Blog • Fri 24 Apr, 2020

How a Virtual Office Puts Your Business on the Map

Read time: 2 minutes

How a Virtual Office Puts Your Business on the Map

Where your business is based can influence how customers, suppliers and potential partners perceive it. However, not every business needs, or wants, to commit to a permanent office.

A virtual office gives you a professional business presence while allowing you to work from home, travel or operate remotely. It can be a practical solution for start-ups, freelancers, consultants and established companies looking to create a presence in a new location.

What is a virtual office?

A virtual office provides your business with a professional address at a genuine business centre, without requiring you to rent a full-time office.

Depending on the package you choose, your service may include:

A professional business address for your website, stationery and marketing materials
Mail receipt, collection or forwarding
The option to use the address as your registered office
A dedicated local telephone number
Personalised telephone answering in your company name
Access to meeting rooms, coworking space or day offices when required
A professional reception team to welcome you and your visitors

It gives your business many of the benefits associated with an established office, while you retain the flexibility to work from wherever suits you.

Protect your home address

Running a business from home does not mean you have to publish your residential address on your website, correspondence or marketing materials.

A virtual office allows you to keep your home and business details separate. Instead, customers see a professional business address connected to an established workplace.

This can be particularly valuable for home-based professionals, sole traders and growing companies that want to create the right impression without taking on unnecessary premises.

Build a presence in the right location

A virtual office can help you establish a local or regional presence in an area that matters to your business.

You might want an address closer to your customers, a base in a recognised business district or a presence in another part of the UK as your company expands. A virtual office offers that flexibility without the cost or commitment of opening another permanent workplace.

Businesses can also use more than one virtual office address when they need a presence in several locations.

More than a mailbox

Not all virtual office services are the same.

With UBC, your address is connected to a genuine, professionally managed business centre. There are real people on-site to receive your post, answer calls where included in your package and welcome visitors when you use the centre.

You can visit your chosen location, collect mail and, where available, book a meeting room, coworking space or day office. This gives you a professional place to meet clients or work when being at home is not suitable.

It is an important difference between a supported virtual office and a basic mailbox service.

A flexible service that can grow with your business

Your requirements may change as your business develops. You might begin with a professional address and mail handling, before adding telephone answering, meeting space or occasional workspace later.

UBC offers different levels of virtual office membership, allowing you to select the support that matches the way you currently work. You can create a professional business presence without paying for services or office space that you do not yet need.

If the time comes to move into a physical workspace, UBC also offers coworking and serviced office options at locations across the UK.

Is a virtual office right for your business?

A virtual office may be suitable if you:

Work from home but do not want to publish your home address
Want your business to look more established and professional
Need a business presence in a particular town, city or region
Are testing a new market before committing to premises
Travel regularly or run your company remotely
Need occasional access to meeting rooms or workspace
Want help managing business mail or incoming calls

It provides a straightforward way to strengthen your business presence while keeping your overheads and long-term commitments under control.

Put your business on the map with UBC

A UBC virtual office gives you more than an address. It connects your business to a real workplace, supported by a friendly on-site team and professional facilities you can use when needed.

Explore our virtual office locations and membership options, or speak to the UBC team about the right level of support for your business.

Where are UBC virtual offices available?

UBC provides virtual office services at business centres across the UK, including locations in: