8 tips for choosing the ideal virtual office in Montreal. In today’s digital age, the ability to let employees work from home is an incredible freedom for modern businesses and professionals. In fact, such freedom means that many companies do not bother to rent a central office, as even the company’s coordination team and senior management can easily work remotely. However, no matter how pleasant it is to run a business almost entirely remotely, the legal and structural aspect of a business always requires a physical location and an address with a mailbox, so that your customers and business partners can officially reach you. The good news is that you don’t have to spend your limited budget on renting office space that you’ll probably use very little, thanks to the practical existence of virtual offices in Montreal. A virtual office is a commercial space shared by several companies to operate their activities. Access to a business address, a virtual receptionist, and conference rooms are usually services affiliated with a virtual office subscription. Montreal-based domiciliation agencies generally offer a range of support services to their members, and considering that needs vary from company to company, virtual office plans vary greatly depending on your expectations and budget. So the question is: which virtual office should you choose? To help you choose the ideal virtual office for your business, here are some great tips from our business domiciliation experts. Consider Your Business Needs Before you even dive into the search for all the domiciliation agencies in your area, it is important to clearly identify your company’s needs. Do you mainly work from home? Does your company allow its employees to work from home? Are you going to hire freelancers? Do you have a limited budget? Do you usually meet your customers and/or partners by appointment? If you answered yes to any of these questions, there is a good chance that the virtual office will be a beneficial solution for you. A virtual office is a set of services including a business address, mail transfer, live assistance from a receptionist, inclusive use of a meeting room, etc. Some of these services may be suitable for your business, while others may not. The main advantage of virtual offices is their flexibility. It is important that you keep this in mind when choosing a virtual office plan, and that you choose the services that your business really needs. You can always add more services as a new need arises. First, determine your company’s goals and the tools needed to achieve them. For example, if you want to build a network of loyal customers for your business, you need tools that focus on excellent customer service. A professional receptionist service is the solution. Besides, if you run a business that thrives on face-to-face meetings, presentations and training, you will likely need a place with professional layouts to receive your customers and business partners. Then look for a virtual office with inclusive access to fully equipped meeting rooms with on-site staff. Stay True to Your Budget Now that you have identified the needs of your business, you want to establish a budget. This is particularly important for SMEs and start-ups, as they generally have limited resources. As a general rule, these offices are affordable. Make sure that as many services as possible are included in your package. Consider the following: the total cost, what is included in the package, and the credibility of the supplier. Since this is a competitive industry, prices also remain competitive. In fact, the idea here is to choose the right virtual services for your business. It can be tempting to choose the cheapest option, the basic plan, but adding services à la carte can quickly raise the bill. For example, some domiciliation centres in Montreal offer a private mailbox service at a basic price. For each piece of mail you wish to track, open or redirect, a handling and postage charge applies. This means that if you receive a lot of mail each month, this service may cost you more than if you had originally opted for a fixed-price package. Since virtual offices generally have different pricing levels, be sure to check the various services included for each level. Choose the Right Location Location is a predominant factor in choosing a virtual office. Virtual offices located far from metropolitan areas are generally more affordable, while those in busy and easily accessible locations are sometimes much more expensive. It is therefore sometimes tempting to prioritize price, assuming that location is of little importance when working remotely. You’re wrong! The business address contributes to the professional image of your company. In fact, one of the main assets of a virtual office is the company’s address. In fact, it becomes much more than a mailing address: it’s your company’s head office. The address can therefore be found everywhere on your business cards, on your website, on your social media, etc. In this case, should we choose the most prestigious place in the whole city? Not quite. The location must, in fact, truly reflect your brand. For instance, if you have a large client base, it would be interesting to consider an office in the Saint-Henri district, a place that is particularly coveted by young families, professionals and entrepreneurs because of its accessibility. Rather, the right questions to ask yourself is: Can customers find my business fairly easily? Is there parking lot or public transportation stops nearby? Is it close to your home or far across town? Weigh the pros and cons before making your decision. In fact, keep in mind that your business address should not only be convenient for you, but also for your customers. If you ever need to meet a client, a partner, a current employer or a new recruit, you want to meet them in an official, easily accessible place. If you already have a head office and you want to get closer to a clientele in another city, the virtual office will also help
