How to Set Up a Virtual Office

Some individuals and companies need to set up a presence in a location other than where they regularly reside or otherwise conduct their business.  A virtual office will give these people that necessary presence.  A virtual office can be more than just a phone and a mailing address for those needing extra services.

• Get a professional mailing address.  A service providing a mailing address should give you a choice of cities where you can have your virtual presence associated.  There should also be an easy method to check whether new mail has arrived.  This could be by phone, through email or via a website.  Any mail should regularly be held and forwarded to you.  If your virtual office is in the same city where you live, determine whether the virtual office surface has extended pickup hours to retrieve your mail in person.


• Get a phone number for your virtual office along with the features and services you need.  Getting a phone number that is associated with your virtual office might be enough.  Simply set up a professional voicemail greeting, and make sure that you understand how to check your voicemail messages.  Other businesses will want to have various departments, as well as a virtual receptionist.  Pamela for Skype is one such service that ranges in price from approximately $13 to $40.


• Hire a virtual assistant if you need help running your virtual office.  A virtual assistant helps run your virtual office and can be trained to help you perform any outsourcing task.  AskSunday.com is one site that provides virtual assistant services.