wi-fi free spots at this Wi-Fi Free Spot Directory site.

Wi-fi city

Some use the term 'wi-fi city' for beginning efforts to provide free city-wide wi-fi services. Some cities may consider offering this kind of service; others prefer to attach a fee to the citywide use of these programs.

I recommend: Read up on wi-fi city at this page from Wired.

Electronmagnetic hypersensitivity

Among the factors holding back more aggressive promotion of large free wi-fi networks is the idea that all of the microwaves could be adding up to a hazardous potential. Some individuals who have 'electronmagnetic hypersensitivity' could be adversely affected.

I recommend: See more on this at Psychosomatic Medicine. Also see the Institute of Science in Society.

Free ISPs

An ISP or Internet Service Provider usually charges for services, but some do not. These are called 'free ISPs' and they get a lot of 'customers.'

I recommend: Find out more about free ISPs and check out contrasting prices at DailyEDeals.

Unencrypted networks

Another way to get free wi-fi access is through one of these networks. An unencrypted network is simply one where the owner has not walled off a connection with a security password or key. Other users cannot 'see into' an unencrypted network. However, they can connect to it with their own computers and use it for anything they would use a purchased connection for.

I recommend: See more on unencrypted networks and the ethics around them at the IT Toolbox blog. Check out this page by CipherOptics on the necessity for using encrypted networks.

Phishers

One of the biggest dangers in free Internet access is that any data going through an unprotected network is not secure from outside hacking. That means that if you connect to a network that you know nothing about, it could have been set up just to funnel user info (such as credit card numbers) to phishers.

I recommend: This article from FightIdentityTheft says it all: news items like this lay out the reality about "free" airport networks, where so much of public use is vulnerable to phishers.