What is a virtual office?

A virtual office is an office which is delivered by a third party company. They provide business clients with various different services, from a city centre address and mail forwarding services, to teams of virtual receptionists and customer service operatives. Basically, virtual offices allow start-up companies to benefit from having an office, without having to operate within the physical space.

Virtual office providers offer various different packages, from ‘address only’ packages which provide businesses with an address and mail forwarding service, to fully outsourced solutions, where businesses can gain access the virtual receptionists and customer service advisors. Some virtual offices also offer more specialised services, including marketing and accounting.

1. It is a cost effective way to expand your business

One of the main benefits of getting a virtual office for your new business is that it provides you with a cost effective way to grow your company, both in terms of your staff and customer base. When you work with a virtual office, you gain access to a team of virtual receptionists and assistants. These virtual employees are fully trained, skilled and experienced in all aspects of administration and customer service.

The great thing about having a team of virtual staff is that it means there is no need to hire your own staff. You will save on the cost of recruitment, employee salaries, employee benefits and training. There will also be no need to find the virtual receptionists somewhere to work, as they will be based at the virtual office. This saves on the cost of renting a city based office and paying for overheads.

Basically, outsourcing work to a virtual office enables you to reap all the benefits of having a team of employees working with you, without having to take on the responsibilities and costs of actually hiring them.

2. Enhance your brand’s image

Despite the fact that an increasing number of people are quitting their nine to five jobs in favour of setting up their own companies from home, there is still a stigma attached to home-run businesses. What people do not seem to realise is that business owners choose to set up their companies from home to suit their lifestyle, for example, if they have become parents or have moved out to the countryside. Running a start-up company from home is not necessarily a temporary solution or due to business owners not being financially stable enough to run a traditional office.

The fact that people often see business owners that work from home as ‘one man bands’ means that they are often reluctant to work with them. For some reason, people believe they will not be able to offer the same quality of work as businesses operating from traditional city centre office blocks. The fact that people usually choose to work with companies based in well-known prestigious areas often makes it difficult for home-run start-up companies to compete. This is why new businesses should consider using a virtual office.

When you work with a virtual office, you will be able to take on their business address as your own. Virtual offices are usually based in prestigious city centre locations and are surrounded by other successful businesses. When customers see you are located there, because of your virtual address, they will automatically associate your business with those other successful companies. There is no need for them to know that you do not actually operate from that location, as the virtual office will provide a mail forwarding service.

Using a virtual office will enhance your business’ image, making it look more professional and better established. The more professional your business appears to be, the more likely people are going to want to work with you. It’s not just home-run businesses that use virtual offices, but those that are actually based in big cities too. According to this article by smallbusiness.co.uk, seventy four per cent of virtual office clients are London-based and are taking virtual space in prestigious areas like the West End and the city in order to create the right first impression on customers.

Location is everything, so if you are thinking of working with a virtual office, make sure you choose one that is set up in a prestigious city centre location in order to benefit your business. Continue reading →

There’s no denying that working from home has its perks. I mean, who wouldn’t want to work at their own pace, set their own dress code, avoid the hassle of commuter traffic and reduce overhead costs? But, if there’s one glaring downside to operating from home it’s this – working from a home office simply doesn’t have the allure of a commercial address. Those who are seeking the freedom and cost-efficiency of working from home should consider the image-boosting benefits of renting virtual office space.

Professional Resources Project a Professional Image

A virtual office is an excellent way for start-ups and small businesses to keep costs low while gaining the resources of a professional corporation. Most virtual offices come with a dedicated virtual receptionist, call forwarding and mail management services; some technology packages even include fax forwarding to email and voice mail forwarding to email. These resources not only maximize efficiency but also project an image of professionalism that can set you apart from home-based competitors.

A Virtual Office Affords the Opportunity to Network

Let’s be blunt: it’s usually not a good idea for your business card to contain an address that’s clearly in a residential neighborhood. Most virtual offices come with an address for a physical location that’s zoned for business, helping you to establish credibility with those you hope to do business with in the future. Also, most virtual office packages allow for access to private and shared office space and meeting rooms. By working alongside others, you’ll be in a better position to network, creating the possibility for new opportunities.

A Corporate Image Establishes Credibility

A professional business location speaks volumes about yourself and your operation. So much so that it can even help you to meet compliance demands from creditors, suppliers and lenders. Simply put, it’ll be easier for your business to be taken seriously if you’re located at, say, in the heart of Lagos State, the economic hub of Nigeria and at the Government Reservation Area on the Mainland and less than 5 minutes drive from the Airport. This can be of vital importance if you’re just starting out and hoping to get your business off the ground. The right address can make a difference in closing deals, winning clients, establishing credits and making connections that can take your business to the next level.

Boost your company’s profile with a prestigious address that reflects a professional image in one of our high profile business locations today.

Source: Servcorp