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Overview On Virtual Office. How Virtual Offices Work. Does your business well to operating in a virtual environment? Are your employees willing to work from their homes, cars, or other moving targets? . Where will you do your work?. Technically, your office is wherever you are.
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Overview On Virtual Office
How Virtual Offices Work • Does your business well to operating in a virtual environment? • Are your employees willing to work from their homes, cars, or other moving targets?
Where will you do your work? • Technically, your office is wherever you are. • Your office could be in your home, in your car, in the airport, on the beach, or even on a mountaintop. • A quiet location away from the distractions that being at home will always have.
First impressions mean a lot • If you're running a business from your home, you probably don't want your home address used as the business address. • Rent a post office box, or you can use a CMRA (Commercial Mail Receiving Agency) mailbox service • Suite Number or Corporate-sounding address
Virtual Office Setup • Laptop computer • Docking station • Monitor, keyboard and mouse, • Hard drive space, Memory (RAM) • High Speed Processor • Printer • Fax machine • CD/DVD • Modem • Digital camera
Virtual Office Software • E-mail program -Microsoft Outlook Express or Eudora • Word processor -- Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, and Lotus Word Pro • Spreadsheet and database programs -- Microsoft Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, Intuit QuickBase • Presentation software -- Microsoft PowerPoint, or Astound.
Virtual Office Software • Virus protection software -- McAfee, or Norton AntiVirus • Utility program for computer maintenance -- Symantec Norton Utilities, McAfee, or TechTool Pro • Graphics and/or image editing tool -- CorelDraw, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop,Macromedia Freehand, Deneba Canvas • Internet browsers -- Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer
Some of these services available on the net: • Virtual Office: After office • Visto: Web-based scheduling, file storage, and management tools • Office Clip: Clip your team together • PlanetIntra: Web-based management and communication tools • Punch Networks: The Internet file management platform
Virtual Business Communication Tools • Cell phone • Wireless web • Teleconferencing • Instant messaging, • Web conferencing
Setting up an Internet Connection • Broadband connection • Cable • Satellite.
What about client meetings? • Take Executive Suite on lease that provides you with • Receptionist, • Voice mail, • E-mail, and other services, • Time-limited access to Private offices, • Reception area, • Meeting room. • Offices2 share. com, a meeting room
What about client meetings? • Other standard meeting place • Hotel lobbies, • Restaurants, • Golf courses, etc.
The Virtual Assistant • “Virtual Assistant.“ (many links to sites that are built, managed and maintained by people who used to sit outside your door and help you manage business) • They provide services on an as-needed basis.
What should you look for? • VAs also include the wide range ofskills you can find. • VAs offering skills ranging from basic data entry to web design to accounting.
Setting virtual office policies • Home office location • Home office equipment • Computer software • Procedures for system logins • Procedures for submitting time-sheets • Accessibility • Procedures for forwarding calls or e-mails • Protocols for client interactions
Legal ramifications of virtual business • Parking may be an issue. • Contact your tax accountant or attorney to find out the law as it pertains to your situation.
Advantages • Environmental benefits • Reduction in traffic congestion • Reduction in stress levels • Time saved not commuting to an office • Monetary benefits • Manages your time more effectively
Continue…… • Productivity benefits • Health benefits • Opportunities to get physical exercise when needed mentally • Reduced stress benefits • Benefit of living a more balanced life • A more relaxing work environment • More opportunities to hire part-time or contract workers • A larger pool of employee applicants because location isn't as important
Disadvantages • Miscommunications or misunderstandings • Technical difficulties • Feelings of separation or disassociation among employees • Problems separating your free time from your work time because your work is always "there“ • Feelings of isolation if you are always home alone • Lack of support - both administrative and managerial
More Great Links • The Virtual Office Group • Virtual Office: Afteroffice • InteleWorks.com • ITAC: International Telework Association and Council • Home Office Association of America: Good info, group insurance and shipping rates, etc. • Offices 2 Share: Short Term Space Solutions
THANKS CA. VINAY GOEL FCA, DISA