There are some great benefits to having an office, but there are a lot of cons too, and these cons can seem much bigger if you are able to remove most of them with a virtual space.
So, with that in mind, this piece is going to take a look at some of the reasons you should opt for a virtual office space instead of brick and mortar.
Reduced Rental Costs
One of the most appealing aspects of going virtual with office space is the significant amount of money you can save. We all know how expensive renting a property can be, and with the rates of everything escalating, it is going to be pinching the pockets of many.
Remove that worry by using a flexible virtual office. No hidden costs for rent, utilities, or fees, but there is still a professional space where employees can come together, and clients can reach out to.
Access to a Wider Talent Pool
When a business is confined to a location, so are the potential employees. Businesses are limited to who can travel to and from their office and who is local to the area. When you have a virtual office, the opportunities for collaboration and the chances of finding the right person for a particular role can skyrocket, because they are not bound geographically.
Having a diverse workforce is very important for growth and balance, along with access to different perspectives. These are essential if you want your business to thrive and can easily be achieved if you are able to hire from multiple locations instead of just one.
Flexibility
Even before the pandemic, workers were crying out for more flexibility, and now they know it is possible to get work done from home and the company won’t fall apart, it is going to be much more difficult to convince people to stay somewhere that does not offer that flexibility that many of us have become so accustomed to.
It is not just about the flexibility for the employees either- businesses also benefit. When maintaining a brick-and-mortar office, businesses are often ensnared into lengthy rent contracts which can be stifling if circumstances change.
When you use a virtual office you can expand and shrink along with your needs, so you aren’t stuck paying for a place that isn’t being used to its full capacity.
Great for Small Businesses
Start-ups or small businesses seldom need a physical office space to call their own. They might not need the capacity, have the funds to lease one, or even want to have an office space at the beginning. Most of the time it is important for small businesses to minimise their expenses and focus on the essentials. However, in doing so, they could lose out on some aspects that make a business appear legitimate and valued, such as a postal address, somewhere to meet clients and the benefits of marketing purposes.
This is where a virtual office can help, as businesses can get their hands on a prestigious location without there having to be a move – along with the essential, professional aspects that come with an office.
These include:
Telephone answering service – Having someone available to take messages and answer any calls is an important aspect of having an office. Not only does it offer a professional air, but it also ensures any crucial communication isn’t missed. You don’t have to hire a secretary either – everything is done remotely and is included with certain virtual office packages.
Meeting rooms – A lack of meeting rooms is something that can hold businesses back. You will more than likely not want to invite a stranger into your dining room if you work from home, and more casual settings such as a café can be very disruptive and noisy. It is also worth pointing out you might be discussing information that is to be kept under wraps! Having a virtual office can mean you also have the feature of hiring out professional meeting rooms when you need to – which looks great for the customer or client and saves the business money from a lease.
Business address – Business addresses are essential for professional relationships. Not only do they show legitimacy, but business owners also don’t want to be giving out private and personal information for work. A virtual office package comes with your own business address so you can separate your personal information from your business.
