Using a Virtual Office

Pros: Low operating costs. Remote companies do not have to pay rent or purchase office buildings. While they typically supply computers to employees, they do not have to buy office furniture or other supplies.

Flexibility in hiring. Companies that operate remotely are not limited by commuting distances nor do they have to pay relocation costs. They can hire candidates from anywhere in the world.

No commuting. Employees love working from home because they don’t have to worry about traffic or weather.

Flexible work times. Many remote companies allow employees to set their own schedules as long as they complete their work on time.

Cons 

Workers feel isolated. Working from home is not for everyone. People who crave the social interaction of the workplace or have difficulty working independently likely won’t succeed in a remote job. Hough has turned away qualified candidates who she really wanted to hire because it was clear to both of them that working virtually wasn’t a good fit.

Difficult to share “sacred knowledge.” In every company, there are job procedures, company or client histories, and other bits of information that employees share with one another in order to keep things running smoothly. Transferring that knowledge from one employee to another is more difficult when employees aren’t working side-by-side.

Keeping track of employee productivity. Employees can take advantage of working at home and do less work or fudge their time sheets.

Difficult to meet as a company. In order to bring virtual employees together, companies must fly them to a centralized location and find space to host the meeting.

Tips for Improving the Success of Virtual Companies

If you operate your small business with a remote team, consider these tips to boost employee engagement and productivity.

  • Require members of the same team to work the same schedule even if they are in different time zones.
  • Use video calling to increase facetime with employees.
  • Require managers to do daily check-in calls with their team members to decrease feelings of isolation.
  • Create a database of important information and company procedures—using video where necessary—that employees can access.
  • Bring the team together as often as you can.

A virtual office isn’t for everyone. But if you consider the benefits and challenges of leaving your bricks-and-mortar location behind, you might find that the flexibility and affordability of virtual office space is right for your small business.

Lindamood, Brian. "The Pros & Cons of Virtual Offices." Manta. August 09, 2017. Accessed April 17, 2018. https://www.manta.com/resources/small-business-advice/pros-cons-virtual-offices/.

back to top