How to Read a Business Internet Quote (Line by Line)

Two quotes for "100 Mbps" can differ by hundreds of dollars a month and thousands over the contract — not because one carrier is ripping you off, but because the quotes describe different things. The only way to compare fairly is to understand what each line actually means. Here's a field guide.

Monthly Recurring Charge (MRC)

The MRC is the headline number — what you pay every month for the circuit. But always check what it includes: Is the router/CPE bundled or extra? Is it a promotional rate that jumps after 12 months? Is it for the bandwidth tier you actually need, or a smaller one to make the quote look competitive? Compare MRCs only after confirming the speed, term, and equipment match.

Non-Recurring Charge (NRC)

This is the one-time cost — installation, activation, and any construction. On standard lit buildings the NRC is often waived. But if fiber has to be built to your suite, construction costs can run into the thousands. A quote with a low MRC and a buried five-figure NRC is not the deal it looks like.

Contract Term

Most business internet is sold on 12-, 24-, or 36-month terms. Longer terms usually lower the MRC, but they lock you in. Always confirm the term that the quoted price assumes — a great 36-month rate isn't comparable to a 12-month one.

Early Termination Fee (ETF)

If you leave before the term ends, the ETF is what you owe — often a large percentage of the remaining monthly charges. This matters most if you might move offices or your needs could change. Ask for the exact ETF formula before signing.

CIR and "Up To" Speeds

This is the big one for comparing quality. Committed Information Rate (CIR) is bandwidth the carrier guarantees you'll always get. "Up to" or "best-effort" speeds are shared and not guaranteed. A 100 Mbps dedicated circuit with full CIR is a different — and more expensive — product than a 100 Mbps best-effort broadband plan. Read more in our guide to dedicated internet access.

The SLA

The Service Level Agreement defines uptime guarantees, latency targets, mean-time-to-repair, and the service credits you receive if the carrier misses them. A circuit with a real SLA is worth more than one without. If two quotes look similar but only one has a meaningful SLA, they aren't equivalent.

Equipment and Managed Services

Check whether the router, firewall, or managed Wi-Fi is included, rented, or your responsibility. "Free" equipment is sometimes folded into a higher MRC over the term. And confirm whether the carrier manages the device or simply hands it off.

Putting It Together

To compare two quotes apples-to-apples, line them up on: speed and CIR, term, MRC, NRC, ETF, SLA, and equipment. Only when all of those match can you say one is genuinely cheaper. That's exactly the comparison a broker runs for you — across many carriers at once.