Are you considering getting a virtual office address for your company? You’re not alone. In 2021, virtual office market value stood at 40.51 billion USD. In 2029, it’s expected to rise to a whopping 137.65 billion USD.
More and more entrepreneurs are choosing to use a virtual office to establish a business presence in a prestigious location without any of the expensive overheads that come with renting a physical office space. It’s also ideal for protecting your privacy, as it means you don’t have to use your home address to register your business with Companies House, which is a public database accessible to anyone.
It’s really straightforward to set up a virtual office for your company. But with so many virtual office services out there, how do you choose the best one? This blog post will explain how to get a virtual office address in 2024, and offer you some top tips on making sure you’re choosing the provider that’s best for your business. There might be a cheeky discount to use on our services in there, too!
What is a virtual office address?
Simply put, a virtual office address is a service that allows businesses to use a prestigious physical address for official purposes without actually occupying the physical space.
But how does a virtual office work? Here’s an example:
When you sign up for Impact Brixton’s virtual office programme, you can use our professional address in London’s vibrant Brixton Village as your registered company address. So when you register your business with Companies House, you’ll use our address instead of your own. That means that when people look your business up, that’s what they’ll see – SW9 8LA, a postcode in the heart of a renowned hub for small businesses. It’s the ideal way to make a really good first impression, and build trust in your brand.
Using a virtual office to get a professional business address is a great way to build business credibility without spending tons of your profits on rent and maintenance for a physical office space in an impressive location. It’s particularly useful for entrepreneurs who are just starting out, as it allows you to work from home while still giving your business a really professional image. It’s also great for teams that are entirely remote, bringing employees from all over the world under one business address.
How do you get a virtual office?
It’s really easy to set up a virtual office. Each provider will have slightly different steps that you need to follow, but generally the process will follow this simple structure.
1. Research Virtual Office Providers
Start by researching virtual office providers in your desired location. There are tons of virtual office packages out there, so you need to make sure that the provider you choose can provide everything you need – whether that’s mail handling, workspace access, or virtual assistants for your business. It’s a really good idea to read Google reviews for your chosen provider, too!
2. Contact the Provider
Providers like Impact Brixton, a virtual office in London, have friendly and dedicated hosts who can take you through the process step-by-step, making sure you’ve done everything you need to get the most of your chosen virtual office package.
3. Select a Package
Different providers provide different services. Some will provide mail forwarding, others will scan your mail and email it to you. Providers like Impact Brixton include access to a coworking space and meeting rooms. And you may find a package that includes virtual receptionists and assistants, to help you run your business. So make sure you do plenty of research into what’s out there!
4. Provide the Necessary Information
You’ll need to provide certain documents and information for the registration process. This may include personal identification, proof of address, and business registration details. If you’re in doubt, just ask your provider. They’ll help you make sure you have everything you need.
5. Agree to Terms and Fees
The cost of a virtual office can vary, so make sure you understand the pricing structure of the virtual office packages on offer. There are usually options to pay monthly or annually, and there may be discounts available. You may also be able to add extra features for a small cost. So take the time to review and agree to the terms and fees associated with your chosen virtual office package.
6. Receive Confirmation
Once you’ve selected a price, confirmed the terms of your agreement, and set up your subscription, you’ll receive a confirmation of registration from your virtual office provider. This will include the address that you can use for your business address registration with Companies House. Registering your business with Companies House is a legal requirement in the UK, so make sure you do it in good time!
Keep in mind that regulations and requirements may vary depending on your location and the virtual office provider. Compliance with regulations is super important, so take the time to understand what you need to do.
And that’s it! You can start using the provided address for your business correspondence immediately.
What are the benefits of a virtual office?
There are tons of advantages to setting up a virtual office, from cost savings to privacy protection and remote working solutions. Here are the top five benefits of getting a virtual office for your business.
1. Fantastic Cost Savings
A virtual office allows you to establish a professional business presence with a prestigious address in a desirable location without paying the rent, utilities and maintenance on a physical office space. You won’t need to worry about office equipment, either!
So if you’re looking for a cheap virtual address for your business, a virtual office is the ideal choice. It’s the perfect way to give your business a professional and credible reputation without spending valuable cash in the early days of growing your business.
2. Professional Image for Your Business
It can be difficult to give your business a professional image in the early days, especially if you’re doing most of the work from your kitchen table. But this is where a virtual office is the ideal option!
As well as an impressive postcode in a renowned business hub, a virtual office can come with tons of extra features to help you build a credible reputation for your business. Consider choosing a package that includes a professional phone number and a virtual assistant to answer your calls. This can give the impression that your company is big, credible and reliable. It’s a fantastic way to build trust in your brand.
3. Total Flexibility
As small business solutions go, a virtual office is a really good one because they offer total flexibility. You can scale your services up or down as needed, without any long-term commitments to rent or bills.
And because you can conduct your business affairs completely remotely, you can also choose your working hours and build a team of workers from all over the world. It’s the perfect way to tap into the global talent pool, securing the best brains for your business.
4. Ideal for Remote Working
More and more people are choosing to work remotely for the flexibility and freedom it allows. An incredible 47% of workers reported that their well-being improved due to working from home in some capacity, so it’s no wonder that the working from home trend isn’t going anywhere.
Virtual office features like mail handling, call forwarding and virtual receptionists make working from home easier than ever before. And with video conferencing and services like Slack, your team will be able to collaborate from anywhere.
5. Access to Meeting Rooms, Coworking Space and More
If you’re worried that remote working might mean that your team isn’t very cohesive, choose a provider that offers access to a physical workspace – like Impact Brixton. You can book a meeting room or a hotdesk for your team to get that all important face-to-face time in, while still conducting the majority of your business operations remotely. It’s the best of both worlds!
And because over 200 entrepreneurs and small business owners use Impact Brixton’s coworking space, you’re very likely to run into like-minded individuals that could help you take your business to your next level. Take our member Andry, for example – thanks to contacts she met at Impact Brixton, she was able to take part in a live stream with MIT to 12000 people all over the globe. So why not give coworking a try? You never know who you might beet!
How much does a virtual office cost?
The cost of a virtual office will vary depending on the features that you need, and you’ll usually be able to pay either monthly or annually. If you’re looking for a cheap virtual office in London, consider Impact Brixton. Our prices start at just 0.41p per day. And if you use the discount code IMPACT30, you’ll get your first month free of any of our virtual office packages!
Conclusion
Getting a virtual office address for your business is a simple solution that can offer cost savings, flexible working and a professional reputation for your team. If you’re thinking about setting up a virtual office for your business and you want the full lowdown on the advantages, alternatives and options available, check out our complete guide to virtual offices. And you can sign up to Impact Brixton’s virtual office for just 0.41p per day here!
