A virtual office can be many things. If you want, a virtual office can be nothing more than a step up from a post-office box so at least you can market a physical address that is not your home. It can also be a fully staffed and equipped office with your own phone numbers, fax number, shared receptionist, assistants, bookkeeper, accountant, computer support personal and more. It can also be anything in between depending on the needs of your particular business. Imagine an answering service, a post-office box, a meeting space, a temporary employment agency, a Mailboxes etc., and a Kinkos all under one roof to help you run your business.
It is cheap and fast. You can have an address, receptionist, phone lines, fax line, phone system, copy machine, credit card processing and more and be open for business in a few hours for very little money.
It is flexible. If you have a part-time assistant who works from 8-12, you are in trouble if an urgent project comes up at 1:00 pm. A virtual office is always staffed and you only pay for the services you use.
It is professional. On your own, you may not be able to afford a conference room, a receptionist, a phone system, a fast copy machine and all of the other amenities of a big company. Consequently, your corporate image suffers. With a virtual office, you have all of those things so you can project a corporate presence for even the smallest of home businesses.
You can work remotely. A good virtual office will have the right phone system and technology allowing you to seamlessly work from your home and your clients never need to know unless you tell them. Of course, that means saving money at the gas pump, avoiding traffic and having more free time.
You are Part of a Large Commerce Network. A virtual office is filled with several small businesses offering goods and services. A good virtual office will help the virtual tenants create a business network wherein the virtual tenants want to buy from and refer business to each other.
There may be tax advantages to having part of your home set up to conduct business.
Any business, including those that:
Want a low-cost, flexible and low-risk alternative to renting, staffing, furnishing and equipping a conventional office.
Are testing a new product, service or idea.
Are downsizing from a conventional office.
No longer wants to answer their own phone calls, use a post office box or meet clients at a coffee shop
Wants to establish an inexpensive business presence in a new territory where the virtual office is located
Is seeking a business address, receptionist or other services to enhance their corporate image
Wants to shift administrative and reception duties to others so that they can increase their productivity and ultimately their profit
Needs a business address and/or phone number for complying with government regulations
Needs additional staff but has no place to house them or no desire for a pay-roll
That needs a place open during business hours for receipt of mail and parcels, and/or client drop-offs or pick-ups.