Virtual offices have become very popular in the internet age. With the increase in telecommuting, working from home and self-employment, more and more people are looking for a way to establish a professional office “storefront” for themselves without the hefty cost of a full-time office.

There are many perks and benefits that come with virtual offices, such as a dedicated mailing address and the ability to rent out conference rooms and meeting space. But perhaps the best perk is the virtual receptionist.

The term “virtual receptionist” can be a bit misleading: there’s nothing “virtual” about the receptionist (don’t expect to have Siri come along with your virtual office space), they are a very real person. A virtual receptionist works for the building proprietor, but attends to the needs of the virtual office renters. When someone calls your virtual office number, the virtual receptionist is there to answer, take messages and even set appointments for you.

Have you been afraid to leave your desk because you might miss a call? The virtual receptionist eliminates that fear. They can answer the call and route it to you wherever you are, allowing you the freedom to conduct your business on the go. The transition is seamless, giving the impression that you and your receptionist are in the same office, when you could actually be hundreds of miles away.

If you need to have packages sent to your virtual office or need someone to sign for an important document, the virtual receptionist can do that as well. A virtual receptionist is also very helpful for renting out conference rooms or office space at your virtual office building; since they work in the building, the receptionist will know which rooms are available and when, making scheduling a breeze.

Essentially, a virtual receptionist can do whatever a receptionist would do if you hired them yourself, with one important difference – they’re not actually your employee.

Why does that matter? Well, if you’re self-employed, why go through the expense and hassle of hiring a single employee just to give you a helping hand? Even if you already have a staff, the ability to outsource a job will save you time and money.

Everyone could use a little help these days; and a virtual receptionist provides invaluable help for any business professional.