ak with a human rather than voicemail.

When it comes to choosing a provider there’s a bewildering choice. A quick Google search on the term ‘virtual office’ yields over 9 million results! So, if the ‘virtual office’ is something you’re considering, what should you look for in a provider?

It goes without saying you should choose a company that is efficient and professional. Ask to talk to their existi

Home working is fantastically convenient in many ways, but nevertheless it does present its challenges. For example, would you choose Rose Cottage as your business address? Where do you meet your clients when they want to visit? And how can you be sure your toddler won’t pick up the phone to your number one client? Of course, many people in business won’t care if you work from home but the fact is that image does count when you’re doing business - even if it’s just the confidence it gives you in looking the part.

Buying or renting an office is an option of course. But then you need to equip it, staff it, buy in phone and data lines, maintain it, furnish it, insure it, secure it – and so the list and costs involved goes on. All of which are reasons for many smaller businesses, meaning taking out office space is a costly exercise that simply can’t be justified.

There is however a solution – and that’s the virtual office. A virtual office allows you to create that all important impression without having to actually rent any office space.

With a virtual office solution you pay a host company to use their mailing address which will typically be in a decent business district. They then forward mail on to you. What’s more, these companies invariably offer phone services as well. They allocate you your own telephone number and their staff then answers in your company name; taking messages or transferring calls direct to you. This significantly lowers the risk that your clients will end up speaking with little Johnny or Josephine about what they just had for lunch. And if you’re otherwise engaged callers still get to speak with a human rather than voicemail.

When it comes to choosing a provider there’s a bewildering choice. A quick Google search on the term ‘virtual office’ yields over 9 million results! So, if the ‘virtual office’ is something you’re considering, what should you look for in a provider?

It goes without saying you should choose a company that is efficient and professional. Ask to talk to their existin

oes count when you’re doing business - even if it’s just the confidence it gives you in looking the part.

Buying or renting an office is an option of course. But then you need to equip it, staff it, buy in phone and data lines, maintain it, furnish it, insure it, secure it – and so the list and costs involved goes on. All of which are reasons for many smaller businesses, meaning taking out office space is a costly exercise that simply can’t be justified.

There is however a solution – and that’s the virtual office. A virtual office allows you to create that all important impression without having to actually rent any office space.

With a virtual office solution you pay a host company to use their mailing address which will typically be in a decent business district. They then forward mail on to you. What’s more, these companies invariably offer phone services as well. They allocate you your own telephone number and their staff then answers in your company name; taking messages or transferring calls direct to you. This significantly lowers the risk that your clients will end up speaking with little Johnny or Josephine about what they just had for lunch. And if you’re otherwise engaged callers still get to speak with a human rather than voicemail.

When it comes to choosing a provider there’s a bewildering choice. A quick Google search on the term ‘virtual office’ yields over 9 million results! So, if the ‘virtual office’ is something you’re considering, what should you look for in a provider?

It goes without saying you should choose a company that is efficient and professional. Ask to talk to their existi

a costly exercise that simply can’t be justified.

There is however a solution – and that’s the virtual office. A virtual office allows you to create that all important impression without having to actually rent any office space.

With a virtual office solution you pay a host company to use their mailing address which will typically be in a decent business district. They then forward mail on to you. What’s more, these companies invariably offer phone services as well. They allocate you your own telephone number and their staff then answers in your company name; taking messages or transferring calls direct to you. This significantly lowers the risk that your clients will end up speaking with little Johnny or Josephine about what they just had for lunch. And if you’re otherwise engaged callers still get to speak with a human rather than voicemail.

When it comes to choosing a provider there’s a bewildering choice. A quick Google search on the term ‘virtual office’ yields over 9 million results! So, if the ‘virtual office’ is something you’re considering, what should you look for in a provider?

It goes without saying you should choose a company that is efficient and professional. Ask to talk to their existi

hat’s more, these companies invariably offer phone services as well. They allocate you your own telephone number and their staff then answers in your company name; taking messages or transferring calls direct to you. This significantly lowers the risk that your clients will end up speaking with little Johnny or Josephine about what they just had for lunch. And if you’re otherwise engaged callers still get to speak with a human rather than voicemail.

When it comes to choosing a provider there’s a bewildering choice. A quick Google search on the term ‘virtual office’ yields over 9 million results! So, if the ‘virtual office’ is something you’re considering, what should you look for in a provider?

It goes without saying you should choose a company that is efficient and professional. Ask to talk to their existi

ak with a human rather than voicemail.

When it comes to choosing a provider there’s a bewildering choice. A quick Google search on the term ‘virtual office’ yields over 9 million results! So, if the ‘virtual office’ is something you’re considering, what should you look for in a provider?

It goes without saying you should choose a company that is efficient and professional. Ask to talk to their existing clients – and if you can visit them to discuss your needs in detail, so much the better. Also, find a company that gives you what you want. The best companies can offer you mailing addresses in really prime locations so it’s just down to finding the best fit for you and your business.

The same reasoning applies also for phone services. Good providers can organise virtually any UK dialling code you want, so you could establish a virtual presence in any area or group of areas. They should also be able to supply non-geographic numbers such as 0800, 0845 and 0870 – and therein lays another challenge, as prices will vary dramatically between providers, so it’s a good idea to shop around.

What happens to your calls will also vary. Some providers use automated systems to route calls to your line or a mailbox – and these are generally the cheapest services (and may be all you need). Others employ home workers to answer calls, with their systems distributing calls to the next available operator, whilst high end providers generally employ “virtual PAs” centrally. Either call answering option could of course be fine, but check what you’re getting and if possible ring in and see how they do for yourself!

So what else distinguishes different virtual office companies? Probably the biggest factor is how they host their services. Some virtual office companies are simply mail and phone processing houses. Others however operate as full business centres and these offer a wider and more useful range of virtual offi