Are you considering the option of leasing shared or virtual DC office space? Then you already know this a great way to stay within budget yet project a professional appearance to your clients and vendors. But before you sign a contract for Washington virtual offices, first consider those amenities and features that are most important to your particular business – and don’t settle for any less.
Convenient Location
This is perhaps the most vital consideration. The virtual office should be convenient to your home. Traffic jams and weather problems shouldn’t keep you from being productive. If you employ teleworkers, location is even more important; there’s no benefit to working from home and avoiding a long commute if meetings are scheduled for a location far away. Consider your clients, as well. Is the office location easy to find and access? Finally, determine if there is a fee for parking or whether the DC office space has adequate free spots available nearby.
Administrative Support
Just because you lease virtual DC office space doesn’t mean you should have to forgo administrative support in your temporary or shared digs. Many Washington virtual offices provide a full staff of professionals, including technical support, receptionist, mail sorter, phone answering service, and even an onsite notary public, website designer, or graphics artist. How about a shipping department and a cleaning crew? All of these personnel should be available when you need them.
Technology
Of course you expect to get high speed wireless internet access, but what about the security of the connection? Your business may need dedicated bandwidth to get your work done online and you’ll certainly feel more safe knowing what measures are in place to stop malware from making it into your computer, such as a firewall and remote network monitoring. When you’re transmitting sensitive data, having the latest technology in place to ensure that the transmissions are secure is a vital feature of the virtual DC office space you select.
Meeting Space
Will there be occasions when you need a conference room to meet with clients, vendors, or staff members? Having a professional meeting room just down the hall from your virtual office complete with comfortable furnishings, communication equipment, and catering service is a big bonus for many companies. It’s also a great advantage when you want to connect with someone for a conference online or via audio or video. A polycom speaker phone and necessities such a flip chart, projector, and white board are often handy to have available upon request, too.
Nice, But Not Necessary Amenities
Finally, consider those items on your wish list that may not be necessary for your business, but make your life a little easier or more comfortable. Check to see if the virtual office provides cable television, daily newspaper delivery, coffee station, a health club, or a virtual club where your clients can relax in comfort after a long trip.
It’s always a good idea to make a list of all your requirements – both necessary and desirable – before you shop for the ideal DC office space to fully meet your business needs. There are many options available and no reason why you can’t find all the amenities and features you want and need in one convenient location.
For more information on virtual DC Office Space, DC Meeting Rooms, Telework, Executive Office Spaces, FlexDesk and other cost-effective business solutions visit Metro Offices online at www.metroffice.com.
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Kathlene Buchanan is the president and founder of Metro Offices, one of the premiere, women-owned, executive office centers in the Washington, D.C. Metro area. With presence in 8 different locations throughout the capital area, Metro Offices offers a full range of innovative business solutions and advanced technologies to help businesses compete in today’s transitioning business environment. Buchanan has been in the industry since 1979, and Metro Offices has been operating since 1989 with locations in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.