Sort out broadband and phone
There is no legal requirement here — this is a practical launch-week trap, not a compliance item.
There is no legal requirement here — this is a practical launch-week trap, not a compliance item. Your card machine, EPOS, bookings system and Wi-Fi all need a working connection, and business-grade lines take longer to install than home broadband, especially if the unit has never had a line before.
A new-build or converted unit can take several weeks to get a first connection, and that timeline is outside your control once ordered. If you leave it until fit-out is finished, you risk opening without a working card machine or bookings system.
General guidance on choosing and switching business connectivity — not a booking service.
Who this is for
Every venue — even a cash-only bar needs a connection for EPOS, supplier ordering or basic admin.
None — this is about picking a supplier and lead time, not meeting a threshold.
What you’ll hold
- Line/broadband order confirmation with the connection date
Watch out for
- Ordering broadband only after the fit-out is finished, then finding a new line takes weeks longer than expected.
- Relying on a single 4G/5G hotspot as backup with no fallback if it drops mid-service on card payments.
- Not confirming mobile signal strength in the unit — some basements and thick-walled listed buildings have poor reception, which matters if card connectivity depends on it.
Sources
- Ofcom — Advice for businesses checked 2026-09-02
See also
This is item 6 of 66 in the free UK Launch Checklist. See the whole list →