For Small Businesses, Virtual Office Numbers Don't Have to be Costly

By Michelle Amodio, TMCnet Contributor

Our planet may be quite vast, but thanks to technology, businesses of all sizes can expand on the global level without the need of a physical presence. Virtualization has lent its hand in getting even the small business guys up and running internationally. Because the technology has come a long way, said small business guys don’t have to pay big business guy prices for their virtual office setup; global numbers can actually be quite affordable.

Virtual office provider Phone.com (News - Alert) highlighted this very topic in a recent post about doing business abroad. Virtual offices alone save on rent and transportation costs and expand upon the employee pool. Businesses can see a savings of up to $10,000 by utilizing the virtual environment, and going global only expands upon the business presence.

Having a virtual office setup is beneficial for many reasons, including low overhead, convenience, efficiency and flexibility. Virtual office programs and solutions have helped many business owners see an increase in their productivity while affording them the experience of a traditional office. The virtual office allows for workers, who may be scattered across the United States or even the world, communicate with each other and with customers and suppliers through technologies.

Given that it’s beneficial for business, how is it, then, that the small business guy can afford an international virtual office? The answer is obtaining a global number. Phone.com offers global numbers for some countries for as little as $5/month and ranging all the way up to $13.

Like Phone.com says, if you’re a business in Boston with clients in Italy, getting a number local to the Italian clientele while remaining native to your Boston headquarters is a lot easier than packing up and shipping off overseas to open a second location. Additionally, if your business has its sights set on other locations, getting additional numbers is easy and quick; within moments you’re operating on the global level all from the comforts of your small business headquarters.

Doing business on the global level comes with many benefits, from diversification of market share, brand value and expanding global reach.

The world is an ever changing place and we are becoming a much more globally-conscious society. It is very beneficial to embrace these changes for the greater good of current employees, future employees and the organization as a whole. Going international doesn’t have to be a challenge for the small business; the virtual office has made it easy for the small guys to act globally.

Edited by Amanda Ciccatelli