Virtual offices are becoming a popular trend in the business world, especially for small and mid-sized businesses. By having a virtual office, these smaller companies have the ability to project the image of a large company to their clients, which can greatly increase their reputation and sales. Virtual offices provide these companies a chance to thrive in a recessionary economy.
A virtual office is the combination of an off-site address and live communication services, which allows smaller businesses to purchase services and time as their business needs. This allows a small or starting business to eliminate almost all overhead costs which can make or break a company. Virtual offices allow a company to hand select the services they desire, which makes it easy for any company to select services that will allow them to thrive without breaking their budget. Companies are also able to rent conference rooms or office space by the hour or by the day, so if a face-to-face meeting is necessary, the business has the ability to rent what they need and impress their client with an upscale office building.
The services that are offered by virtual offices include call forwarding, receptionist services, auto-attendant services, and voicemail services. Call forwarding allows an incoming call to be forwarded directly to the employee’s phone or even to multiple employees’ phones, without the client ever knowing the call has been forwarded outside of the office building. The live receptionist is provided with database software so that they are able to respond to any incoming call with specific information about the company in a professional manner. The receptionist will also schedule appointments, and occasionally handle small tasks such as data entry, bookkeeping, and maintenance. Auto-attendant services are recorded, client focused greetings. These automatic recordings are able to provide the client with information such as directions to the company, or with the ability to push the call through to an employee. Lastly, voicemail services are provided so that the employee does not have to worry about multiple voicemail boxes, all of the voicemails are stored in one location, at the virtual office. This makes it easier for the company to receive messages and they will not have to worry about missing a message due to a voicemail box being overlooked. These services are all designed to give the company the opportunity to run a highly efficient and effective business, even if they are small.
The virtual office also gives a small or starting business the ability to appear as a large company to potential clients. This professional appearance can entice clients to want to hire the business because their appearance makes them seem trustworthy and important. These offices also make it easier for a business to start a new location. The ability to start a location in a city where you are not actually located can make the transition easy for any business.
The low cost of a California virtual office allows small businesses to put a prestigious address on their business cards and provides them with an elegant office and professional receptionist. In addition to the basic services, the virtual office provides the company with software and the IT infrastructure of larger businesses, which can work to help the company prosper. Overall, a virtual office is an excellent option for any business looking to expand or to get a start in the professional world.