In today’s digital age, more and more entrepreneurs and companies are choosing to set up a virtual office rather than a traditional physical office space.
A virtual office allows you to register your business at a professional address in a reputable location – without any of the expensive overhead costs that come with renting a physical office space. It also means that you don’t have to use your home address as your registered business address, so it’s a great way to protect your privacy. You can assemble a remote team to work flexibly, eliminating commuting and getting the most out of your team by allowing them to work in the way that best suits them.
But how do you set up a professional business address using a virtual office in the UK? Here are the steps you need to follow.
STEP 1: FIGURE OUT WHAT SERVICES YOU NEED
The first thing you need to do is think carefully about what you need from your virtual office. Are you looking to establish a presence in a specific location? Do you need mail forwarding, or call handling services? Would you like the opportunity to grow your network through your virtual office?
Some virtual office providers like Impact Brixton have a physical coworking space that you can use, offering meeting rooms, event space and the chance to join a thriving community of entrepreneurs. It can be a great solution to flexible working, allowing you to get the bulk of your tasks done remotely while also taking the opportunity to meet your team face-to-face for important in-person catch-ups.
There are tons of different options out there, so there’s sure to be a package that’s perfect for you. And it’s always worth getting in touch with providers you like to see if they can help you with your specific requirements – lots of teams can provide bespoke solutions for a small extra cost. Make sure you review your requirements every six months or so, to make sure your chosen virtual office provider continues to be the best fit for your business needs!
Step 2: Choose the perfect virtual office location
A huge advantage of setting up a professional business address with a virtual office is that it allows you to establish your business in renowned locations at a fraction of the cost. Instead of laying out the funds to rent a physical private office in a business hotspot such as central London, you can simply register your company to a virtual office in the area and handle all your enquiries remotely.
Registering your business at a prestigious location known for its commercial presence can significantly boost your brand, bumping up your business reputation to make potential customers more likely to trust you. Make sure that your chosen location aligns with your business image and is accessible to your target market, and you’re good to go.
Remember, lots of providers will offer virtual office options in various cities across the UK and even the world. That means that you can choose the one best suited to your business.
Step 3: Check out the reviews for your chosen provider
Once you’ve worked out what services you need and decided on the ideal location for your business address, do some due diligence on the virtual office providers who can offer what you need.
It’s always worth looking at things like Google reviews and customer testimonials, so that you can get a good idea of what it’s like to work with your chosen provider. Making sure you register your business with a reputable virtual office provider means that you can be confident that the services you need will be delivered to a high standard.
Step 4: Register Your Business Address
Okay, now you’ve chosen the perfect virtual office provider, it’s time to register your business address. All you need to do is provide your virtual office provider with the required information, such as your name, the name of your company, and any additional requirements specified by the provider. You might also need to provide some photo ID, so make sure you’ve got it on hand. Don’t worry! Your virtual office provider will guide you through the registration process, and you can always give them a call if you have any questions.
Step 5: Tell Companies House about your shiny new address
Once you’ve set up your virtual office, all you need to do is tell Companies House that this is where your company lives now. That means updating your registered business address to your virtual office provider’s address – or registering your company there, if you’re registering your business for the first time. You can now use the address for all your official correspondence. Congratulations!
And that’s how to set up a professional business address with a virtual office! This is a great option for any company that wants to operate flexibly, economically and from a prime location without paying any of the expensive overheads of running a physical office in a reputable business district.
