Virtual Office: An answer to office space problems of small businesses !

My Virtual Office @ B2C CoWorking in Central Harare

Unless you are an unscrupulous operator decent offices are indispensable in the fulfillment of the dreams of any rising entrepreneur. But with persistent economic challenges in Zimbabwe amongst other considerations its impossible for start-ups to regularly afford rentals of strategic space like in the CBD. Therefore, the virtual office is an effective and innovative solution to office space problems and as the saying goes its what the doctor has prescribed!

What is virtual office?

As an entrepreneur who is benefiting and working from what I consider a virtual office in central Harare Iam authoritative in defining what this really is. I think a virtual office is an environment as opposed to the idea of a traditional office and this environment enable an entrepreneur to thrive by ensuring that he or she benefits from all things associated with good business premises like convenient location, strong internet, and even sanitary facilities. One of the things that deliberately happen in this environment is the provision of shared facilities. Strong internet and the physical space are very important to business therefore these are shared by upcoming entrepreneurs the majority of whom are young people in what are known as co working spaces or virtual offices. For example the virtual office I work from called B2C Co Working has shared internet and physical space in addition to strategic location in the very heart of Harare’s central business district. This means my business and others at this facility will also benefit immensely from being in a stone’s throw proximity to all types of banks, registrar of companies offices, the revenue authority etc which are vital government departments for business.    

Benefits

1. Affordability of prime space

When individual small businesses share a large office space economies of scale dictate that the unit price should go down. So the biggest advantage is that the sharing enterprises will individually enjoy great advantages like centrality of CBD location at low cost.

2. Affordability of internet

The internet in Zimbabwe is comparatively too expensive. In other African countries the internet is  almost free because of this it is used to entice people to purchase other products and services . Through a virtual office facility the internet is acquired at a wholesale price so that the cost that is borne by an individual business goes down .

3. Image

This is not a selfie but how you look in the eyes of clients. Working in a formal and professional space  goes a long way in creating the much needed image and trust. A co-working space provides a physical address to put on documents and a quality location for business meetings. All these become part and parcel of the persuasive paradigm whose aim is to increase sales. Its very easy to lose valuable customers working from the streets even if the operations are legitimate. Its all because of a loss in trust due to a poor image in the eyes of prospects.

4. Stimulates employment and pride

Nurturing entrepreneurship is the preeminent example of employment and wealth creation support for any country. Entrepreneurship creates a great feeling of patriotism in me particularly. The struggles for liberation of past decades were a call of the older generation. Economic liberation through entrepreneurship is a call  for my generation.  Iam proud to be one of those positively responding to this moral obligation the virtual office being an indispensable catalyst.