Virtual Office Solutions

Virtual office is an all encompassing label, essentially describing services which provide businesses with a mixture of off-site live communication solutions and/or address and postal services. It therefore allows businesses to carry out day-to-day requirements without any physical presence.

As one would expect, virtual office services became viable when technology came of age – i.e. when computers and the internet became fast enough to carry out the tasks with ease. The first instance of a virtual office in the USA was founded by Ralph Gregory in 1994. Since then virtual offices have not only become more reliable and cheaper, but also wider in scope.

Benefits of a virtual office?
We all know that to get ahead in business you can’t underestimate the importance of image and impression. Often, to be taken seriously you have to be able to establish professionalism, credibility and standing in your industry. This isn’t easy if you work from home, or from a less than high-end office setting. This is partly why virtual offices are so popular with start-ups and people that work from home– it allows them to have a premium city centre presence at a minute fraction of the actual cost.

Another benefit of the virtual office is that it can allow you to have an international presence, again without the extra cost of real-estate/staff and hassle required to do so. The virtual office is therefore often the first port of call for anyone wanting to break into new markets.
To give you a brief example, I have worked with several tech start-ups in the past, and one thing which I learned is that if you want to make big money in that industry you really should penetrate the US market. This can be difficult for European companies, partly because the American tech industry often regards them as quaint and can refuse to take them seriously. After all, as President Obama recently said in his 2011 State of the Union Address – America is the nation “of Google and Facebook”. Can’t argue with that right?
So back to the point, in order to combat this uphill struggle it is very common for European teach start-ups to get a virtual address somewhere in America, usually Silicon Valley, because it is felt that it helps them look more substantial and credible.
Such arguments are especially poignant during tough economic times. Businesses are looking for ways to reduce overheads and minimise long-term commitments. That’s exactly what the virtual office can do. What’s more, it allows businesses to be flexible, matching expenses with revenue fluctuations. This is because the costs are usually variable, based on a pay-as-you-go pricing model. So the virtual office not only helps establish vital business assets like credibility, it can also save money in so doing.

If you’re looking for a virtual office in London or internationally, please check out www.eoffice.net. We offer the very best in virtual office solutions.