What Is A Virtual Office Membership And How Can I Benefit From One?

With around half of the UK workforce working from home during the pandemic, many businesses simply don’t require an office at present. Some company owners are continuing to pay rent while their employees work from home, while others are taking this time to look into some of the great serviced office deals out there at the moment. 

But what about those who want to exit their office lease or serviced agreement altogether? And what should individuals who started their business during the pandemic do when it comes to renting a workspace? At First Office Hub, we believe that virtual offices can provide the perfect stopgap or short-term solution.

What is a virtual office?

At its most basic level, a virtual office provides you with a business/mailing address. It’s a flexible option for startups and remote business owners who don’t require a physical office but would like to leverage the benefits of a professional business address.

Over the years, virtual office memberships have grown in popularity (in line with the remote working trend) and have come to encompass so much more than a business address and mail handling service. You only pay for the services you require and can upgrade to a physical office when you need a space to accommodate employees.

You can even rent a virtual office in the Shard without occupying a physical space.

What services do virtual memberships offer?

A virtual office can be the logical first step for entrepreneurs and freelancers who have been building their business from home. It can also be a suitable solution for established businesses that are unable to afford their office, for whatever reason. 

Virtual office members benefit from many of the same services as a coworking or private office member would, without having to commit to renting a desk or room. Features include:

• A business postal address 
• Mail opening/scanning service
• Telephone number/answering service
• Access to meeting rooms
• Access to member exclusives/events

Bear in mind that each virtual office operator will offer something a little different. For instance, some might include a few hours of meeting room usage per month as part of the deal, whereas others will charge separately. Some operators may also allow you to use a hot desk for a set number of hours per month in different locations. 

Which leads us nicely to the next question…

Should I opt for a local or global virtual membership?

When you sign up for a virtual office, you only sign up for one business address. 

For example you can sign up for an address at 30 St Mary Axe, London EC3A 8BF (The Gherkin). However, the serviced operator that runs the building may also run multiple locations in the city, country or internationally. If this is the case, they may also allow you to utilise the services at those other locations as part of your virtual office plan.

This could prove beneficial if you regularly travel to other cities to meet clients. Often, the operator will let you use their other locations as a base for meetings. You may also be able to utilise the coworking facilities when you need somewhere to focus. 

What are the top 10 benefits of virtual offices?

#1 Business reputation – having a business address and telephone answering service (optional) in a prestigious location lets people know that you’re established, professional and trustworthy.

#2 Motivation – having an office business address can also help give you a sense of purpose and professionalism, even if you’re running your company from your kitchen or living room. 

#3 Cost-effective – virtual offices enable people to run businesses in expensive places like London and San Francisco while keeping their costs down; memberships start from around £10 per month so it really is a cost-effective option. 

#4 On-premise services – it’s reassuring to know that you can gain access to fully-furnished and kitted out meeting spaces for important client meetings or pitches. 

#5 Flexibility – virtual office memberships are very flexible – you can sign up for as little as one month at a time. If you sign up for longer periods, such as six months, you may be eligible for a discount.

#6 Community – one of the best things about coworking spaces and serviced offices is their sense of community. Even if your membership is a virtual one, many operators will enable you to interact with their business community online through webinars and events. 

#7 Growth – when you’re ready to acquire a physical office to accommodate employees, you may be able to upgrade your membership at your current business address or at one of the operator’s other locations.

#8 Privacy – having a professional business address enables you to keep your residential address private. 

Where can I find a virtual office?

There are literally thousands of virtual office memberships to choose from in London alone. This makes it difficult to know where to start, let alone how to compare the best options. The team at First Office Hub can match you with the best virtual office for your needs.

Simply tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll send across the most relevant options. 

What happens when I’m ready to upgrade to a physical office?

If and when you’re ready to move into a physical office, you have two main options. The first is to approach your virtual office operator (providing you’re happy with them and want to stay at the same address) and ask if they have any availability. You could rent a private office in the building or take out coworking memberships for your team. 

However, if you’d like to move elsewhere, get in touch with First Office Hub and check out our flexible workspace listings. We’re global and will match you with the perfect space – whether you’re looking for a single coworking membership in Dubai or a managed office for a team of 50+ in London.