Rent an Office vs. Virtual Office: What's Right for Your Business?

Описание: Are you thinking about renting an office for your business? Whether you’re starting a new company or looking for a change, there are a few things to consider when choosing whether to rent or go virtual.

I’m Kelsey Johnson from Smith.ai and I’m going to discuss the pros and cons of physical and virtual offices — and what might be right for your business.

When starting a business these days, renting an office space isn’t always the obvious choice. Many businesses are opting for a virtual office, and not just tech companies, consulting agencies, or home service businesses. But don’t just jump on board — it’s about what’s right for you and your business.

Just a note: this video is for small business owners in retail, consulting, home services, professional services, health and fitness, or other similar industries. In my experience, business owners in these industries are now considering a remote space.

First, what is a virtual office? Virtual offices, or remote offices, can be a room or part of a room in your home where you set up a desk and computer. But your virtual office could also include your living room couch, a virtual office space that you rent, days spent at a coffee shop, or even working from a hotel while traveling. The important thing to note with all remote work options, is that you won't require a static desktop computer, phone, and local server to get the majority of your work done. People who work remotely use mainly cloud-based tech solutions, phone systems that work with their smartphones, and laptop computers or tablets. Their biggest concern is high-speed internet, but there are a lot of benefits to a virtual workspace.

1. You will save a lot of money. Not just on rent, but utilities, furniture, cleaning services, security, and in-house reception.
2. You can hire staff from anywhere.
3. You can cover extended hours or provide better responsiveness.
Side note: If you want 24/7 responsiveness, your best bet is hiring a virtual receptionist service like Smith.ai.
4. You can save time on commuting, distractions from coworkers, and get laundry and other tasks done during work breaks.
5. Many people are more productive when they work from home.
6. In an emergency like a hurricane or global pandemic, you won’t struggle to transition to remote work.
7. You can take care of or spend more time with your family and pets.

Although the internet is alight with praises for virtual work right now, it’s certainly not for everybody. These are some of the reasons you might want to rent an office: 
1. You, personally, need a dedicated workspace out of the home.
2. You’d like a physical presence in the community.
3. Hiring, training, onboarding, and collaborating with your staff is essential to your business.
4. An in-person interaction is essential for you to make a sale.
5. Your clients demand a prestigious experience.

Are you on the fence about renting an office space or choosing to work from home? Here are 7 questions to ask yourself to help you make the decision:

1. What’s my budget?Is renting an office going to blow your budget out of the water?
2. Will the clients brought in by the office space pay for the space itself?
3. Will I get foot traffic and brand awareness from my office?Does your business benefit from people walking by and potentially popping their head into your office?
4. Do I need a separate space from my home to work in?
5. Do I want an office? This may sound obvious, but if you can afford the overhead and you really want an office for your business, that’s a good reason to rent one.
6. Do I have employees to manage? Managing people remotely isn’t difficult, but it also isn’t for everyone.
7. Does my family need me at home? If you have pets or children who need you in the house in case of emergencies or just want to spend time with you during breaks, working from home could be a really great option.

Generally, my advice if you’re on the fence is to start your business remotely if you can, and then make the move to renting a physical office when it makes sense financially for you — and make sure you have a good reason to do so. 

Whether you rent or work remotely, virtual receptionists can help you spend your time doing the work you are best suited to. We can answer your calls, chats, texts, and social messages, transfer calls, qualify and intake new leads, schedule and reschedule appointments, and much more. To get started with Smith.ai virtual receptionists, head to https://smith.ai.