1. Virtual Offices: Say Hello to the Future of Business
A few years ago, setting up a business was a herculean task. In most cases, capital problems always
arose due to office space rental. The situation might not be very good in terms of getting office space
but technology has offered an innovative solution. In a survey by Office Business Center Association
International (OBCAI) carried out in 2011, 91% of business executives agreed that virtual offices are
the way forward due to their cost effectiveness. If you still hopping from one realtor to the other, take
time and read about the reasons why this solution deserves a chance.
What Constitutes a Virtual Office?
A virtual office provides an entrepreneur with all necessary facilities and space to carry out business on
as-is-needed basis. As such you can open a home based business but in case you need to meet a client,
companies offering these offices will allocate you an executive room(s). In some situations, you can
even book a conference room if you have several clients at the same time. These services are full
services and all you need is your laptop or any other documents that you would ordinarily need in an
office. These virtual offices are also used by startups who do not want to operate from home and there
are different packages depending on the office provider.
Benefits of a Virtual Office
To start with, all furnishing is done by the company and as such, you do not need to arrange for seats or
tables. In fact, virtual office companies invest a lot of resources to make these offices very executive
and hence, there are no logistical nightmares unlike looking for rental office space. In addition, the
office is fully serviced with IT equipment including broadband internet connection, superb phone
support, and fax services. In case you want to book a boardroom, there are video conferencing
facilities, and online meeting hosting. These services vary from package to package and it is always
advisable to confirm which package is best based on your unique needs. As your meeting proceeds,
catering is provided by the virtual office provider’s caterers.
The virtual offices packages can also include business address forwarding. This is essential because it
gives your clients a sense of trust in your services when they notice your prestigious address provided
by an office provider. This package will also include a personal assistant or secretary to answer,
manage and transfer your calls at all times. This ensures no business correspondence is delayed and
your clients will be able to reach your business at all times. More importantly, you can also request for
a local business phone and fax number to facilitate effective communication. In essence, a virtual office
is the new definition of business future and the sooner you tap its potential, the better.