Virtual Offices vs Coworking Spaces
Today we are going to look at the benefits of Virtual Offices vs Coworking Spaces. The business landscape is continuously evolving, and the pandemic has definitely changed the future of office spaces. Recently we have seen an increase in the number of entrepreneurs, remote workers and freelancers. This flexible style of working means that professionals are no longer tied to one location. That being said, all business owners still need a business address and other business amenities.
Coworking spaces and virtual offices both offer all of these services, but there are some core differences between the two.
How Virtual Offices Started
The concept of a virtual office started in America back in the mid-1980s. An American Executive Centre team realised that not every professional needed a full-time office. They were creating new executive offices and had a large number of requests for part-time offices which still had the services a normal office would provide.
After this feedback, the company decided to give businesses their own identity by having mail services, a professional business address, and somewhere to meet for a specific number of hours each month. The idea of a virtual office was born!
Whilst the name suggests ‘virtual’ this is actually quite misleading. They do allow people to work virtually anywhere, but there is also a physical premises where you can have access to actual offices facilities too.
Virtual Offices vs Coworking Spaces
It was 15 years ago that coworking emerged onto the scene (despite it only feeling like a few years ago!). The industry has grown from strength to strength, and coworking is one of the core offerings of a shared workspace. There has become a blurred line between coworking and shared office facilities though, as they have merged into the same industry.
Coworking spaces tend to be better-suited for freelancers and solopreneurs who are looking to network and meet other like-minded people. These spaces can have a mixture of dedicated desks, hot-desks, shared and private offices. Shared office spaces are often used by small teams and as the name suggests are more fixed offices. They can also include virtual offices too.
Who Does A Virtual Office Suit?
A virtual office package is ideal for professionals or companies that need a proper business address. Following the pandemic, we are going to see more teams working from virtual offices too. Add to this mail forwarding and telephone call handling and you can see why they are so popular.
Who Does A Coworking Space Suit?
Coworking is great for freelancers and professionals who want to work in a collaborative atmosphere. They do not need a dedicated private office space. They will still have access to meeting rooms for occasional meetings if required though.
The collaborative nature of coworking spaces makes networking easy, and as businesses are starting to grow their teams they can be really useful places to meet people. Choosing between a virtual office or coworking spaces depends on the individual. If you prefer to work in an open, collaborative space then coworking is probably best for you.
In the Virtual Offices vs Coworking Spaces argument, you can see it really comes down to how you like to work and what do you actually need.
If you would like any further information about the virtual office packages that we provide, please get in touch with the team at Venture Offices today on 01205 809 222.
