What Is A Virtual Office

Digital technology and the internet have transformed business in many ways. And among the greatest beneficiaries of this revolution are entrepreneurs. It's never been easier to start a new business – not least because of the phenomenon of the virtual office.

### Working from home

Running your business from home can eliminate what used to be one of the largest overheads of starting up a company – rental fees for a separate business premises. And thanks to the internet, it’s easy to stay in touch with clients and customers, keep in control of your finances and even have business conferences from any corner of your home – so you also save on travel and commuting expenses.

The reduction of costs isn’t the only advantage – working this way offers the kind of flexibility that’s especially advantageous when launching a business; you don’t have to stick rigidly to a nine-to-five working pattern. That also means you’re open all hours for contacts overseas.

You can even hire employees who also work for home and easily keep in touch via a combination of the telephone, email and communication tools such as Skype.

So while all this is viable, what about your credibility as a company when it comes to your business address, dealing with enquiries or when you need to hold meetings in person? That’s where the concept of virtual office space comes in.

### Virtual office space

You can hire virtual office space for a fraction of the cost of a traditional office. These virtual offices are usually located in impressive buildings in exclusive business areas, giving your company a presence in a prime location – say, the City of London. You can have your mail sent to this address and forwarded to you, meaning you can use the address details for your business cards, letterheads, labels, emails and website, giving your company a professional and credible image.

You can also use a telephone answering service, providing your enterprise with a prime area code for all your business literature and publicity. Your calls can be screened and answered in your company name 24 hours a day, seven days a week by professional reception staff, with callers transferred or messages forwarded to you.

And if you require a physical presence from time to time, you can use meeting rooms for face-to-face interaction with clients, or “hot desk” office space with the facilities you need, such as internet connection, telephone, photocopying, printing and refreshments. Some providers even offer PA services, diary management and order processing.

### Do you need it?

Of course, all these services come at a cost, and you have to weigh up the expense with the potential benefits for your company. Not all home-based enterprises will require virtual office space, and it might be an unnecessary extravagance for many small businesses. But for a company in the service sector that is competing with bigger, office-based rivals, it can be the ideal solution for saving on premises costs while still maintaining an impressive business presence. While a permanent office might be your long-term goal, a virtual office can provide the credibility and services you need while you build your company and grow its client base.