Home Based Business Virtual Office Arrangement

Filed in archive home office tools on July 22, 2007

Home based workers who aren't just so into revealing their home address as their office address makes use of these services that offer leasing virtual offices such as this 5th avenue address or just about anywhere virtual office leasing is offered. Here's another story showing the benefits of this office arrangement:

It's hard to say how much the use of virtual offices and related services is growing, because there are many variations on the concept, but experts believe it has been increasing in recent years as more people go into business for themselves.

Between 2004 and 2005, the number of self-employed business owners grew by 1.3 percent to 15.8 million, according to the most recent data available from the U.S. small business administration.

Like any legitimate business, Anderson's company has a telephone number and a mailing address.

When a customer dials her number, the call goes to a receptionist who answers it and then forwards it on to Anderson's cell phone. Mail and other packages arrive at the office building listed on her card and then can be forwarded to Anderson's home address or held until she picks it up in person. When Anderson needs to meet a client, she reserves a small office or conference room and pays for the time she uses the space.

Users and providers of virtual offices say the system has many benefits.

Small businesses can cut costs by not hiring a full-time office administrator. They also can save time by focusing on building a customer base instead of answering phones and sorting mail. In addition, the setup allows businesses to adapt quickly to unexpected changes because they are not tied into a long-term office lease.

Because small firms get to "locate" their business in premier office buildings, they also get to use that address on their business cards and Web sites, which presents a more polished image to potential clients.

"The smaller [business owner] who wants to use our virtual-office program wants a [high-end] space image, so they want a really recognizable address," said Sande Golgart, regional vice president over the West for Regus Group, a large provider of executive suites and "shared office" space.

The danger for virtual-office clients is surrendering control.

A business using a virtual office typically depends on the competency of a few receptionists who have to answer calls for sometimes a hundred or more clients. In many cases, the receptionists are the first contact a potential customer has with a small firm.

"I get people calling me all the time and they ask where this event is," Anderson said. "[The receptionists] really can't [help] because they don't work for me."
Another similar office rentals is this office service for home based business folks - My Day Office.

via DelawareOnline