Want To Help Small Businesses Grow? Empower Them With SmartBiz and CommandWorx

Small businesses face unique challenges—limited time, minimal IT expertise, and heightened vulnerability to cyber threats. They don’t just need a service provider; they need a trusted advisor who understands their business reality and delivers solutions that work. What they want is simple: reliable connectivity that just works, while keeping their data and their patrons' data safe and secure. Also, it can be quickly fixed when needed and offers simple tools for visibility and control. Connectivity shouldn’t be another stressor on their already full plate—it should be one less thing to worry about.
 

Until recently, small business connectivity options were limited: rebranded residential plans that lacked business-grade functionality, or complex enterprise solutions designed for corporate IT teams. Neither fit the everyday realities of a café, veterinary clinic, or auto repair shop. For BSPs, this also meant high-cost, low-margin support for a segment hungry for better service—but historically hard to scale. Marketers have a unique opportunity to flip the script—offering a premium experience through a purpose-built, scalable solution with robust self-service options that reduce operational overhead and meet small business needs head-on.

Empower Small Businesses To Take Control

As a broadband marketer, you play a critical role in helping small businesses stay safe, secure, and always connected. With Calix SmartBiz™ and the intuitive CommandWorx app, you’re delivering more than connectivity—you’re providing elevated value through built-in cybersecurity, guest Wi-Fi, and network resiliency. Business owners gain the ability to easily make changes and manage their network while maintaining full oversight, even when they’re not in the location. SmartBiz isn’t just a product—it’s a purpose-built small business connectivity solution that empowers small businesses to focus on maximizing productivity and growing their business, without worrying about their network.
 

Here’s how you can set your small business customers up for success:

• Make their experience effortless. Small businesses want reliable connectivity and control—but they don’t have time to figure it out on their own. That’s why broadband services providers (BSPs) like DirectLink include a hands-on walkthrough of the CommandWorx app as part of every small business install. DirectLink makes this a brand moment—delivering a white-glove install experience paired with a guided CommandWorx walkthrough. It delivers a high-touch experience—designed and deployed with care—without placing extra burden on the business owner. From customizing guest Wi-Fi to managing staff access and resetting passwords, business owners learn how to take control from day one—with no technical background needed. It’s a simple step that earns trust and sets the stage for long-term satisfaction. That small up-front investment in onboarding builds confidence, reduces follow-up calls, and turns first-time users into long-term customers.
  
  
• Help them build customer loyalty. Offering reliable Wi-Fi isn’t just a service; it’s a strategy. SmartBiz and CommandWorx makes it easy for small businesses to provide secure guest access with a Wi-Fi portal that puts their brand front and center. Small business owners can easily customize and update their splash page directly in the app, allowing them to capture customer contact information for future marketing or highlight new deals or unique offers. The result? Longer visits, repeat business, and stronger brand loyalty. Whether it’s a local coffee shop, a spa with a relaxation lounge, or a car dealership with a customer waiting area, you’re helping businesses create experiences that keep people coming back. With outdoor mesh options, even patios and lounges become branded, connected extensions of the in-store experience.
  
  
• Put them in control, anytime, anywhere. Business owners are constantly on the move. With CommandWorx, they can manage their network—update passwords, add devices, or provide access—anytime, from anywhere. VNET Fiber uses this flexibility to give their customers more autonomy while reducing support calls. It’s a win-win: business owners stay focused on what they do best, while providers can scale small business support more efficiently. And with fewer support calls and management through the same platform as their residential subscribers, providers like VNET Fiber are saving time and scaling their small business efforts—without needing increased support resources.
  
  
• Deliver tailored experiences for every business. Every small business is different, and their network needs to reflect that. For instance, a town hall office may restrict staff access to applications such as TikTok or YouTube while keeping business systems safe and secure on their own network, whereas a winery might require an isolated network dedicated to their point of sale machines and robust outdoor Wi-Fi through a secure captive portal for guests enjoying the patio. With CommandWorx, business owners can configure their networks to match the way they work and the experience they desire—giving them more control, better security, and a better experience for their customers. The best part? It all happens through one, intuitive app—with no IT staff required.

Whatever the business model, SmartBiz and CommandWorx adapts to it. And with support from market activation tools from Calix, BSPs can position that flexibility as a competitive advantage.

More Than Internet: A Scalable Strategy for Growth

SmartBiz with CommandWorx is how BSPs deliver a premium, scalable solution tailored to the realities of small business.  Offering SmartBiz with CommandWorx means more than just fast internet—you’re giving small businesses the tools to stay secure, compete and grow. And for BSPs, the powerful self-service capabilities available to subscribers make serving the small business segment more scalable, without the need for specialized support teams.
 

It’s part of the broader SmartLife movement—built to provide control, flexibility, and confidence through robust self-service tools. When you empower your customers with visibility into their network, the ability to make adjustments easily, and the peace of mind that comes with built-in security and resiliency, you’re not just offering a service—you’re building a lasting partnership.
 

Ready to deliver premium experiences and grow loyalty? Let’s activate your small business strategy together.