Benefits of a virtual office address for freelancers

There are numerous challenges to being a freelancer – but often the benefits outweigh the downsides. Having the freedom to be your own boss is one of the biggest benefits of all. In fact, the freelance world has grown exponentially over the last few years, with over 2 million freelancers in the UK alone, and 4.19 million self-employed workers too.

With so many freelancers finding their footing, for many, it’s important to stand out from the crowd. But how do you achieve this in such a saturated market? One way is to put yourself on the map – quite literally. A virtual office address provides you with a means to reach more customers and clients than ever before, providing you with that growth so many freelancers crave.

Let’s take a look at the benefits of virtual offices for freelancers and how it’s a viable tactic for getting the growth you deserve.

Creating that credibility

As a freelancer, your reputation is everything. Whether you’re a photographer, writer, consultant, or musician, word of mouth and recommendations can often create some of your very best leads. But gaining credibility alongside those testimonials is essential for ensuring you keep growing your client base. How do you do this as a freelancer?

A virtual office gives you an edge over your competitors. Instead of settling for your home (too personal and intimate) or accountant’s address (which clients can easily discover is NOT your real location), you can create the credibility you deserve with a virtual office address. An address in a proper, thriving business location gives your brand that sense of legitimacy and promotes confidence in your clients.

Although remote workers are on the rise, clients and customers still require a certain level of professionalism and trustworthiness. This can sometimes only stem from having an ‘official’ office location. It also means you have the option to access meeting rooms and showcase who you are to your clients.

Flexibility made easy

Let’s face it – most of us become freelancers because we want the flexibility that a full-time job can’t always offer. And that should be no different when choosing a location for your freelance business. The flexibility of a virtual office ensures that you aren’t tied down and can expand your growth at any time. Financial freedom is so important for many freelancers. A virtual office location provides you with a cost-effective way to achieve that, without sacrificing on growing your brand’s reputation.

Instead of being tied down to one location, you can choose where you think your business will thrive – without actually having to be there, and without having the costly monthly overheads of a traditional office rental.

Privacy for your business – and yourself

As freelancers, you can become trapped in a cycle of giving your personal mobile number out or even your home address. When have we ever had to do this in full-time roles? Protecting our personal data is more important than ever before, which is why a virtual office address can help freelancers do just that.

Having a dedicated phone number ensures that you’re not being pestered by clients at all hours of the day and adds to that credibility factor. If someone else is answering your calls, it creates an image of professionalism and organisation. This is something you can’t always achieve as a freelancer, without employing someone else.

You might not feel comfortable sharing your home address online either – which is perfectly understandable (who knows which clients could come a-knocking…). When looking for a virtual address supplier, ensure you can use it as your registered business address. This can then be used across all your collateral, including Google My Business and Companies House (spoiler: we offer this service at Virtual-HQ).

Increase your reputation

We briefly touched on this in our credibility section, but it’s definitely not to be overlooked. As a freelancer, any work you produce is a direct reflection of yourself and your business. Your reputation is essential for driving further leads and keeping your current clients happy. 

With a virtual office location, you can increase that reputation further, giving customers the opportunity to meet you in person. You can also receive correspondence in the post. One of the main outcomes is creating that sense of credibility and ultimately, improving your reputation.

Cost effective office space

Keeping an eye on your expenses is vital to ensure you’re making the most of your profits. With a virtual office address, you don’t have to worry about costly overheads. You still get to access impressive facilities and make an impact on your clients.

Meeting new clients in coffee shops can be tricky, with distracting background noise and unpredictable WiFi. With a virtual office, you don’t just get the ‘virtual’ benefits. You can even access meeting rooms, host client meetings and have access to co-working space. This is often on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ basis, which means you’re not wasting money.

Productivity on the rise

As your own boss, you’re the only person who can hold yourself accountable. In a world full of distractions (TikTok, we’re looking at you), it can be difficult to maintain concentration and put your all into client work. Whether it’s fielding client calls or handling annoying, unsolicited numbers, a virtual office can allow you to ensure your administrative tasks are taken care of – or at least, one less thing for you to worry about.

Use the rest of this year to take the time to really concentrate on your business. Take advantage of the benefits of utilising a virtual office as a freelancer. Increased flexibility and credibility are reasons enough to help you stand out from your competitors. You can also make an impact with your clients. Contact Virtual-HQ today for more information.