Some start-up owners who have just jumped into entrepreneurship may believe that a virtual office is a simulated workspace used as a collaborative hub for distributed teams. 

But a virtual office isn’t a virtual space at all.

Virtual offices are real physical offices located in a building managed by an office provider. 

Virtual offices provide companies with all the necessary tools to run smoothly and establish a business presence. 

The only difference is that businesses do not operate physically from the building where the office provider is located (even though business owners can access on-demand office space whenever they need it). 

Therefore, a virtual office is a set of services that businesses can leverage to gain credibility, increase customer trust, and scale-up without downtime. 

Entrepreneurs and business owners who are not familiar with the virtual office concept will find below a comprehensive list of the services typically included in a virtual office package. 

Note: Many products and services are fairly similar in the competitive market but have different features and dimensions of quality. The same rule applies to virtual offices. Hence, only first-class virtual office providers (such as B2B HQ) include all of the services listed below in their plans and packages.  

Virtual Offices: What Services Are Included?

• Professional business address

Companies can use a virtual address as a business address or registered office (or both of them). Virtual addresses are legal, and ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) accepts them for business registration. A virtual address in a prestigious location can help a business build trust and polish its brand image.  

• Meeting rooms

Professional, fully equipped meeting rooms are essential for every entrepreneur looking to make an excellent first impression during business meetings. Top-notch virtual office providers allow their customers to book the meeting rooms through an online portal and access them 24/7. 

• On-site receptionist

On-site receptionists are essential for two reasons: firstly, they greet guests and customers visiting a business (and make a great first impression on anyone). Secondly, they are available during business hours to sign for and receive important business documents and mail. 

• Mail-handling 

Mail handling services help business owners save time and improve back-office productivity. An excellent virtual office provider offers mail scanning, forwarding, storage, and recycling services. Some of them also include add-ons such as an additional mail recipient or large mailbox. 

• Local landline plans

Local landline plans enable businesses to connect with customers. Typically, virtual office providers offer different landline plans that vary according to the number of minutes diverted to mobile or landlines. Some office providers also offer 1300 and 1800 numbers available as an add-on for their customers. 

• Receptionist 

Virtual receptionists are perfect for businesses looking to offer a personalised customer experience and increase customer satisfaction rate. Typically, virtual offices provide receptionists who handle incoming and outgoing calls, schedule appointments, and perform basic administrative tasks. 

Conclusion: A virtual office provides businesses with the same services as a traditional brick-and-mortar office, but without expensive overhead and employee costs. 

Virtual offices are cost-effective, flexible, and affordable and are the best alternatives for companies looking to reduce costs and increase profit.

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