| ign="center"> | | | | Is a business address going to help secure clients? |
| To succeed as a mobile entrepreneur requires | | | | Some virtual office providers offer a pretty |
| effective daily management and organisation with | | | | flexible service. This allows business owners to |
| a focusing on clients and the needs of the | | | | make changes to their requirements as the needs |
| business. | | | | of the business change. Check contractual terms |
| There is rarely a typical day and home based | | | | and make sure that there is a facility to increase |
| workers often rely on smart phones and instant | | | | or reduce service levels as the business grows or |
| messaging to manage projects and time. The | | | | to cope with challenging market conditions. |
| growth in Virtual Offices is explained by the | | | | 3. Meet the virtual office supplier if you can. |
| growing number of businesses performing this | | | | There are some budget virtual office providers in |
| juggling act. | | | | the market that may be perfectly adequate for |
| Outsourcing telephone answering plus | | | | the needs of many small or start up businesses. |
| administrative and secretarial duties can free up | | | | For instance, such companies would offer just an |
| time to concentrate. Many virtual office | | | | address to put on a company website. Do |
| companies also have bricks and mortar locations | | | | consider all the future trajectories the business |
| for you to meet clients or pitch for new business, | | | | can take. Visit the location of the virtual address, |
| removing the need for business insurance or | | | | meet the staff handling the mail and telephone |
| provision of additional space at your home. | | | | calls, inspect the reception area, meeting rooms |
| Depending on the business the benefits of | | | | and the areas of interest |
| presenting a credible business address via a Virtual | | | | 4. Is there a plan to have a physical office one |
| Office (which can include mail forwarding and or | | | | day? |
| specific city telephone prefix) may be an | | | | Make sure the virtual office supplier can offer |
| important element in the corporate image an | | | | office space if that is a consideration for the |
| entrepreneur may wish to project. Before making | | | | future. Check the flexibility of the terms. This |
| a decision about whether a virtual office is the | | | | enables a business to keep the same contact |
| right approach, or even which supplier to choose, | | | | details and, if the office doesn't work out, |
| there are a few questions which need to be | | | | facilitates going 'virtual' again with no drama or |
| addressed. | | | | inconvenience. |
| 1. How do you feel about clients knowing where | | | | 5. Is there a need to meet clients face-to-face, |
| you live and having access to your home number | | | | either now or in the future? |
| or mobile? | | | | Go to any city centre coffee shop or hotel lobby |
| Consider for example whether an 0207 telephone | | | | and you will see business people meeting every |
| number with a live virtual receptionist would help | | | | day. This can be a perfectly adequate way to |
| to manage day to day calling activity. For | | | | conduct face-to-face meetings. However, for the |
| example, are there large numbers of incoming | | | | entrepreneur who wishes to be more than a one |
| calls or just a trickle. If the former, a virtual | | | | person business there is value in projecting a |
| receptionist can screen out time wasters. If the | | | | more established professional from day one. If |
| latter, make sure the decision is taken for good | | | | this is the case make sure the virtual office |
| business reasons rather than vanity. | | | | supplier has meeting room space which is flexible |
| 2. Do you need to project a professional image | | | | (check variable room sizes and minimum usage |
| from the start or is this an aspect that can be | | | | times) and is at a location which is easily |
| deferred until the business is more secure? | | | | accessible for potential clients. |