Definition and Evolution

A virtual office is a virtual space where activities similar to those of a conventional office are carried out. It offers all the benefits of an office without the need to physically occupy it. Its greatest advantage lies in providing a postal address, commercial and fiscal domicile, essential for carrying out legal, fiscal, and labor-related tasks. This way, the initial expenses of a physical office can be reduced.

A Virtual Office offers companies and professionals a range of services: call answering, mail and messaging handling, legal domiciliation (social and/or fiscal) of the company, visitor reception. They can also offer services such as tax/labor advisory, website creation and digital marketing, use of workspaces or meeting rooms by the hour, and more. Ralph Gregory was the one who came up with the idea in 1994 when he founded the so-called 'Virtual Office Inc'.

This concept has advanced significantly due to companies' ability to function remotely using constantly evolving technology. The emergence of software like Skype, Teams, Google Hangouts, and many others has allowed entrepreneurs to reduce office rental expenses.

Virtual offices and commercial domiciliation are gaining popularity among entrepreneurs. They are perfect for freelancers and startups in the early stages of creation. They are also ideal for companies entering new sectors, looking to simplify internal administration, or simply for companies needing a digital presence.

 

Who are virtual offices for?

A virtual office is the ideal option for:

• Freelancers or freelancers who work from home and need a business address. This way, they avoid giving out their home address and offer a polished and professional image.
• Newly established companies that need a social, fiscal, and professional address.
• Multinational corporations and large corporations or companies expanding internationally that want to have branches in different locations.
• Online businesses that need a social address.

Therefore, it is very useful for both multinational corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as entrepreneurs or freelancers. Through company domiciliation, the initial expenses of a physical office can be reduced.

 

What are the advantages of a virtual office?

If your business fits any of the situations described above, you should consider hiring a virtual office or commercial domiciliation. It can offer you great benefits. For example, having your business's address (fiscal and postal) in any location, a prime business area in Madrid or Barcelona, or conversely, in a natural environment in Asturias. It all depends on the image you want to project for your business.

Virtual offices and commercial domiciliation offer many different benefits to business owners.

They elevate the professionalism level of your business. If you usually work from home and don't have any virtual services, you'll be forced to use your home address and phone number in your contact information. But with the services offered by virtual offices, you convey more confidence to potential clients and a sense that your business is fully established, which helps convince your clients.

They don't tie you to a single location. You can access your business anytime and anywhere, as long as you have the right technology and infrastructure. This flexibility, offered by virtual offices and domiciliation, allows you to manage your business in an agile and efficient manner, achieving better work-life balance.

The absence of a physical office means you don't have to spend time commuting to and from the office. These two virtual services allow your business to be where you are, not where your office is.

Lastly, the costs of hiring a virtual office or domiciliation are usually much lower than renting a traditional office or even a coworking space.

 

How much does a virtual office cost?

The total monthly cost of your virtual office or domiciliation will depend on:

The services you need. Obviously, more services will result in a higher monthly cost. The location. Addresses for virtual offices and commercial domiciliation in prestigious areas in Madrid or Barcelona will always cost more. Domiciliation prices generally range from €25 to €60 per month for a basic postal package, which only provides a commercial address and mail reception services.

With these price ranges and depending on your location, you can see that the cost of hiring a virtual office can be significantly lower than renting an office. For entrepreneurs and startups looking to achieve a more professional image, renting a commercial domiciliation or virtual office could be the perfect solution. Take a look at our virtual offices in Asturias.

As you grow, these services may no longer be suitable for your growing team, and you may prefer to have an office. In this case, you may want to consider renting a coworking space, offices, or perhaps your own facilities. Check out the coworking spaces and offices we offer at Cowtainers.