| As a freelance worker or sole trader, you might | | | | office though, is the ability to rent meeting space |
| be perfectly happy working from your home and | | | | by the hour. Small companies can really struggle |
| carrying out all of your business from a spare | | | | to look professional face-to-face no matter how |
| room, but for some companies, this isn't an | | | | slick their online presence may be, but meeting in |
| option. Many companies need to keep up | | | | upmarket and central offices can give the |
| appearances in order to look professional to their | | | | impression that a company is larger and more |
| clients and customers. In these cases, companies | | | | successful than it necessarily is. |
| need an office space but, if it is only for one or | | | | Perhaps the most compelling reason for a small |
| two staff, then not spending too much money on | | | | company to consider investing in a virtual office |
| it should be a priority. There are obviously several | | | | though is the room that it would give them to |
| ways to achieve this balance between what's | | | | grow. Not only could a virtual office literally help |
| professional and what's practical, but one option | | | | take care of administrative tasks like answering |
| which has been gaining popularity in recent years | | | | phone calls, photocopying documents and handling |
| is the virtual office. | | | | printing projects, but it could also give a company |
| In its most basic form, a virtual office is little | | | | the chance to grow at a far quicker rate. If |
| more than an address which has been rented by | | | | clients and potential clients are under the |
| a business in order to maintain a respectable and | | | | impression a company is already established and |
| recognised city centre image to its customers. In | | | | successful, then they will be more likely to not |
| some cases this will only be a managed post box, | | | | only trust and use that company, but also give it |
| where mail will be delivered to, but in other cases | | | | significant projects to handle rather than testing |
| a virtual office can include so much more. | | | | the water at first. |
| For a set monthly fee, a virtual office could | | | | Technically, your office would still be wherever |
| include a telephone call forwarding system to a | | | | you actually work, whether it's in your living room |
| number of your choice so, for the same reason, | | | | or the nearest coffee chain branch, but, as far as |
| a company can be perceived as being based in a | | | | your customers are concerned, you're hard at |
| more respectable area code than they actually | | | | work in a busy, central office with many staff |
| are. In addition to this, an answering service can | | | | members. Companies can even setup many |
| be included and all mail can be forwarded on or | | | | virtual offices in Birmingham, London, Edinburgh or |
| arranged for regular collection. | | | | any location they need to have a presence. |
| One of the most interesting features of a virtual | | | | |