It's time to weigh up the pros and cons!
Virtual Offices are a relatively new concept, and one that not everyone is familiar with yet. If you are looking for a way to save money on the ever increasing costs of renting a physical office space, a Virtual Office might be a perfect fit for your business. However, as with everything there can be some disadvantages of having a VO. This blog will look at some of the slight disadvantages, and how you can combat them in order to run your business smoothly.
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Ongoing costs
Now, it’s true that a Virtual Office is a monthly expense, and many providers offer add-on services that may be essential to your business at an additional cost. Services such as mail forwarding, booking meeting rooms, and hiring co-working spaces can quickly add up. However, whilst cost can be a disadvantage of a virtual office, providers selling their services cheaply can also be detrimental. Some VO providers offer their services for next to nothing, and the service you get in return often reflects the price. At Virtual Headquarters we offer a prestigious postcode, fully staffed offices with bookable meeting rooms, and we look after your business as if it were our own. We take your business and your reputation very seriously and always conduct strict AML (anti-money laundering) checks, paying less to an alternative provider can mean that your business isn’t always being looked after as it should be. Bear in mind that although the ongoing costs may add up, the value gained and the many benefits of a virtual office outweigh the costs of running and maintaining a physical office. For businesses run from home, it’s much safer and certainly justifies the cost of a virtual office.
Less social contact
By opting for a virtual office instead of a physical office or co-working space, you might be missing out on the social aspect of your business, as a social species, we generally prefer to be around other people. Another factor that could be seen as a disadvantage is the lack of opportunity to develop and build your professional network. However, at Virtual Headquarters our co-working spaces are ideal to meet others, helping you connect with clients and colleagues. Choosing a Virtual Office doesn’t have to mean no contact with the outside world whatsoever, many people choose to work in coffee shops or other public places. Also, what better reason do you need to organise some post-work drinks with your colleagues? Working remotely can also be productive for business, keep distractions at bay, and allow you to really get your teeth stuck into your work.
We have some stunning locations to choose from
Our locations offer stunning, bookable meeting rooms.
Our Virtual Offices offer you a prestigious address.
Why not book a co-working space if you're missing the social aspect of your business?
Technological issues
When you choose to work remotely, you could be more likely to encounter technological incompatibilities that can hinder your ability to work effectively. Virtual offices provide you with technology-based solutions to many common features found in a traditional office, but since you aren’t physically present there, solutions to technical problems may be more difficult to remedy than if you were in a traditional office. However, too many cooks can spoil the broth. Large IT networks are more complex than most home offices, and may sometimes take longer to resolve. You may be able to identify any technical problems and have them resolved by a repair service or virtual assistant. Equally, the benefit of having a Virtual Office is that you can just pick your laptop up and move to a coffee shop if your wi-fi goes down!
No permanent physical location
If you use the meeting rooms and co-working spaces provided by your virtual office a lot, this might result in higher costs, as opposed to just leasing physical office space. Most virtual offices have features that permit you to occasionally use these facilities on an hourly or daily basis. Long-term use of meeting space and office facilities is not ideal with virtual offices, but infrequent use is certainly fine and indeed a great way to use a real office without spending a fortune. Another plus is that customers can’t unexpectedly pop into your premises without giving you time to prepare!
Service limitations
There are loads of useful and practical features available from a virtual office, but you may find some services are lacking or unavailable. For example, virtual offices may not offer meeting space availability at a schedule that works for you or your clients. If you owned the property, you could hold meetings or conferences at any time you wish. However, we don’t overcrowd our Virtual Offices, and with the right amount of planning you shouldn’t ever have to worry about not being able to make the most of your package.
Budget providers
Whilst it may be tempting to opt for a cheap Virtual Office provider, it’s not always the safest option for your business. As the saying goes, you pay for what you get, and providers offering extremely low monthly costs, generally don’t tend to have your best interests at heart. With most providers offering additional services such as mail forwarding and collection, it’s important to go with a reputable and trusted provider to ensure that you receive your mail and to avoid needless stress. At Virtual Headquarters our locations are staffed with professional and trustworthy employees that uphold strong standards, each location has been carefully selected to add prestige to your business and to represent your brand in the best way possible.
Nightmare neighbours
When you choose a Virtual Office you are choosing to share a postcode with other businesses. At home, unfortunately, we can’t choose our neighbours but at Virtual Headquarters we make sure that you are sharing a postcode with other reputable businesses. Other providers that are offering their services for a very low cost may not have taken precautions or properly vetted the other businesses that you will be sharing an address with. We undertake strict AML checks to ensure that each and every business that chooses us, is legitimate and operates within the confines of the law. We don’t oversell our locations either, meaning that you’re not having to compete with other businesses for meeting rooms and co-working spaces. A Virtual Office itself may not offer significant disadvantages, but choosing the wrong provider definitely does.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the concept of virtual offices presents a great solution for businesses looking to reduce costs and embrace the advantages of remote work. While there are some disadvantages to consider, such as ongoing costs and potential limitations in services, these challenges can be effectively addressed through careful planning and selecting a reputable virtual office provider. In essence, the advantages of cost savings, flexibility, and the ability to adapt to evolving work trends make virtual offices a fantastic option for modern businesses. With thoughtful consideration and strategic planning, the disadvantages can be mitigated, allowing businesses to fully enjoy the benefits of a virtual office.
Still on the fence about a Virtual Office? Why not let us tempt you with £30 off your first month, just use the discount code +VO30+at the checkout!
