Working without an office

Despite the sluggish global economy, entrepreneurship is increasing. Many new business owners aren’t paying rent for office space; rather, they’re using cloud computing and wireless technology to make their businesses more mobile.

Working without an office can mean anything from setting up at your kitchen table, to using a coffee shop’s wireless connection, or using a spare room in your home. For today’s entrepreneur, not having to commute to or rent an office can reduce overhead while increasing mobility and profit. While there are advantages to operating a business outside a traditional setting, there are some operational issues you need to be aware of. Here are some strategies which will help to eliminate the need for office space.

Use a shared space or work from home

In many cases, you can slash your rent expenses by utilizing a room in your home, but if that’s not practical, you can rent a co-working space for a small charge each month. In this setting, you’ll have access to a mailing address, reception services and conference facilities. Co-working rentals can save you up to 75% on offices to rent.

Hire online workers/allow telecommuting

If you already have staff, let them work from home whenever possible. You’ll need to ensure that they have the right hardware, software and internet connection to allow for easy collaboration and communication; schedule regular video conferences so your team can stay up to date and share their progress.

If you don’t have a staff but you need help, you can save by hiring online workers. Virtual assistants can help you handle day-to-day tasks such as answering emails and making reservations, at a lower cost than hiring an assistant to come to the office. Sites like eLance will connect you with programmers, designers, administrative assistants and other professionals, and you’ll be able to adapt the size of your team to suit your needs and your available space.

Use remote storage and management

Whether you’re hiring contractors or remote employees, project management software can help you set benchmarks, make priorities and determine whether your workers are meeting deadlines they’ve been given. Services like these also offer remote storage and backup for important files, and others like Google Docs and Box.com offer more choices.

Using cloud based hosting services like Amazon EC2 will eliminate the need for monthly server maintenance and IT workers. For a monthly fee, your data storage and technical support will be taken care of.

Use telecom systems in place of meetings

Because of advancing technology, most face-to-face meetings are no longer necessary; business correspondence can be handled through email, but online tools will allow workers and clients to attend more detailed presentations. There are screen sharing tools which will allow you and your colleagues to train staff, demonstrate products to clients, and review documents. Tools like TokBox allow for quick videoconferencing and online collaboration.

Upgrade your equipment

Eliminating your office means that you can easily move from one location to another, and the right equipment is essential. You’ll get a lot of use out a smartphone; they allow you to check and respond to emails and browse the web, as will a laptop computer or tablet. You can easily find free WiFi access in many public places.

While on the go, a portable wireless router will help you link your printers, scanners, computers and other equipment. If you need an in-person meeting, you can allow their devices onto your network so they have access to relevant documents and files.

You don’t need a dedicated office space to be successful in business today; there are tools and technologies that allow you to be completely mobile. Greater mobility means natural growth, and out of the confines of an office, your growth potential is unlimited.

Source: Ben Frisby -Foxhall Business Centres.