There’s no doubt about it—it takes money to start a business. From leasing office space to hiring employees, you’re going to need a way to finance it all. That’s why more and more people are choosing to start their businesses virtually rather than in-person. A virtual office means no office rent to pay, less equipment to buy, and fewer utility bills. In fact, American Express saves $10 million to $15 million each year due to working remotely. So, if you’ve been holding off on starting your new business, you may want to reconsider. Here’s how you can get up and running virtually.
Come Up with a Business Plan
Before you do anything else, you should come up with a business plan. Outline the services or goods you will sell. You should also list all of the expenses you will incur, including computers, the Internet, phones, websites, marketing, employees, and insurance. Decide how many employees you will need, and how they can be managed remotely. Finally, estimate how much you plan to earn in your first year.
Outline the Necessary Positions
Every successful business needs employees that know what they are doing. This will be especially important if you’re going to have a virtual company, which makes managing employees a little more difficult. You could have employees all over the world, so it’s very important to outline each position carefully. Include a thorough job description for each position that details the day-to-day requirements and expectations.
Get a Virtual Office
In order to effectively communicate with employees, you will need a reliable virtual office. You can get virtual services that include reception, mail receiving and forwarding, and even coop workspace for when you need to meet in person. You will need reliable video conferencing, email, and phones to stay connected.
Create a Website
If you’re going to be doing business online, it’s imperative that you have a good website that both customers and employees can navigate easily. Have your ideas streamlined so that viewers can find what they’re looking for quickly and easily. You may also want a company site or forum where employees can get to know each other, share ideas, or express concerns.
Hire Employees
Once you have figured out the important details of how your business will run, you can begin to hire employees. Working remotely usually requires focused and tech-savvy employees. Your employees should also be comfortable working with little supervision because virtual offices make management a little less hands-on.
Starting a new business can be a difficult but exciting challenge for anyone. Starting a virtual business can come with a unique set of challenges, as well. However, follow these steps and starting your own virtual business can be a risk worth taking.
