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We’ve Got You Covered – Under our Umbrella, Ella, Ella

You’ve all heard the saying “we’ve got you covered – rain, sleet, or snow.”

Now, let us prove it to you.

Corporate Address

Bay Street. Need I say more? This iconic street is one of the most well known in the country, as it’s recognized globally as the Financial centre of Canada.

And that’s not just boasting.

Aside from our neighbours in the financial industry, Bay Street is also shaping up to be the new home of Toronto’s tech hub. With companies such as Microsoft, Acumen Solutions, Cisco Systems Inc, VMware, and Salesforce, Bay Street is further proving to be THE place to be for business operators of all industries to call home.

Virtual Business Offices has long been offering the ability for companies, from the newest startups, to enterprise corporations, to create and reinforce their corporate identity with at Bay Street address and be looked upon as an industry leader.

Live Reception Services

Aside from a great address, having professional live reception & phone services is also a large boost to the success of a company.

Our professionally-trained live reception team can do just that for you and your business.

With customizable greetings, call screening & forwarding, appointment scheduling, and voicemail options, we have the ability to personalize our phone services for each client.

In addition to the customizable service, we offer our clients a highly sought after 416 phone number that reinforces their position in Toronto’s competitive downtown core.

At Virtual Business Offices, we have solutions fit for you.  Whether it be a Bay Street corporate address or customizable live reception services, our wide range of virtual office packages are fit for businesses at any stage of their growth.

If you are looking to add a new corporate identity your business, contact Virtual Business Offcies by visiting www.virtualbusinessoffices.com or calling (416) 214-1840.

If you’d like to begin working in Toronto’s hottest area Sign up online today!

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How To Effectively And Productively Work Remotely

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Over the last decade, the number of employees working remotely has skyrocketed, and continues to increase year-over-year. Roughly 70% of the global workforce works remotely at least one day per week, and reports estimate that 50% of the U.S. workforce will be remote within the next ten years. Despite these numbers and the increased popularity of working from home, remote work is still relatively unchartered territory. There are still mixed opinions on teleworking, and many managers remain hesitant and unsure on how to manage remote teams. As a result, it is imperative for remote employees to work efficiently and professionally off-site. I’ve written some key productivity tips below to help remote employees keep on track and stay in their managers good books.

First things first, you need to look the part. A lot of people have this idea that working from home involves sweatpants and a t-shirt, or just throwing on something quick and comfy. Dressing too casually can make it feel like you’re just relaxing at home or hanging out, resulting in lower productivity. Dressing the part, and wearing what one normally would to work, will help you get into the right mindset and feel prepared for your workday.

Secondly, it’s extremely important to keep a proper schedule and work regular hours when working remotely. Some people get into the habit of starting later, and sleeping in, or working different hours when working from home. To be successful and establish a proper routine, it’s important to work the same hours and the same times each and every day.

Similarly, it’s important to remember to take breaks, just like you would at the office, when working from home. A lot of remote workers tend to stay in one place and try to get all of their work done as quickly as possible to have more free time. Instead of cramming, it’s best to take time out of your schedule to get up and get out of your workspace for a few quick breaks.

When working from home it’s also extremely important to pick the right workspace. Creating a dedicated workspace is essential to separating work from your home life and getting into the right mindset for your daily job. When selecting your workspace its important to choose a bright lit space in order to increase your energy, reduce eye strain and keep you focused.

Finally, working from home doesn’t mean you should isolate yourself or work in a completely isolated setting. It’s important to take the time to go outside, get some fresh air, and connect with others. Many remote workers complain of loneliness or of feeling disconnected from the rest of their team. It’s therefore important for remote workers to reach out and connect to their co-workers, friends and family to counteract this.

Remote working is no longer a fringe practice, it’s a legitimate option and could very well be the new norm in the near future. It is therefore important to prepare for remote opportunities and establish strong habits to succeed.

IF you’re ready to build your business and start working remotely, you can check out the Virtual Plans that The Rostie Group has to offer you. All the advantages of having an office in a physical location, with the ability to work anywhere in the World!

Sign up online today!

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Virtually Working

Thinking about a Virtual Office?

Modern technology has allowed work to be performed in more places than ever before.

It is common within certain industries to have entire companies work “out of a laptop”. With automation and improved tech, the barriers have been broken and work can be done from anywhere in the world. This has further grown the “work-from-home” model. Many firms have their employees work remotely and save a tremendous amount of money on rent and utilities. Especially in “tech hub” cities where real estate costs are outrageously high.

Any money not spent on rent can be directly reinvested into your business to help it grow.

Not just about the money

Other benefits of a virtual office include:

When thinking of your employees, eliminating commute times and costs leads to higher productivity. Being able to stay home with their kids can make a huge difference in a child’s life. You’ll be able to recruit the best talent, regardless of location, as well as maintain a healthier work environment. Today’s employees aren’t just searching for compensation, they also seek a company with a good reputation and quality benefit plans. An incentive as simple as being able to work from home might sway their decision in your favour.

It’s also easier to expand. If you’re not concerned with the physical size of your company, then you don’t have to worry about expanding real estate, about finding desk spaces for everyone, or even if you have enough chairs to go around. Not to mention that if you have to move your headquarters, you don’t have to worry about who needs to come with you.

The Physical Address

Telecommuting, working from home, and co working spaces can all lower costs, but they do so with one issue of their own: The Physical Address. If your business is run online, and you don’t have a physical location, simple things like receiving mail may become a significant problem. You can always send mail to your home, but is that appropriate?

In business, just as in life, first impressions are everything. Do you really want to give off a weak first impression? Do you feel your potential clients and partners will be comfortable with a business owning a local residential address?

The Rostie Group has the solution:

  • Professional Telephone Answering and Live Receptionist
  • Professional Mail Handling at an Amazing Bay Street Address
  • A La Carte Office and Meeting Room Hours
  • No leases, Mortgages and Rental Contracts
  • Instantly Operational
  • Cut Overheads
  • Handle All Your sales Remotely

Start working from your Virtual Office

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Remote Worker

Remote Working into the Future

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The future of remote work will be knowledge and service based. While there will always be positions available in manufacturing and the trades, a lot of those jobs are being shipped overseas. New and emerging technologies are enabling positions and duties to be fulfilled online. In fact, a large percentage of workers are finding themselves in the “gig” economy, completing work from home or from a coffee shop.

In fact, these remote workers may very often be more skilled, more knowledgeable in their specific tasks, and some in far under budget than hiring someone who is more local. Who cares if they’re vacationing in Cabo if all their work is done on time, with attention to detail, and under budget?

In fact, a recent survey of more than 3000 respondents resulted in 65% of workers saying they think they would be more productive at home than in a traditional working environment. 

As an employer, or a worker trying to expand their role, you need to be aware of this. Opportunities are no longer just limited to the downtown core of your particular city. (Even though we absolutely love our downtown core). Many workers now just “work out of a laptop”. Working remotely with a smartphone, a laptop, and a good Wi-Fi signal, companies are built.

Many start-up entrepreneurs live out of their suitcases. Travelling to meet potential clients and investors, and only calling in to check on their team occasionally – and why not? Depending on their position, the CEO does not have to be in the Office with all your workers. Remote decisions can be made in any location.

That does not mean we are advocating for a totally remote experience. You’ll need to meet your team occasionally. All these remote workers are still people, not just the sum of their work output.

But not only is it possible, but in fact is the way forward, to hire remote workers and let them work at their pace, from their location. You’ll retain the talent you need, and have a happier, and more hardworking staff.

If you’re preparing a new venture, or would like to try going remote, take a look at the packages that Virtual Business Offices has available for you, and take the next step into the future of work.

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Virtual Business Address

Why do you need a Virtual Business Address?

What is a virtual business address, anyway?

I’m going to answer a question with a question, so bear with me here: do you work from home, or from a country other than Canada? If so, you probably need a virtual business address. At Virtual Business Offices, a virtual business address means that you use our prestigious Bay Street address, and we collect and forward all of your mail/packages for you.

Your clients need to think that your business is established, and physically present in Canada. Getting mail sent to a P.O. box to be forwarded to another address, whether residential or out-of-country, is hardly the most professional image you can convey. There’s nothing worse than that sinking feeling you get when you see the business card that someone handed you has a P.O. Box address on it. It positively reeks of “amateur hour”, and if your business is primarily from home; well, amateur hour is the last feeling you want your clients to have.

If your business is based in a country other than Canada, then a virtual business address is also necessary, at least until you expand your operations and need an office. It adds legitimacy to your Canadian operations, and allows you to have a much larger presence. Your clients won’t have to deal with the hassle in sending cheques internationally, and you can use your new virtual business address as the ‘home base’ for any Canadian subsidiary that you want to register.

A virtual business address takes most of the headaches out of expanding your business to Canada- and does so for a lot less than renting office space would cost. Similarly, if you’re working from home, you might not need an office to handle your day to day operations- but your clients don’t need to know that.

So take a look at our packages, and sign up for your Virtual Office today!

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