5 valid reasons for you to work out of a virtual office

In this digital age, the existence of a virtual office is hardly surprising. There is even a booming business that revolves around this sector of office space solutions. As co-working is a trend that is now picking up, the advent of virtual offices might seem counterproductive, considering that it is a secluded working style when many are looking to collaborate. But a work-from-home culture is still alive, be it for freelancers or even small businesses, and it is to cater to this lifestyle that virtual offices are slowly cropping up.

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Virtual offices primarily offer a prestigious office address, facilities such as mail and courier management, phone answering services, and secretarial services. Some have now extended these services to providing conference rooms as and when required. Here are what we believe to be valid reasons for you to consider a virtual office – a virtual world is the future, after all.

You cut down on operational costs 

When you’re starting up, investing in a good marketing strategy to build the name of your brand takes the upper hand over investing in an operational space. Office rent and equipment can create a painful dent in your finances that you can avoid by opting for a virtual office. Not only does this bring down your initial budget, it also ensures that you have enough capital to keep your business afloat. There is also the added benefit of easier wage distribution among important employees since you will not have to hire either a receptionist and or a secretory.

You get to test the waters

Trial runs are essential for any business that’s new to the market, and the lower your investment in these phases, lesser will be the risk that you will face. The services of a virtual office can be rented as per your needs and that means you’ll only be investing in the temporary. Lower investment also means a greater willingness to take risks – a facet without which one cannot expect any growth. So, even if your expansion or trial efforts don’t produce expected results, the margin of loss will be small enough to start over with better strategies. This is not a liberty one can have with a permanent office space.

You get a corporate identity

This is possibly a bigger advantage than minimising capital investment. For a business, and especially a new one, first impressions are everything. Your brand identity will decide potential relationships with investors, partners, and other members of the business arena that are essential for your growth. First impressions matter more with customers, and with a prestigious corporate address on your business card and website, you can assure your customers a sense of security.

Co-working is just not your scene

If your business is such that it allows your employees to work remotely, then an investment in an office space becomes impractical. In such cases, co-working, even with all its networking and collaboration benefits, will not seem like the best solution for your business. Virtual offices not only allow you and your employees to work from home, they also provide conference and meeting rooms as and when you require them. Many co-working spaces now offer virtual office packages with just these benefits, allowing you to have the cake and eat it.

You’ll have a reduced carbon footprint

An ecological responsibility is a must in today’s age, especially so for corporations since their impact on the environment is significantly higher than that of individuals. A virtual office will eliminate resource utilisation and wastage as it can be completely paper-free, and will not consume energy in bulk. Any office space will be built on carbon-emissions and, as is most often the case, on non-renewable sources of energy. Opting for a virtual office will mean lessening the burden on the planet and on your fiscal budget.

Whether or not you’re convinced, it definitely wouldn’t hurt to try out the benefits of a virtual office, especially if you’re starting up.