| Living in the 21st century, we've all heard the | | | | generally available for lease on either an hourly, |
| term 'virtual office' or at least that is what many | | | | daily, or monthly basis depending on which |
| may think these days. So to clarify things for | | | | company you choose. A full-service virtual office |
| those of us who don't know exactly what that | | | | will provide broadband internet, fax-copier-printer, |
| term entails. We're going to explore the virtual | | | | advanced phone features, conference calling, |
| office and spell it all out right here! | | | | video conferencing, kitchenette and a |
| "A virtual office blends home and work to gain | | | | business-worthy lobby or waiting area. |
| efficiencies in both." So what does that mean for | | | | Communication services from these offices |
| the new business owner to make life easier? | | | | usually include a remote receptionist, a virtual |
| It means that if your new business is not a store | | | | assistant (who is often working from home |
| or retail center, occasionally you will need to meet | | | | themselves and who rarely meets your clients |
| with potential clients, vendors, and employees. For | | | | face-to-face), an answering service, and/ or call |
| example: if you are an independent insurance | | | | center, as well as voicemail services. |
| agent, real estate agent, financial advisor, or an | | | | The space services will include a professional |
| accountant, or a consultant of some kind, you | | | | address - a beautiful, prestigious building to be |
| may often go to your client's home for business | | | | used as your business address. A professional |
| appointments. But what if the situation arises that | | | | address alleviates the privacy and security |
| your customer would prefer or need to come to | | | | concerns of running a home-based business. This |
| you? For true professionalism you would surely | | | | also provides you with a professional mailing |
| want them to come to a comfortable, | | | | address that can be used for accepting, sending |
| business-like environment, correct? For those who | | | | and forwarding mail without the negative |
| have the corner or basement office in the home, | | | | connotations of a PO box. Another fine quality of |
| this may be a bit awkward for a brand new, | | | | the virtual office is having live receptionists at the |
| important client. | | | | business address who can receive and sign for |
| Hence, the virtual office. The true virtual office is | | | | incoming deliveries and packages and also provide |
| a combination of off-site live communication and | | | | contract and document drop-off and pick-up |
| address services that allow users to reduce | | | | services. |
| traditional office costs while maintaining business | | | | Having a virtual office as your second business |
| professionalism. In English that means that you will | | | | office is very useful, indeed. Office expenses |
| have a professional physical facility that will act as | | | | remain low, while your business professionalism |
| your own personal office to take calls and receive | | | | retains the look and feel of a traditional, high-cost |
| mail without the monthly overhead and costs of a | | | | office. All the while your home office is your true |
| traditional office. It is an absolute alternative to | | | | business office. The virtual office is there just to |
| the distractions and interruptions of a home office. | | | | "impress" your clientele. Your virtual office can |
| The virtual office idea came from the | | | | allow for low-cost expansion without long-term |
| convergence of technological innovation and the | | | | commitments. |
| information age. The concept stemmed its roots | | | | Look at your virtual office as your business' way |
| from current work styles, specifically | | | | to 'dress to impress'. Start-up costs for a new |
| hundreds-of-thousands of people working from | | | | business is a huge variable... Ranging from zero to |
| home.in a nutshell: the virtual office is a physical | | | | hundreds, to thousands, to millions. The good |
| space that is leased out to offer the full | | | | news is that when you find the right alternatives |
| application of a traditional office. It also includes | | | | and discover that some important and valuable |
| professional live communication of a regular | | | | resources can be acquired very cheaply, the sky |
| business office for a fraction of the cost of | | | | is the limit as to what you can accomplish in your |
| running a fully staffed facility. Office space is | | | | new business endeavors!! |