Is Your Office a Necessary Cost?

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I was looking online this morning and I found a statistics website that lists out the average cost of office spaces in California and Oregon.  On average, businesses are paying anywhere between $1.57 – $2.09 per sq. foot, per month, so a business operates in a 1,900 sq. foot office (like my own) you would be paying on average anywhere from $2,983 – $3,971 per month on office rent, and that is for a relatively small office.  Wow!  That is a lot of money to spend each month, not to mention the utility bill, insurance costs, and other operational costs that come with running an office.home_mid_vo4.jpg

One alternative to running a physical office, is to open up a Virtual Office, an online service that gives businesses an “office” with all of the necessary equipment and services when they need it without the hassles of actually running an office full time.  With a virtual office, you can work from home or on the road, and then use the office space for client or business meetings.

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Do You Really Need to Rent an Office Space?

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As we usher in 2009, many of my clients are beginning to weigh the pros/cons of moving out of their home offices and into a “real” office space for their business.  For many of these clients, a virtual office would be a better fit for their needs, however, some still do need a permanent operations headquarters that is their own.  Here are some of the benefits of utilizing a virtual office:mainbld_large.jpg

  • Not having to battle through traffic every day to commute to and from your office space.
  • Monetary benefits from savings in gas, wear and tear on your car, business clothing, and lunches out
  • Reduced stress (always a good thing)
  • Increased opportunities to hire part-time or contract workers

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Ready for 2009 Challenges?

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A new year is upon us and many challenges lie ahead. One wonders how many people meet 2009 with just one goal, Survival. If you asked many small business owners what their goal(s) for 2009 are that one would be at the top of their list. Just consider a few of the macro issues your business will face:

1. Selling products or services in a down market

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Cast a Big Shadow part 2

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A few weeks ago, I wrote about how small businesses can cast a big shadow by using several marketing techniques, including buying into a virtual office for client visits and presentations.  I want to make an amendment to that post, and include another, smaller way that small businesses can make themselves appear larger than life; hire a virtual receptionist service.

A virtual receptionist service can make a good impression for your business at a fraction of the cost of hiring, training and employing a live receptionist at your office.  Some of the benefits a virtual receptionist service can offer includes: Read the rest of this entry »