Did you know that about 60% of small businesses and solopreneurs operate their businesses from their homes simply by working through their home office?
Yes, you heard it right.
If you are also one of those individuals looking to set up a small business while saving on the revenue or you want to elevate your already present business then you are at the right place.
This article will take you through the meaning of a virtual business address along with its strengths and weaknesses so that you can decide whether it’s the right choice for your business.
What is a Virtual Office?
A virtual office is a flexible workspace that enables you to have a physical presence for your business without having to rent or lease a fancy building.
The prestigious mailing address which you elect to receive your parcels and mails is defined as a Virtual Business Address.
Opting for a virtual office over your residential address might cost you some extra bucks, but the perks it provides are definitely worth the cost.
Meanwhile, some drawbacks need consideration to prevent any unwanted scams and hassles.
Pros of a Virtual Office
1. Save on overhead
Leasing an office space demands a lot of other expenses including electricity and gas bills, furnishing set up, and maintenance fees.
Such expenses should be avoided especially if you are just starting your company or are on a low budget.
Cut back on that unnecessary expenditure, save tons of money and devote that amount to expanding your business by using a virtual business address.
2. Uncompromised privacy
Another added benefit is the unharmed solitude you attain through a virtual office.
If you choose to give away your home address out in public, make sure that anybody can view it through Google and thereby locate you easily.
This could lead to a lack of privacy and work-life balance.
In contrast, virtual offices provide you with a geographical location other than your home address, so that your professional privacy remains intact.
3. Incredible assistance
As your business grows and more clients approach you, dealing with them can be overwhelming.
Hence, you require some robust and tech-savvy assistance services to maintain your corporate image.
The number of services you get largely depends on the package you sign up for. But at minimum, all virtual offices give a prestigious mailing address along with a business phone number.
Other physical and virtual elements include mail handling services, pickup services for packages, physical and digital receptionist services, and copy and print services.
4. Work flexibility
What could be a better perk than having a sense of agility to travel across the world while managing your business?
So, whether you are on a vacation or your employees have to travel a lot, cloud-based virtual offices get you covered effortlessly.
A virtual office gives you the sense of freedom when and for how long you will work. This in turn can reduce your work stress and make you more productive.
5. Business scale-up
Unlike a traditional office, the virtual office doesn’t require you to move into a larger office space to expand your business.
So, if you plan to increase your employee number you don’t have to vary hiring for bigger office space and invest in more expenditure.
Because virtual offices do not occupy physical space, you can spend the same money in scaling your business up.
Cons of a Virtual Office
1. Lack of productivity
If you are one of those individuals who feel more efficient and productive under strict supervision and devised rules then a virtual office might not be your cup of tea.
Since virtual offices have no constant charge over their workers, hence employees often suffer productivity issues.
Although some find freedom and flexibility in work as a positive aspect for others, it means lesser devotion towards work.
2. Technical troubles
Another negative aspect of working remotely is unforeseen technical issues.
Because virtual setup is all dependent on cloud-based services, any gadget crashing or internet disruption can put a roadblock to your work.
If such problems persist for few days or few weeks, it could lead to a major organizational loss.
3. Lack of social interaction
With all the interaction taking place virtually, there’s a high chance of misinterpretation. As body language cues make 90% of our communication, facetime, video calls, and text messaging probably won’t be the best means to get your speech delivered.
Impaired communication is a big con that a virtual office brings.
4. Chances of fraud
Last but not the least, some phony companies shield their identity by using a virtual business address.
Due to that virtual offices are accused of offering phone numbers and office space to such fraudulent people. What’s worse is that if you are associated with the same virtual office solution as these scammers then it can damage your rapport as well.
This is why you must do your research on virtual office reviews to avoid any unpleasant encounters.