John J Key asked:




Why a Virtual Office Space?

How can you make your business look bigger, more professional and more successful, without increasing your overheads? Would you like built in structure and support for your business without having the stress of managing staff? How about an office in a different country or just a new town?

If these statements tickle your fancy, a Virtual Office may be just the solution.

What is a Virtual Office?

A Virtual Office is usually a prestigious address for your business where your calls are answered professionally and in your Company name. A place where you can rent meeting rooms by the hour to host those very important meetings, creating the very best impression.

The prestigious address for your business will really create the correct impression for your company. A Virtual Office does away with the need to take out a mortgage to buy an office building or take out a lease for office space.

One of the other important things about Virtual Office Space is how quickly you can be up and running in a fantastic location giving your business the greatest impression.

Why would you want to embark upon the hassle of employing and selecting new staff when you can have dedicated staff on hand to answer your calls for you? You can retrieve your messages whenever you desire – you need never miss a call again when you are out of the office.

When you need meeting space, just book the room, they can be booked by the hour. There are also hot desks available and the benefits of the use of a concierge.

Your overhead costs are low giving you the freedom to afford the more desirable things in life.

How does that sound?

ettbatt asked:


Restricted IM use to ensure increased productivity between employees in virtual offices can this be done? How?

Maeflower asked:


I have the skills, knowledge and education to perform office duties as assigned. Am looking for the right opportunity and virtual employer to work for.

Are you hiring? If not, any suggestions.

Ricardo Trinidad
asked:




As the possibilities created by new technology shifts the focus of business away from the traditional office building and toward a more free-form virtual office system, it’s important that you take the time to consider whether a virtual office might be able to help your business flourish in the twenty-first century. If you aren’t familiar with the term, a virtual office is a form of collaboration among self-employed individuals and those who work from home. This collaboration allows these virtual officemates to share files, work on different aspects of jobs in order to reach a common goal, and generally to perform the same services that would be performed within a standard office but without the undue stress of that sort of office environment.

Why a Virtual Office?

There are a number of reasons that you might choose to either establish a new business with a virtual office or to convert and existing business into a virtual office format. Choosing a virtual office can lead to a great reduction in mental stress that would otherwise be caused within an office, and often provides individuals with more chances for physical activity throughout the day as well. For the environmentally conscious, a virtual office can mean that you will spend less time in polluting traffic and you will also drive less in general since you won’t need to commute in order to get to work. As an added bonus, by being able to set your own schedule you will find that you have more time during the day to do the things that you want to do with friends and family while experiencing a productivity increase from being able to work when you are most physically and mentally prepared for it instead of simply when you are scheduled to be at the job

How to Establish a Virtual Office

In order to set up a virtual office, you should begin by making sure that every office member has an internet-ready computer which meets their software needs as well as access to fax, copy, and other professional services. Create a mail drop for any mail that the virtual office would receive, and take the time to hire an accountant and an administrative assistant (or a “virtual assistant”, who specializes in administrative duties for virtual office companies.) Contact your local government to make sure that all of the proper paperwork has been filled out and submitted, and also be prepared to make tax payments to the IRS for all of the employees that will be working from their own home office setups alongside you.

Virtual Offices and Productivity

Though many people fear that they would be unable to work in a virtual office because the temptation to do things other than work would be too strong, many virtual office workers find that their productivity actually increases once they become accustomed to setting their own schedule and pacing their day accordingly. Because your work flow will be more in tune with the natural flow of your day, you can tailor most of the time that you spend working to match the times of the day or night when you have the most energy and are more focused on the tasks at hand. The important part of establishing good productivity within a virtual office is that a series of rules and regulations must be created for all employees and freelancers to follow. These rules may include payroll policies, timesheet documentation and submission, protocols for client contact and interpersonal correspondence, and the development of rules concerning use of the virtual office website and databases. The important thing is to make sure that the rules which you create are both fair and reasonable, so that they can help personal productivity to flourish instead of causing it to stagnate due to policies which are too strict.

asked:




A lot of us would love the luxury of working from home. Those of you who have it would know what it means: the flexible hours, the freedom, and a comfortable space to work from. The space in your home that you work from and the way it is designed plays a very important role in your productivity and performance. Even if you are a minimalist and would like to make your peace with your little requirements, your office still needs to inspire you to do well. To elicit this inspiration and productivity, take a look at the home office interior design ideas mentioned here.

Home Office Design Ideas

Whether it is modern home office interior design ideas, or one that is traditional, there are some important tips to keep in mind when designing a home office. You should know that interior decorating is the last aspect of interior designing, and that there is a lot that needs to be considered.

Location

Before you get started on any home office design ideas, choose an appropriate location for your home office in your premises. It is very important to choose an area that is relatively less noisy, well lit and well ventilated. A room that allows you to cut yourself off from the ruckus outside will have you looking forward to spending time in your home office. Simply put, you have to concentrate, focus, plan, and achieve goals in this room, so ensure that it is located accordingly. A lot of you may want a room that is closer to the garden, allowing a beautiful break from the monotony of work. If you live in an apartment, the view of the cityscape may be of your choice. Choose an appropriate room and get started.

Furniture Basics

With the location of your home office decided, it’s time to get down to the furniture requirements of your home office. The following will have to be considered in this section.

First and foremost comes a desk. No matter what kind of work you are doing from your home office, you will require a desk to accommodate your desktop or laptop. Additionally you may need a printer and extra equipment with your computer. Ensure your desk has room for all these necessities. Depending on the kind of work you do, you may need a desk with drawers to accommodate your files and other office supplies. If possible, invest in a portable table that can be moved around ever once in a while when it gets monotonous. Do take a look at these desk design tips to get some useful tips in getting yourself the right kind of desk. While deciding on a desk you will also have to consider if you will be entertaining clients in the office. In such a case, you will require a proper office desk that allows you to comfortably interact with your clients. Among the requirements of home office furniture, additional cabinets will be needed to store all your materials. If you can, get wall mounted cabinets as these will free up floor space for other furniture. A lot of people who operate from home offices like elaborate book racks in the room. Not only does it fulfill your storage requirements, it also adds value to the room in terms of aesthetics. Consider CD storage if you have the necessity in your job. Get yourself a memo board that you can put up just above your desk, to remind yourself of important events, things to do, or simply to put up an inspiring quote to keep you going. A notice board is also an interesting addition to your space, on which you can put up important information, photographs and other interesting artwork. If you are a creative individual who makes crafts, an interior designer, or an artist, you will require an additional desk to make your products or sketch, paint, etc. Depending on the size of the room you will be able to accommodate these requirements. Those of you who make crafts, are into professional gift wrapping, sewing, etc. can get yourself wall mounted racks to hold your rolls of ribbon, scissors and other tools that are necessary for your work. In such a case this would be more of a studio than an ‘office’. If you are the one who works in the wee hours of the night, keeping a couch in your home office would be a good idea. Even if not a couch, having a single seat by the window where you can take a break from work and simply unwind for a bit will be very refreshing. This could even be a bean bag, nothing specifically elaborate.

For additional information, you may take a look at this piece on home office furniture buying tips. Remember, the placement of the furniture should be such that it is not crammed. There has to be enough space for you to comfortably walk around. Do not place any furniture in the doorway. Preferably, all furniture should be against a wall to avoid any bumps.

Dennis Moore Hopkins asked:




A virtual office address offers you a lot of benefits and it does not require you to be in the office. But sometimes, you would wonder how to get a good address. Let me share with you here on ways of obtaining good office address.

The first way of obtaining your personal office address is to join and get into a company. Ensure that the company that you are planning to join has good addresses. Good addresses here simply mean the locations are secure and strategic. You should note that there are lots of good addresses out there. And there are a lot of companies that actually allow you to choose them by yourself. In other words, it is quite easy for you to select your office address by simply joining some organizations where everybody can also do it.

The next method that you can consider when you are looking for a good location is to plan on your desired location and if you notice, some companies do actually provide a voting and balloting process. Such provision offers an interesting way to get good address. You can acquire your desired addresses as the price is controlled. Hence, with a little bit of patience and determination, you can get your desired address easily. No doubt, this is another good way for you to get your preferred virtual office address.

Lastly, thinking about the office location can lead to you on getting a good virtual address. You may check if these offices are already at the location that you wish to have, or you can actually get a satellite virtual office from outside companies. You will need resources and contacts in doing so. Besides that, you might even find this service in other big companies. If this happens, you might also pay for these services. However, for bigger companies, this method might be worth doing so when these companies have the specific address that you wish to secure.

Harriet L Reed asked:




As a retired educator who is building an affiliate marketing business on autopilot, I need to set up a home office. A small, private area, with a desk, filing cabinet, and computer is available in my house. I want to make this space into a functional, pleasant office so I can be comfortable and productive when I work there. Based on my previous experience and suggestions from others, I have picked out some home office ideas that might be helpful to me in accomplishing this goal.

They include:

1. Organize the work area. Get rid of the things you don’t need and have designated places for necessities. Set aside a regular time daily or weekly to reorganize, so clutter doesn’t build.

2. Develop a filing system that works for you. Keep the files purged.

3. Keep personal information separate from the professional items.

4. Have office tools close at hand. Use a bulletin board to keep posts within visual range.

5. Write out your short- and long- term goals. Put them where they can be seen.

6. Make a daily work schedule for yourself. Include breaks, at least once an hour. Have “Do Not Disturb” time so you are able to follow your schedule. Make sure you plan for meals.

7. In general, make your home office off-limits for others.

8. Have adequate lighting and a comfortable chair at your desk area.

9. Add some personal touches to insure a pleasant environment.

10. If it is possible, place your desk by a window so you can look up and out. Your eyes will appreciate the change.

I feel I can implement most of these home office ideas in my space without too much effort. However, I have just found out that I will be helping with grandchildren from time to time. They will be in my home, so, theoretically, I should be able to work in the office, if I am able to accommodate the children.

For the newborn infant, I am planning on using a baby swing and carriage. Eventually, I will add a playpen. The active, four- year-old girl is another story. Having her in front of the television 24/7 is not an option. Home office ideas I will use for her include setting up a work area, which includes art supplies and puzzles. Since she likes video games on handheld devices, these will be made available. I may need to provide positive reinforcement (bribes) for time spent working independently, but I am sure we will be able to work it out.

I am looking forward to setting up my work space using my home office ideas. Although having children in the mix from time to time might not be ideal, I know I will appreciate their presence. They will be the personal touches that enhance my environment.

bgall2777 asked:


The main hub of the company is located in New Orleans. Due to Hurricane Katrina, the boss/CEO also has PTSD as well. We moved the virtual back-office up north, while he is still in New Orleans, and we handled his back-office for a year. Then, while he was manic and off his meds, he came up here and got all his stuff and went back. He had been that way for awhile. The other problem is that this is a family business and his brother-in-law is working witth the CEO of the company via long distance. The husband is here, the CEO is now in New Orleans. Yikes. Can anyone give me advice on how to transition and maybe help him out? The CEO of this small company seems to be on the path of self-destruction. His family has done everything they can to try to help him, from thoughtful emails to setting up docs appointments for him. Even his ex-gf is involved with the family in trying to help. The CEO says that docs won’t work for him, he’s tried. Any advice ? Thank you!
**I LOVE** this job. Which is partially why I don’t want to see the CEO fail….he cannot manage administrative work and in-the-field work. He is wonderful and skillful at his trade, but poor in management & administrative skills, which is where myself and the brother-in-law come in. This is the first job I’ve had where I can set my own schedule and pace.

**He also is or has dabbled in Pot, as someone mentioned in one of their answers.

I really don’t want to see him crash and burn. We were just to the point of getting his credit back on track, his payments in on time, etc. He was also poor at managing money, which is where I came in. I was the CEO’s bookkeeper/secretary, but reported to the brother-in-law.

When the CEO decided on this course of action, the brother-in-law and I were both hurt by it…..as the B.I.L. has done a lot of consulting for the CEO.

THANK YOU all for your helpful answers. I appreciate it!
The family has also tried to talk to him numerous times, as well as the brother-in-law.

Goddess asked:


I have over 20 years of experience in executive assistant and office management positions. I have many commendations, high level training, and excellent references. How can I put this to work online and become a virtual assistant? Does anyone know of companies or contacts who currently need someone? I also hold my notary license and hope to obtain work utilizing that more as well.

asked:




An individual or a firm face lot of challenges and problems while setting up a new business, but one of the major problems is the difficulty in finding the right office space. You may already own a successful home-based small business which has got to the point where home simply isn’t big enough anyone; as a result, you need more office space. Whether your requirement is for a production facility or office space, finding the perfect premises at perfect location at the best price is not easy. Indeed, it is essential that you manage your business in an atmosphere that is suitable for both you and your business.

If you are a businessman looking for new office space, you should determine your requirements before shopping around for sites. Apart from simple addition, you need to decide working area you want, number of offices, arrangements for your employees, seating types, and amenities like pantry, lunch room, conference room, etc. which you would like to have in your office. If you are a company that is handling projects, cubicles for employees are an ideal option then elaborate office spaces, but if you are a company that provides customer service then each employee should have separate cabin that facilitates simple and friendly interactions with customer.

Working environment is also another important factor that you should look for. Dull working atmosphere creates stale minds and people get suffocated in their offices. There are simple ways to create suitable working environment in your office space. Placing the desk near a window or a door, so that you face an opening will also refresh your tired eyes and brain. Add a picture or painting to this, and you will have a good office space.

While considering new office space, make sure that you are getting the best possible deal, taking into consideration how much you will pay per square foot of office space, or manufacturing facilities. You should first visit the sample office spaces before you actually choose one. The best option is to contact professional office space providers who will help you to find right office space as per your needs.

Incube business centre has redefined the market of office space in India. They offer office space in Bangalore, Gurgaon, and Office Space in New Delhi that are technologically advanced and styled workspaces that befits your office spaces requirement.