One of the biggest costs a small business or start-up can incur is purchasing office space. A huge percentage of your overhead can be devoted to simply having an address, but for many businesses, that space is a must-have in order to be successful. What’s the solution?
Virtual offices.
What is a virtual office?
Virtual offices are not some cyberspace construct or hypothetical thought experiment — they’re real spaces, with real walls and real furniture. You get a real, established address you can give to your clients, so they can meet you face to face, rather than having to deal with conference calls and video chats and endless emails.
Are virtual offices cheaper than owning your own office space?
On a month-by-month basis, virtual office rentals are vastly more affordable than owning a space. They are the perfect solution for small businesses and start-ups who desire a credible, physical address in order to jumpstart their revenue stream. Lower monthly overhead means a more solid bottom line, so you can help your business grow — and someday have enough to own your own space.
How long do I have to keep the space?
Businesses can rent virtual offices for as long as they need them, thanks to the incredibly flexible terms most spaces provide. A company can choose to have a virtual space ad infinitum if they desire, or they can rent on a week-by-week agreement. Some terms even allow for a few days of service, if that’s what the business needs.
Do I have to supply equipment and personnel?
Virtual spaces are furnished in a variety of styles to suit your own personal vibe, from uptown chic to warehouse district sass, traditional class to open-concept creativity, and modern lines to down-home charm. And that’s just the setting. Options exist to staff your space with receptionists, mail handlers, assistants, and even office managers if need be.
What about things like copiers and conference rooms?
In most virtual offices for rent, the equipment is shared with other renters, which ends costing you a fraction of what it would cost to actually own each machine. Conference rooms are available too, and can be rented per session, so you’re not paying for space that you don’t need all the time.
I travel a lot for my business. Is it worth it to rent a virtual office?
If your business takes you around the world, it may not make much sense for you to maintain a virtual office in one home location — but it makes an enormous amount of sense for you to set up a virtual office wherever you go. Imagine how impressed your clients will be to learn you’re coming to their city and that you already have an office there.
The face of business has changed. It stands to reason that the idea of the “office” should change along with it. Whether you’re a small business, a budding start-up, a global traveler, or an established business looking to cut operating costs, a virtual office space could be the solution you’ve been waiting for. Read more like this.
