Millions of people are now working for themselves in the UK, and the enterprise culture is certainly booming in Newcastle, with new businesses springing up every day in just every type of business you can imagine. In the good old days pre-internet (we know, it’s a matter of opinion!), business centres like Clavering House were the obvious starting point for just about anyone who was setting up for themselves – you couldn’t really run a ‘proper’ business without an office, a workshop or a shop!
Well of course we have all of this available for those who need it, but these days lots of start-ups don’t bother with a permanent workplace – as long as they have a laptop and a phone they’re in business. That’s why Clavering House’s virtual office in Newcastle is becoming increasingly popular, with well over 100 small businesses already virtually residing with us, offering all types of services from publishers to legal services, photographers and graphic designers to energy consultants.
5 reasons small business owners say the virtual office is good for business …
1. You can have a prestigious city centre address for your business
With a virtual office in Newcastle you have a city centre address for a fraction of the cost of renting an office. Newcastle Property Developer Jonathan Sykes, who has had a virtual office at Clavering House since October 2013, explains “The virtual office service works for me in particular because it provides an NE1 postcode and 0191 telephone, and I don’t have to use the words ‘Business Centre’ in the address. My business address is Sykes Property Consultants, Clavering House, Clavering Place, Newcastle NE1 3NG – I don’t even need to use the words ‘Business Centre’ in the address.
2. You can keep costs down
Today, working flexibly and keeping costs down can help a business to compete, and be profitable. Having a virtual office ticks both of those boxes. Without needing to add the cost of monthly rent to their prices, small businesses that work ‘virtually’ have a better chance of survival long term, particularly in the start-up phase;
3. You can avoid using your home address on your website
Let’s face it, the amount of mail received by many small businesses has reduced to next to nothing, but you still need a mailing address for just about every aspect of your business transactions – from issuing contracts to registering with suppliers and for the footer and contact page on your website. Having a virtual office address in Newcastle city centre means you don’t have to reveal your home address to all in sundry if you run your business from your back bedroom – you just use the virtual office address whenever your business address is needed;
4. You can de-risk business expansion into Newcastle
You can have a ‘virtual presence’ in Newcastle (in other words it looks as though you work here, even if you don’t!) which is great for your business image and market reach. Nicola Crowther runs a family mediation service, Crowther Mediation Services, from 4 permanent office locations across the North East, but was looking to expand further into Newcastle. While she established herself she decided to set up a virtual office address, and became our 100th virtual office customer! As Nicola explains, “the virtual office provides a very easy way to expand and develop my business, giving me an opportunity to test the waters without taking any real risks.”.
5. It’s so much easier to do business in the city
A virtual office service doesn’t just mean mailing address – other services you’d expect to have if you have a fixed office base are available too – you can get just about everything you need from an office, but without the rent bill! Telephone answering services, desk space for hire by the hour, smart affordable meeting rooms for the occasions when the local coffee shop doesn’t quite cut the mustard, and even receiving parcel deliveries to avoid interruptions to your workflow at home – you can just collect them from the office when you’re ready.
If you’d like to know more about how a virtual office might be able to help you in your small business get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.