Home
>
Small Business
>
Entrepreneurs Go Virtual!

Entrepreneurs Go Virtual!

With the massive explosion of start-ups and home businesses developing, you'll be hard pressed to not know of someone going down the entrepreneurial route. Nowadays you can set-up shop and start trading in a matter of days, and the preferred choice for the neo entrepreneur is a service called Virtual Offices.

I myself, run and operate a Virtual Office company based in Central London and have written this short editorial to educate you in choosing the right provider and hopefully, help avoid the pitfalls in this relatively saturated market, so let's begin.

For those unfamiliar with the phrase "Virtual Office", let me offer you some indulgence.

A Virtual Office is a business location, simulated by Telecommunications and Accommodation Address agents. The core services themselves are better known as "Telephone Answering" and "Mail Forwarding" solutions respectively, which are offered by numerous companies around the world.

Its purpose is wide spread, but more than most, it is used by home workers, small business and start-up organisations, looking to give their company that "big business" image.

Lets start with the Telecommunications "Telephone Answering" solution. Upon signing for this service, you are allocated a telephone number to which someone dialing it, would be greeted by a receptionist who answers calls in your company name.

The level of detail, and by that I mean "how well the receptionists know your business" is down to the company you sign for, and of course, the amount of money you pay. Typically, the costs vary from between ?40 to ?120 per month and in most cases, also carry "per message fees", so make sure you know the complete story.

That's not to say that paying more gets you a better service, there are companies out there that offer a fantastic level of professionalism at the lower end price bracket and visa versa.

Done in the correct manner, it's a fabulous service which can really drive down the overheads of an organisation that would be better suited, subsidising the cost of a receptionists full time employment, and putting the capital to better use.

Let us move onto the second core service offered by Virtual Office providers, the Accommodation Address or "Mail Forwarding" service. This service offers its clients an address (which typically is in a prestigious location) for their correspondents to be delivered to. Most providers allow their mail to be picked up and/or have it sent to any address worldwide. In practise, what this offers you is a trading address, which allows you to work on the go or at home, maintaining a level of professionalism associated to established companies that have offices in prime locations.

The costs range from ?20 to ?100 per month and in most cases, also charge some form of handling fee for the post, if it is being sent out.

Typical questions you should be asking are; does the location offer Meeting Rooms? Do they allow the location to be used as a Registered Office address and are packages allowed at the location? These are all additional services which some, but not all providers offer.

I must however warn you, signing for these services requires extensive research, so do your homework! Ask questions and let these Virtual Office providers prove that they can be entrusted to handle your calls and mail on behalf of your organisation. The last thing you need is a call centre (this is where your virtual receptionists would be based) not answering the calls correctly, or worse! Not answering your calls at all!

Ask if you can visit their location. If not, then why not and are they hiding something? You don't want be told by one of your clients that they passed by your office (that's effectively what your address will be), and it wasn't up to scratch.

It is a matter of fact, that the more personal the company is to its clients, the better the service. Companies that offer no communication, particularly in a field such as this, will never be able to offer a personal service, and lets be honest, they are the first port of call between you and your client, and it really doesn't get more personal than that.

In closing, getting a Virtual Office is a great way to quickly establish yourself as a professional company and helps your business be perceived as an organisation that can do the business.

With such an aggressive market, prices need to be affordable and the level of service needs to be spot on.

Whether your working from home or just starting up, now more than ever, is a great time to Go Virtual!

Managing Director
City Office
www.yourcityoffice.com

Berwick Chicago charter limousine .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare

In The News:

Kawasaki's CORLEO is a hydrogen-powered, AI-driven rideable robot. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reports on this new way of thinking about off-road transportation.

The CyberGuy breaks down five mobile privacy terms that could make a difference when it comes to keeping your personal information safe.

A groundbreaking robot that's like a real-life Wall-E uses advanced artificial intelligence to replicate natural gestures and deliberate actions with striking accuracy.

If not properly managed, Windows Defender Application Control, a security feature with Windows, could be a potential security vulnerability.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

FlashBot Arm, a semi-humanoid robot, acts more like a human than traditional robots, and you may see it working at a restaurant, healthcare center or hotel.

There are multiple ways to find your missing Android phone after it goes missing. One method involves using a smartwatch to ping your phone.

The NeuroOne OneRF Ablation System is a new device with FDA-cleared technology designed for both diagnosing and treating neurological disorders in one procedure.

The CyberGuy provides tips to protect yourself from criminals who use various methods to make unauthorized transactions using your account information.

New drone technology maps land and water with stunning accuracy, giving researchers and conservationists a new way to understand our planet.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

X hit with massive data breach with 200 million records leaked, including emails. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers seven tips to help protect yourself.

Atlas robot by Boston Dynamics amazes tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson with its breakdancing moves.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about how Google kept Android SafetyCore details quiet until it scanned users' photos.

Hydrogen trucks debut in Georgia, sparking debates on costs and green freight gains. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson comments on this promising chapter in green logistics evolution.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says ChatGPT learns from chats, but you should avoid sharing sensitive information to protect your privacy.

Beyond Aero's BYA-1: Hydrogen-electric jet with zero emissions, reduced costs, 2030 launch. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses a potential game changer in the evolution of air travel.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how you can creatively repurpose your old unused Android devices, which are full of potential and hidden value.

Mech the super-humanoid robot can lift up to 132 pounds and is designed to tackle stressful and repetitive tasks that often lead to workplace injuries.

Double-clicking is something we all do, often without giving it a second thought. But it could be giving hackers permission to do something dangerous.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Kurt the CyberGuy offers some of his easy expert tips to free up storage space on your Android if your device is running short on storage.

You can reset your internet router remotely if you're not home when your power goes out. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how this can be done.

The EO Canopy is a self-sustaining, solar-powered camping platform designed to provide all the comforts of home while completely off the grid.

Experts say hackers who used to focus on Windows operating systems are increasingly targeting Apple IDs as part of a new phishing campaign.

Entrepreneurs Go Virtual!

Small Business