Tuesday 19th December 2023

What is a Virtual Office?

Jules Robertson 2 minute read
man on phone in virtual office
A virtual office is a workspace solution that provides businesses with a professional address, communication services, and commonly postage services. This with without the need for a physical office or workspace. With the rise of remote work and flexible working options, virtual offices have become an essential component for many companies.

Benefits of Using a Virtual Office

  • Cost Savings: Virtual offices allow businesses to save on overhead costs such as rent, utilities, and equipment. This makes them an affordable option for startups and small businesses.
  • Flexible Work Environment: With a virtual office, employees can work from any location while still maintaining a professional image. This flexibility also allows for better work-life balance and increased productivity.
  • Professional Image: A prestigious business address, dedicated phone number, and professional receptionist create a strong first impression for clients. For example, you can get a virtual office at The Shard with FORA. 
  • Access to Expertise: Many virtual office providers offer access to business support services such as IT support, administrative assistance, and meeting rooms. This saves businesses the time and resources needed to handle these tasks in-house.
  • Companies House: you can use your virtual office address to register a company on Companies House
Meeting room with a view

Can I hire meeting rooms or rent hot desking space at my virtual office?


Sometimes! Many virtual office providers do not have any physical workspace you can rent, but other virtual office services provide meeting rooms, hot desks and even full-time private offices which you can also rent.

Virtual Office


Do you get a virtual assistant with a virtual office?


A virtual office and a virtual assistant are two different concepts, though they are related in that they both pertain to remote work and support services.

Virtual Office: A virtual office refers to a comprehensive setup that provides businesses with a range of remote services, infrastructure, and resources to operate without a physical office space. It includes features such as a professional business address, mail handling, phone services, meeting room access, communication tools, and sometimes administrative support. The primary purpose of a virtual office is to offer a completely remote business solution, allowing companies to establish a professional image and manage various aspects of their operations from a remote location.

Man on phone in virtual office

Virtual Assistant: A virtual assistant (VA) is an individual who provides remote administrative, creative, or technical support to businesses, entrepreneurs, or busy professionals. Virtual assistants are typically freelancers or independent contractors who offer their services on an hourly, project-based, or retainer basis. They can handle a wide range of tasks, from administrative duties like scheduling, email management, and data entry to more specialised tasks like social media management, content writing, or graphic design.

Post in Office

When it comes to running a business, time is money. As an entrepreneur or small business owner, your time is valuable and should be spent on tasks that directly impact the success and growth of your company. But as your business grows, you may find yourself bogged down by administrative tasks that take away from your core responsibilities. Therefore both a virtual office and a virtual assistant can be useful. 

How do I find a virtual office?


There a 1000s of virtual office solutions out there. If you are in London then we highly recommend Hoxton Mix - by mentioning Tally Workspace or entering the code TALLY on checkout you get 10% off all products. You can get a virtual office for as little as £15/month which includes mail handling. We use Hoxton Mix ourselves and love it. 

Hoxton Mix provides:
  • Mail Handling Drop off/Pick up point
  • Mail forwarding 
  • Mail Scan, Email & Post
  • Meeting rooms rentals 
  • Phone numbers
It takes 10 minutes to set up an account and there is no commitment period. 

What do you need to set up a virtual office?


You will commonly need to provide proof of ID - either a passport or driver's license and a recent utility bill from the Company Directors and Beneficial owners (persons of significant control). 

If you need a virtual office then let us know! Email Tally Workspace at [email protected]

Written by Jules Robertson

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