benefits of virtual office for business space

Benefits of a virtual office for online businesses

Benefits of a virtual office for online businesses

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A virtual office provides businesses with off-site mail handling and forwarding services. It also allows them to use the virtual office’s address as their own.

Online businesses, in particular, can benefit from a virtual office, as they do not need a private, commercial office space. Instead, this solution allows remote teams to work from anywhere, knowing their mail is always handled professionally – even when they’re on holiday.

Below, the UK’s top-rated company formation agent, 1st Formations, explores why online businesses should consider a virtual office and where to find one.

why you need virtual office

1. Lower costs

First off, virtual offices are considerably cheaper than physical office space – both in terms of rent and operational costs.

Workplace specialists, K2, report that top-quality offices in London cost between £80 and £150 per square foot. Even if an online business only requires a small office to receive company mail, these rates still equate to thousands of pounds per month in unnecessary expenses – and that excludes utility costs, maintenance, and having reliable staff on-site to manage their post.

Meanwhile, a virtual address, such as the 1st Formations Business Address Service, costs just £96 plus VAT for a whole year. There’s no need to compromise on location or do extensive research to find the most affordable office space, and you have the reassurance that there is always a staff member available to handle incoming correspondence. With a virtual address service, online businesses can rest assured that they’re getting the service they need alongside value for money.

2. Enhanced corporate image

The high cost of commercial office space makes it inaccessible to small, online businesses with low budgets. This means they are often forced to establish themselves in unattractive locations or outside their industry hubs to compromise on prices.

But a business’s location says a lot about it. For instance, if a potential customer were to discover your website or social media page and see that you’re based in a small, unknown town, they may be less inclined to trust you, assuming your organisation is unestablished or unprofessional.

However, with a virtual office, there’s no need to compromise. No matter their size, online businesses can choose their preferred location, including high-profile areas, and benefit from a professional, credible corporate image without the heavy price tag.

3. Security

Without a commercial office, some business owners use their home address as the organisation’s official contact address. However, this puts their personal details at significant risk, allowing anyone in the world to see their real location.

A virtual office protects your personal information, keeping your residential address away from public view.

4. Access to essential business services

The core service included in a virtual office are mail handling. This involves receiving your post and forwarding it to your preferred address or scanning and sending it digitally.

This ensures that all of your correspondence is received and shared promptly without the risk of important mail sitting unanswered for long periods.

Additionally, many virtual office providers offer additional services like front-of-house support, meeting room rentals, and telephone answering. So, if remote teams ever need to catch up in person or host a client, they can rely on their virtual office provider for a convenient and professional solution.

what are the benefits of virtual office

5. Business expansion

One of the most attractive benefits of a virtual office for an online business is flexibility and scalability support. There is no need to worry about long, rigid tenancy agreements or upfront commitments that typically come with traditional offices.

With a virtual office, you get the flexibility your business needs to grow. Services are typically renewable on an annual basis, so you can focus on commercial growth with the freedom of a short-term subscription and no geographical limitations.

6. Environmental benefits

Virtual offices offer environmental as well as business benefits. Primarily, the absence of commuting to a physical office reduces your carbon footprint.

If you’d typically drive to work, this is where a virtual office can have the most significant impact. According to the European Environment Agency, cars account for over 60% of all transport emissions in Europe.

Public transport is far more environmentally friendly, but a virtual office is an ideal solution if you don’t need to commute at all but still require office facilities.

7. Reduced administration

A virtual office is an excellent way to boost productivity and efficiency, and free yourself and your teams to focus on your business. With a dedicated professional service to handle your incoming mail, you’ll save plenty of time on administrative tasks.

At 1st Formations, we make the mail handling process as swift as possible. Our mail team receives your physical mail and forwards it to you by scan and email on the same day so you can access it remotely anytime.

If you receive any post that we can’t forward electronically (like bank cards), we’ll send it to your address of choice via Royal Mail First Class post. We’ll also filter out junk and spam, ensuring you only receive the documents that matter and avoiding wasted time on unwanted post.

8. Ideal for non-UK residents

If you run a UK online business but you’re based abroad, a virtual office is perfect for establishing a UK presence your local customers will trust.

There is also no need to travel back and forth to the UK to collect your business mail, as your virtual office service provider will make these documents available to you electronically, so you can easily manage your correspondence regardless of your location.

Book your virtual office

A virtual office is an excellent solution for businesses of all sizes and industries, especially if you seek an affordable and flexible alternative to traditional offices. Virtual offices also help bolster a company’s corporate image, aid with commercial growth, minimise manual administration, simplify mail handling for overseas entrepreneurs, and align with sustainable business practices.

Ready to explore virtual office solutions for your online business? Visit the 1st Formations website to book your prestigious Covent Garden, London business address for just £96 plus VAT. You’ll also find additional address services with the UK’s best company formation agent you may be interested in.

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