A virtual office can include many things, but generally speaking, it is a service that includes a business address where you can receive mail, and a phone service, as well as the possibility of a physical space you can work from for a certain amount of hours per week. The purpose of a virtual office is to allow your business to have a professional feel, to show up on internet searches with a business location, and to allow you to have things shipped somewhere without having to give out your home address. Often times, virtual offices give a few different options for you to choose from, based on your business needs.

You take your business seriously, but unfortunately for some clients, working from home might give the impression that you’re not able to afford an office, when in reality, you’re a savvy business owner who refuses to pay for things that aren’t needed, rather than allocating those funds to something more necessary. Virtual offices solve the problem of creating a professional public image, without requiring you to pay rent on an office you barely use.

Say you’re talking with a new potential client, and they ask to meet with you this Monday. Your virtual office package can include access to an actual coworking space, with a professional conference room you can rent out. Say you have a vendor that needs to ship some supplies to you. Your virtual office allows you to use their address as your business address so that you don’t have to give out your personal address. You can either have your packages held, and ready for you to pick up, or shipped to you, whichever is more convenient for you.

Answering your own phones is fine, but nothing gives off a more professional feel than having a specified phone number for your business calls and messages. Give out the business phone number you receive with your virtual office package, and all messages will be forwarded to you via phone or email, depending on your preference.