By Matthew O'Connell, IDG Creative Lab
In order to thrive, entrepreneurs need to stay determined, agile, and under budget. When you’re building a business from the ground-up, brick-and-mortar office space can be more of a barrier than a benefit. There are a lot of overhead costs to maintaining an office, and many entrepreneurs have found that they can do just fine without it. Some get by with little more than an Intel inspired Ultrabook™ and a solid work ethic, while others require a bit more of a presence.
Mobile offices provide a range of cost-effective alternatives to leasing office space while retaining a lot of the benefits. The most common ways to step into the mobile office environment are either by using shared office space or a virtual office service.
Whether you’re in a coffee shop, a shared office, or on the road, it’s important to recognize certain precautions and best practices for conducting business in a mobile environment. Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind:
Mobile offices provide a range of cost-effective alternatives to leasing office space while retaining a lot of the benefits. The most common ways to step into the mobile office environment are either by using shared office space or a virtual office service.
Shared Office Space
Shared office spaces have been popping up all over the place in recent years, especially in big cities. You can get anything from a reserved desk to a private office, depending on your needs and budget. These spaces foster professional atmospheres and usually provide standard amenities like coffee stations and water coolers. Some shared spaces allow freelancers or individuals of any profession to grab a desk, while others cater to certain industries or companies of a certain level. With the rising popularity of these spaces, it shouldn’t be difficult to find one that suits you.Virtual Office Service
Virtual office providers offer a number of services to support entrepreneurs. One great benefit is a global network of meeting rooms that can be reserved on a per-meeting basis. They also provide prestigious downtown mailing addresses with mail forwarding service, local phone numbers that are forwarded to your mobile, and sometimes even a receptionist to take your calls. This is ideal for the mobile professional who needs a home base without a huge bill.Whether you’re in a coffee shop, a shared office, or on the road, it’s important to recognize certain precautions and best practices for conducting business in a mobile environment. Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind: