You’ve decided to rent a virtual office, but you don’t know how to choose. There are several things to consider when picking an office for you or your business. Here are 10 of the most important:

1. Make sure the rental lengths are flexible

A lease is a tough contract to break, and it can be very expensive to do so. If you’re choosing a virtual office over a lease, be sure to get flexible terms. Many virtual offices offer monthly, weekly or even daily rental terms, which allow you the flexibility to change your mind – and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg to do so.

2. Pick the location that best suits your needs

A virtual office should be located in a place that makes sense for your business. If all you need is an office to get some work done, pick a location that is in a low-stress environment. If you need access to clients and business partners, go with a big city location.

3. Find out what kind of office space is available

Every virtual office has different office space available. Do you need a solo office, or will you have a handful of people working with you? You can find solutions for both in the virtual office world.

4. Find an office with on-demand meeting space

Everyone needs to be in a meeting from time to time, either with their own team or with an important business partner/client. Many virtual offices offer meeting space and conference rooms on an in-demand basis, for lengths of time as short as an hour. Having the ability to rent a conference room can definitely come in handy.

5. Ensure your tech needs are met

All virtual offices have internet access these days, but not all have the same tech options available. Do they have audio/visual equipment? Available phone lines? How fast is the internet? It’s important to pick an office that has the tech to meet your needs. Some offices boast great tech offerings, such as T1 internet speed (which isn’t currently available for most residential customers).

6. Accessibility is key

Unexpected issues come up – make sure you have the ability to deal with them. Some virtual offices allow access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get an office with round-the-clock access so you’re always prepared just in case you need to hold a meeting.

7. Pick an office with a dedicated street address

Almost all virtual offices have a street address you can use for your deliveries and mail, but it’s important you ensure your virtual office does, too. A professional street address adds legitimacy to your business.

8. Google it!

Take the time to do at least a cursory internet search on your virtual office building. Has it been reviewed on Yelp? Has it ended up in the news for any reason? Chances are your Google search won’t reveal any red flags, but it’s better to look just in case.

9. Shop Around

Virtual offices are a relatively new enterprise, and therefore standard price levels haven’t been established. Prices can vary widely; for example, in San Francisco, options range from $140 per month for a virtual address in the Financial District, to $549 per month for a marquee virtual office in a high-rise. Shop around a bit to make sure you’re getting a good rate.

10. Make sure parking is taken care of

Is there anything worse than running late to a meeting and discovering there’s no parking to be found? If you find yourself needing to hold a meeting at the virtual office address you picked and decided to rent a virtual office in a busy city like San Francisco, parking can be a nightmare. You won’t have to worry about parking if you choose an office park in the suburbs, but in the big city, parking is a scarce and valuable resource. Make sure your virtual office has a parking solution of some kind.

If you follow these 10 tips, you should find a virtual office that fits your demands, and at a reasonable price, too. To read more on this topic, download our free eBook "4 Reasons Why a Virtual Office is Perfect for a Home-Based Company".