What a Virtual Office Can Do for You

According to GlobalWorkplaceAnalytics.com, some 3.7 million employees work from home at least half the time. What's more, 13.6 million of those who are self-employed also work from home. Modern technology along with rising fuel costs and shrinking budgets are just a few of the forces driving this major shift for millions of Americans. Better work-life balance is an oft-cited reason many workers - both employees and self-employed - choose to work from home rather than in traditional office settings. Without a doubt there are many advantages to working at home. Flexibility, time with family and of course, getting to work in your pajamas all comes to mind. However, working from home isn't without certain pitfalls. For instance, any work-from-home parent who has tried to juggle a cranky toddler with an important conference call knows the struggle is certainly real. It can also be tough to get work done when family and friends assume since you're home, you're available. Short of barricading yourself in your home office, sometimes having an office outside the home to escape to is a necessity. That's where a virtual office is a lifesaver. Read on to discover what a virtual office is and what it can do for you.

• Provide a professional presence. A virtual office provides services, such as a business mailing address and administrative support such as a receptionist, that create a professional business presence. If you are running a business from home, you may need a separate mailing address for that business where mail can be received and then forwarded to your home. Additionally, it's often extremely helpful to have a separate business phone number that can be answered by a receptionist who can then forward calls to you at a number of your choosing.
• Provide a physical location for meetings. If meeting clients at home isn't an option and you need facilities and privacy that your local eatery or coffee shop just can't provide, a virtual office is an ideal solution. A virtual office provides conference room space by the hour at an extremely affordable price. Additionally, if you are often on the road but need an actual address and office to remain constant, a virtual office can provide just that without the expensive overhead traditional office space requires.
• Provide a productive work environment. Sometimes it's impossible to get work done at home. No matter how good your intentions are or how self-sufficient your family is, there will be times when getting away is the only way to be productive. As a virtual office tenant, you can have access to real furnished office space with telephone lines, a copy and mail center, a kitchen, cafe and even a gym. Just having a few hours in a ready-to-use office can be well worth the investment - without the commitment of a long term rental agreement.
• Provide an inexpensive way to expand.

Furnished office space for rent is an extremely hot commodity that's often also extremely expensive. If you want to expand your current business to new locations, virtual office space is an affordable way to create a local presence in multiple locations.

In addition to these invaluable services, virtual office space offers peace of mind, taking care of everything including 24/7 access, janitorial services, security, mail delivery and concierge services - all included in one monthly fee. Even better, rental agreements can be short or long term, so you're never stuck in a lease you no longer need or want.

About the Author: Larry Killem is a telecommuting consultant and contributing writer who helps clients reap the rewards of working both from home and from a virtual office.