A virtual office can provide telephone answering and mail forwarding for companies that want to appear bigger and more sophisticated than they really are. For a one man band working out of the spare bedroom, the business benefits of a permanent, prestigious address and a professional receptionist answering every single call are invaluable.
Telephone answering
Many small businesses use a telephone answering service. There are numerous services around which allocate a telephone number to your business which is then answered by a receptionist using your company name. The call is then transferred on to your company’s phone number, where you or your staff can deal with it appropriately. It is especially useful for people working from home or without permanent premises.
To get the best service you must shop around. Fees vary; there are normally monthly costs of between £50 and £150 and often a cost per message. You want a personal service with people who get to know your business and offer a professional approach. You do not want a far flung call centre which will put off more business than it attracts!
Mail forwarding
Mail forwarding can offer businesses a professional, prestigious business address (e.g. central London) wherever in the world they are really operating from. Costs can vary from around £20 to over £100 for the service with extra fees for forwarding on. If it is important to your business do check if larger packages can be sent or whether the forwarding address can be used a Registered Office address. Many allow their mail to be picked up, but this is impractical for many small businesses. Other companies have meeting and conference room facilities, but make sure you only pay for what you will use. You may not need a prestigious address and might want a simple mail forwarding package whereby mail is sent on to you quickly and efficiently. Take your time to find a company that suits your needs.
