Anyone who’s run a business knows that it requires a lot of time, energy, and effort. While the internet has made the business world more accessible to those who would otherwise be unable to succeed, it also means that there are just as many more people out there trying to get their piece of the pie. The competition is stiff, and if you don’t want to be left behind, you must do whatever you can to stand out from the crowd. So what does this have to do with business addresses? It’s all about image.
A physical location gives your business a sense of credibility, and if you’re new in town or just starting your operation, not having an address may make people think twice before they trust you with their money. If you’re looking for a space that will give your operation a solid foundation and inspire confidence in your clients and potential clients, look into getting a virtual office service provider.
Who Is a Virtual Office Provider?
A virtual office provider is a company that offers a range of services to individuals, small businesses, and organizations, including mail forwarding, a physical address for business dealings, and event hosting, among others. The physical address can be shared with others, such as with business partners or clients. Virtual office providers also offer networking opportunities to their members through various events and activities.
What to Expect from a Virtual Office Provider
Virtual space: The first service provided by a virtual office is office space. This includes a furnished work area with all the tools necessary for business work, such as a receptionist and conference room. Other services include a phone number for reaching your clients and mail forwarding and faxing. Most also offer services such as membership in local business organizations, networking opportunities, and more to help entrepreneurs get off their feet and build their brands.
Meeting rooms: Virtual office rental personnel offer meeting room services alongside their virtual office packages, often included in the price. Meeting rooms are available in different sizes and at varying rates, depending on where they’re located in the provider’s office buildings. Some may also include extras like whiteboards or video conferencing equipment.
Virtual receptionist: This is similar to the telephone answering service but includes some appointment scheduling and other administrative services. For example, a virtual receptionist might make appointments for salespeople to meet with clients or schedule appointments for clients to come into the office. The receptionist would also keep track of each salesperson’s calendars so that nobody double books a client and nobody misses an important meeting.
Meeting coordination: Meeting coordinators are responsible for scheduling and managing appointments for the virtual office members. They may act as a liaison between the client and the service provider, assigning meeting rooms and ensuring every member has everything they need for their appointment. If you’re going to be in town for a short time and need an office or one meeting room for a few hours, these services may not be necessary. However, plan on spending several days or more setting up shop at your virtual office service provider. This service might be beneficial because it will allow you to take care of your business without worrying about coordinating the details yourself.
Communication platform: The virtual office provider, or VOP, assists you with meeting and greeting clients, providing a toll-free phone number for customers to contact, and more. In addition to the services of a receptionist, you can also access videoconferencing services for webinars and video conferences, as well as faxing services. Some VOPs even provide notary public service and assistance with package delivery and mail forwarding.
Key Takeaway
If you’re starting a business of any kind or need a place to run your existing one on the side, office space will be critical. A virtual office provider can provide you with both a name and mailing address for your company and accommodations for meeting clients in person. Many providers also offer an extensive list of business support services, including everything from public relations to IT and data storage.
Generally speaking, virtual office providers charge on a per-month basis, with the amount of space you’ll get varying depending on your needs. It’s important to note that not all of them offer the same type of services. Some focus exclusively on providing physical address-related products and cannot help you with many other needs. Get more information about each company to ensure they’re right for you.