7 Ways a Virtual Office Could Help Your Small Business Grow

I work from home, and I have for a long time.  I love it.  I have a very short commute, can dress as I like, grab a nap if I need one, work outside on the deck if I choose, and get household chores out of the way when I need a break. With no distractions from coworkers, I can focus on my work and get it done quickly.

Not everyone can work efficiently or effectively from home, though.  If you’ve been spending more time working at the local café, Starbucks, or even hotel lobby than in your home office, you should consider renting a virtual office.  If your business is in an industry that prides itself on appearances as much as results, you definitely need a virtual office.

Here are 7 ways a virtual office could help your small business grow:

1. Keep work separate from home. When you work from home, there is no transition from your professional to your personal life.  And unless you have a home office separate from the rest of the house, it can be hard to focus on work.
2. Work feels “real.” Unless your office is professional and well-organized, it can be easy to be sloppy, and if you look and feel sloppy, your work might end up following suit.  If you’re going to an office every day, you will look, act, and work professionally.
3. Professional address. In certain industries, like government contracting, it’s beneficial to have an address in a professional office building.  The receptionists can accept packages for you and you don’t have to worry about hiding your home address on your marketing materials.
4. Answering service. Many virtual offices offer or include answering services with your virtual office.  Having a professional receptionist answer your phone, take messages, and schedule meetings will make your company look bigger than it is.
5. Meeting space. When you are meeting with prospective, new, or existing clients, investors, or partners, a nice conference room is a zillion times better than Starbucks or a hotel.  You’ll have AV equipment and white boards at your disposal, too.
6. Save money. Because virtual offices don’t require a long-term lease, you can better manage your cash flow, reduce overhead, and save money.  You can rent offices part-time or full-time, and you can increase or decrease the size of your office space as needed.
7. Central location. I have yet to hear of a virtual office that isn’t in a central location.  When your address is in a highly visible business district, your clients and partners will notice, and they might just take your company more seriously.

Image by Flickr user unuyi_gaze (Creative Commons)

This entry was posted on Friday, October 22nd, 2010 at 8:00 am and is filed under small business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.


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