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Guide to Setting Up a Virtual Office or Business

Starting your business in virtual mode is easier than ever
By Daniel Kehrer

The "virtual business" phenomenon is transforming how millions of small, successful firms operate in America. Under the virtual model, business owners outsource nearly everything — including people and partners who may be anywhere — to create their company.

The technologies and services to tie it all together are becoming more sophisticated, but less expensive all the time, helping fuel the move to virtual existence.

Staying connected and working in unison are vital to virtual success. Try this:

1. Tap the latest technology to keep everyone in touch. Cell phones, e-mail, follow-me-anywhere messaging and intranets or shared workspaces on the Web can work wonders.
2. Look for ways to foster trust and bonding between individuals involved. When people interact only electronically from remote locations, this becomes even more important. Talk by phone, use Web conferencing and try to meet face to face on occasion.
3. Leverage the strengths that a virtual business affords, including flexibility (offer short turnaround); low overhead (keep costs lower than the competition) and competence (tout the credentials of your virtual partners).

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Discover everything you need to operate a complete business online Share documents, calendars and databases. Have Web meetings, and more.

I recommend:  WebOffice.com specializes in offering virtual small businesses Web space and handy tools to communicate, collaborate and get things done. Services include e-mail, scheduling, file sharing, Web meetings and much more. HotOffice offers a similar lineup of services to set up and operate your business exclusively online.

Establish a total e-commerce business virtually on the Web Build a site, create an online store, get a domain name and market your business online – all in one place.

I recommend:  Yahoo! Small Business has a complete lineup of tools and services to help you establish a virtual retail business quickly and inexpensively on the Web. Check the complete lineup of services.

Pick and choose your virtual office solutions Whether you just need a virtual receptionist, a temporary virtual office or a complete virtual business solutions, help is a few clicks away.

I recommend:  Intelligent Office has a broad lineup of virtual office services that can help you from a fixed location or while you are on the road. The franchised firm has locations across the U.S.Others offering virtual office services for small business include Virtuosity and Answer Connect.

Hire a virtual assistant for your virtual venture Virtual are an ideal solution to finding additional, part-time help for a virtual venture.

I recommend:  The International Virtual Assistants Association can help you find qualified virtual assistants to help in your virtual business.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Andy Bourland and Ann Handley founded the Internet publishing firm ClickZ in 1997 as a virtual business operating from two spare bedrooms. The firm was started with a few barter deals and a low-balance credit card but reached $3 million in revenues. Bourland says the real challenge was not turning a profit, but rather staying in touch, and the partners found the virtual model inefficient.
• Eventually, the distractions of working from home and the increasing difficulties in linking virtual components became too much and they rented office space. Within 18 months the business grew from five to 25 people and was acquired by Internet.com.