Depending on the Virtual Office (VO) practices and standards of the workspace, you should be able to receive mail and packages, plus be notified when special mail, such as certified mail, courier packages, and large packages arrive. You should also be able to call to have your mail reviewed and then to have it forwarded to you at a reasonable handling surcharge, if you so request.
Some Virtual Office Plans may also include a phone answering receptionist service as a feature included in the plan, or as an add-on for an additional fee. Some VO Plans also include an hourly or daily private office usage component in the plan, sometimes a variety of VO plans with a different bundle of private usage hours included in the package and discounted to incentivize a higher usage commitment. Still there are other VO providers that charge per usage, per hour and per day, a-la-carte — sometimes at an insider or wholesale discounted rate for members.
VO seekers should ask if their names will be placed in any lobby directory, which is important for some to establish legitimacy as a Virtual “tenant”, and a legal requirement for others, depending on the State (such as for attorneys, accountants, and financial planners). A prospect should also be clear on the terms and conditions of the contract, the CMRA US Postal regulations and forms they need to fill out, and the ability to upgrade to an alternative workspace within the Operations, if available.
The Winning Workspaces Q&A is a weekly column that provides clarity and insight into the vast array of office and workplace alternatives that are available today which cater to a variety of lifestyle-driven needs of the business professional.
Ray Lindenberg is a 20-year workspace industry leader, historian and consultant. He is Director of Branding and Marketing at Select Office Suites and can be reached at ray@winningworkspaces.com or at (888) 692-7353, ext. 2.
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