What is a Virtual Office?
There are numerous definitions of a virtual office floating around the Internet. Try it on Google search and it will give you a plethora of definitions. To save you from overwhelming search results, here’s a more concise way of putting it: A virtual office service allows your business to have a physical address without incurring the costs of leasing and staffing an actual office.
Many small businesses, freelancers, and startups can benefit from virtual offices. Larger companies that want to enter new markets can benefit from virtual offices as well. A virtual office can provide your company with the brand image, administrative assistance, and meeting space and technology it requires to be successful. All of this comes at a reasonable price.
Features of a Virtual Office
Several features ought to be standard in a virtual office. Beside a professional business address, a virtual office should be able to handle incoming mail and phone calls, as well as provide basic business amenities like Internet access and meeting rooms for clients.
In this article, we’ll go over what you should look for in a virtual office space.
1. Registered Professional Business Address
You can use a virtual office for a variety of reasons, but the most important one is that it provides you with a professional business address. It also creates harmony between all aspects of your business. For instance, there is address synchronicity when sending business cards, submitting official documents, entering your address on your official website, and creating marketing materials.
An inexpensive virtual office address can give you a prestigious location, like the business district of an important city, while also providing you with the professional image and “presence” you need to succeed in the marketplace.
2. Mail Handling and Forwarding
Many virtual office spaces will provide mail handling and forwarding services in addition to a professional business address. To make sure you don’t miss any important mail, a receptionist can open and scan your physical mail and send it to you via email in a secure and confidential manner. This makes it possible for your business to be open round-the-clock.
Additionally, you can run your business without being on-site as the virtual office staff represents you.
3. Meeting Room Access
One of the great perk of virtual offices is access to meeting rooms and conference facilities. It is common for providers to offer shared meeting rooms that can be rented on an hourly basis, and some even include free hours in their packages for those who need it.
Larger rooms for conferences and networking events may also be available in some office spaces. This is a feature that should not be undervalued, especially if your office is located in a business city area where meeting space can be expensive and difficult to find.
4. Live Receptionist and Call Handling
Similar to a virtual office space’s mail handling service, its call answering and handling features are frequently included as well. This service provides a receptionist who can answer queries and provide any relevant information, such as office hours or location, as well as answer phone calls and transfer them to the appropriate contact in your company’s name. When you have a live receptionist in your virtual office, you can rest easy knowing that your business is still running smoothly even if you aren’t there to oversee things.
5. Physical Office Space/Workspaces
What if your company grows to the extent of needing a physical office? Or, if you simply need a place to work where you can pop in anytime you need a real office? Virtual Office providers also offers a private office or a permanent desk space, a hot-desking solution, access to a business lounge, or any one of a number of other potential setups.
It’s a major advantage of virtual office space to have access to a workspace, and this feature can often be tailored to fit your needs, whether you want to use your space on a regular basis or on a pay-as-you-go basis.
6. Add-On Necessities for the Workplace
Some virtual office providers have realized that physical office spaces can be more enjoyable if they include amenities that make it easier for their clients to work. These amenities could include high-speed internet access, printing equipment, a business concierge, and even tea and coffee makers. In MyOffice, we even have audio and lighting equipment for influencers and individuals who need to produce podcasts or conduct live sales.
Difference Between Virtual Office and Co-Working Space
A lot of people get mixed up between a virtual office and its cousin, the coworking space. What distinguishes them from each other if they are not the same?
A virtual office is, by definition, one that provides a physical business address. Virtual offices are distinct from co-working spaces in that they accommodate remote work styles and provide flexible access to an office, meeting rooms, and co-working space. If you rent a virtual office instead of a traditional office space, you’ll still get many of the same benefits as working out of an actual office, including a reception and call answering services. Using a virtual office is a good option for entrepreneurs who work from home but don’t want to put their home address on their business cards. Freelancers and professionals who frequently relocate will also find it useful.
Working in a shared space is something entirely different. Co-working space is a shared office space that can be rented on an hourly, daily, or weekly basis but it does not provide a physical address for your business. A co-working space may have conference rooms and individual offices, just like any other office building. The renters of a typical co-working space will have access to an open collaboration area, as well as private offices and meeting rooms. Small businesses and entrepreneurs are a big fan of this type of work environment. Compared to traditional offices, a shared workspace is less expensive, but it comes equipped with all the amenities you’ll need.
In addition, renters of virtual offices can carry out their work from the comfort of their own homes, coffee shops, or any other location they choose. While co-working professionals utilize shared office space to perform their duties.
To wrap it up, a virtual office provides a business address and additional business solutions, such as co-working space A coworking space simply provides a physical workspace; its address cannot be used as your own company address.
References:
15 Key Benefits of Virtual Offices [For Startups & Others]. (2017, April 26). OHIVE. https://ohive.com/virtual-office-identity-description/?utm_source=pocket_mylist
Virtual Office vs. Coworking Space: What You Should Choose | Management 3.0. (2019, April 2). Management 3.0. https://management30.com/blog/virtual-office-vs-coworking-space-what-you-should-choose/?utm_source=pocket_mylist
What are the features of a virtual office? | Rovva. (2019). Rovva.com. https://www.rovva.com/en-us/blog/startups/what-are-the-features-of-a-virtual-office?utm_source=pocket_mylist