Product Information

Running a physical office creates considerable expenditure in the budget of novice entrepreneurs. Sometimes, it is even an unnecessary luxury to entrepreneurs who have spent years in the market. However, just because you may be an employee or owner of an SME, it doesn’t necessarily require you to have a physical space to run and manage your business from. That's why many new business owners are turning up to virtual offices.The advances in technology and communication channels have enabled hundreds of people to work from home and to manage business in the comfort of their homes or other places, including parks and cafes. However, although this option can provide numerous benefits (especially in reducing costs and travel time), it also has some disadvantages. If it is not given to good use, it may result in an unprofessional image that can project the entrepreneur in a negative light to potential customers and investors.Purchasing a virtual office gets you a personalised telephone number and professional PA to answer your customers, handling correspondence and most importantly a business mail forwarding address. It is generally believed that being an SME or entrepreneur means you cannot have a first rate office, but thanks to this system, added value is implemented onto your business and can be achieved at very affordable prices.You can enjoy an hour of sleep and avoid morning traffic chaos and a more relaxed approach to your workplace attitude. In the past this was not possible, and you had to move every day to a fixed place to use computers, telephones and other office equipment to keep in touch with customers and employees, whereas today there are attractive alternatives to streamline your work routine.As a measure to better control costs, some companies have chosen to engage the services of a virtual office. The UK has not lagged behind in this trend, which is driven by the rapid development of the service sector and the dynamic growth of the economy.

Here are some advantages of having a virtual office:

1. Save up to 50 percent of the initial capital of consuming the rent of an office or remodelling an owned office. Therefore, it is ideal for start-ups.
2. Suits all budgets and professions. With flexible monthly payment plans, the virtual option is easy to manage and control.
3. It has a commercial address where you can receive mail and which can be printed on your cards or letters. It also has secretarial answering service under the name of your company which can link your calls to your phone or another phone.
4. When you have a work meeting, you’ll find all the necessary elements to provide a professional image as a boardroom, internet, projectors, coffee service and other amenities will be provided for.
5. It reduces operating costs because a secretary and cleaning staff, for example, are already included in the cost.
6. It will often have a beneficial location because regular virtual offices are located in the most important and strategic points of the city.
7. It gives you the ability to interact with other entrepreneurs and there will also be plenty of chances for you to form a strategic alliance with your virtual neighbours.

But like everything, there are also disadvantages:

Communication: While the tools of today are safe to make smooth communication, there is nothing faster than the conversation of person to person.Absolute dependence on internet: If the internet becomes disconnected for whatever reason, then it is practically impossible to work.Lack of meeting space: Sometimes it is necessary to have a place to meet with clients. This helps to improve the image of the company, at least in the eyes of the more traditional companies.These are some of the issues that come to mind broadly, however today’s climate means we must all adjust our financial belts and so a virtual office represents a major cost-cutting solution.Obviously not all projects can run through a virtual office, such as a mandatory video blog in need of a fixed place of work, at least for the recordings.

Hybrid Possibility

In conclusion, the virtual office is a good choice, although there is a third possibility which is a hybrid between the two possibilities. Here you gain the best of both models, i.e. have a physical office with a small workgroup and secondly, a distributed group. A computer model that comes to mind is to have all those responsible for areas installed in an office, so that each manages their team virtually. In that way, the corporation would be closely related and would be able to make decisions more quickly on the virtual model. As well as the commercial sector, you would be able to take steps in physical space, such as arranging meetings, organising actions, etc.

A few decades ago, thoughts about the future imagined flying cars, androids, space suits and intergalactic travel. Today, thanks to the rapid development of technology, many of these things have come true; others not, but perhaps we are not as far away from seeing them materialise as we think.Therefore, it can be said that the only constant is change itself. This also applies to the way you work and the tools with which we now have to undertake and conduct business. For example in recent years, new, more efficiently run office models arose. This was to assimilate all these changes to meet the needs of users who sought to maximise their performance and make use of available resources.Currently, the lines that are leading the way in working spaces are interdisciplinary collaboration, mobility, connectivity, sustainability and real-time response. Also, gone are the cables to connect to the Internet, the outdated furniture and equipment such as fax, to make way for wireless connections, ergonomic furniture and tablets from where you can conduct business accounting to installing videoconferences and design prototypes.

• First step: the design

Thinking of the future office, your mind travels to places like Google's corporate headquarters. There, employees have the flexibility to work in different areas, according to their personal taste and at their own pace. Although the concept sounds great, not all small businesses or start-ups have a place or budget to replicate the same practises. However, this is no excuse to not be part of the new trend of work.The main, but not exclusive basis should be the design. This refers to more than just furniture. The design of the physical space of every business is not limited to the aesthetics. It should be part of the branding. Positioning your brand is crucial for innovative companies and the design is a large part of a greater message, a constant reminder of who they are and what they represent.Moreover, space has the ability to stimulate conversation, cooperation and creativity. The first important concept in traditional office change came with the creation of the cubicles in 1967. The idea was to isolate workers and create fewer distractions, promoting a more practical, modular space. At that time, it was almost revolutionary, but today is somewhat outdated and limiting.Cubicles, as with many models to which we are accustomed to, are changing or disappearing. Hierarchies and confined spaces will soon be a part of the past. Companies are rethinking the way they grow a community and the context provided for interpersonal connections; the result can be seen in the design of space.Experts agree that transparency should be the key element that defines the new design of offices. For almost all sectors, (except traditional) formality is no longer a priority, which is reflected in the layout. By incorporating walls and glass doors and open spaces, used by any employee regardless of their position, barriers are broken and the flow of ideas is increased. Similarly, open minds are encouraged.This trend also extends to areas designed for customers such as reception or meeting rooms. The detachment between different areas within a company is long gone. Customers value the access to ideas; a traditional lobby evokes nothing.

• Culture Change

Business owners and entrepreneurs have a challenge and also an opportunity to improve their practices, achieve higher growth rates and even save money. For this, it is essential to keep in mind that the concept of the future office does not refer exclusively to the design of space or adding more gadgets as work tools or the latest technology.Yes, more and more companies, especially start-ups are more aware of the individual needs of their employees, because some people work best in private spaces, others prefer to live together and exchange ideas or those who work best when operating from home . An alternative to foster a collaborative work environment are centres of co-working. This is a group of people who do not necessarily work for the same company or project, but share the space, infrastructure and resources.On the other hand, there are virtual offices, which consist of business centres usually located in major corporate areas of cities. In return for a membership and a monthly payment (or contracted service), the user has sales management, package delivery management, a virtual receptionist and secretary, local phone number, mail forwarding address, access to a boardroom, among other features.

• Tailored solutions

Besides co-working spaces and virtual offices that can represent considerable savings in rent and equipment, entrepreneurs also have at their disposal a range of solutions designed to solve many of their basic needs for communication, administration, data storage in the cloud collection systems and mobile cards, among others. The good news is that these providers want their customers to maximise their time and resources, offering flexible schedules and options to order.Before deciding what services to hire, analyse what the requirements of your business are. For example, if you want to be in constant contact with your customers and suppliers, but it is not always possible to be aware of the phone, then perhaps hire a receptionist. This solution allows a fixed number, which can be answered from a landline, mobile and Skype. It operates through the purchase of credits according to user needs.Another key point is to have a permanent Internet connection. To do this, it is best to hire a mobile data plan that you can use on your laptop, tablet or smartphone. Also make use of cloud solutions to always have access to your information and used tools like Google Docs that give you the opportunity to work together remotely and in real time. Just remember to protect your computers with antivirus and firewalls.Also, caring for the environment is not a fad, but a fundamental part of any business strategy. Soon you will notice that in addition to reducing the impact on the planet, it is also a way to save money and attract more customers. Therefore, a good measure is to reduce the amount of paper you use. How to do this? Through the software PrintEco , the format of your impressions are more efficient. It even encourages the use of alternative means of transport such as cycling, installing racks in your workplace or, hires shipping services messaging through bikes.

What is a virtual office?

A virtual office is a space where you can conduct similar activities to those of a physical office. A virtual office often consists of a business mail forwarding address, telephone answering and modern meeting room space. The relationship between people is electronic, performing the work without being in a physical office. The work is done wherever and whenever the person may be connected to the network.Companies that use a virtual office are those seeking a low-risk solution as opposed to investing in a conventional office. Perhaps they want to try new products or service ideas, seek to establish a commercial presence in the place of establishment of the provider, improve their corporate image or seek business support services such as answering service, among others.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a virtual office?

As in all things, the virtual office is no exception and has advantages and disadvantages that must be taken into account when considering if it is a viable option to conduct your business and entrepreneurship from.

• The advantages of a virtual office

A virtual office has several advantages for a company. Among them are:-The savings for installation. Allow savings due to employees working from home.-Work will be more productive in times of contagious illness in the workplace that prevent the transfer of employees. The same applies for employees who would normally commute or use public transport in times of traffic jams, break downs or strikes. All these scenarios are averted because they will be working in their homes without being affected.-Benefits people with mobility difficulties, as they can perform work from the home.-Less installation cost. Companies do not have to have an office with as much space as some workers are elsewhere other than the main office. This reduces the cost of rent and expansion of a common office.-Less cost of equipment. The companies, instead of providing office equipment to each worker, can share much of the equipment.-Formal Network of communication. Because of the need to stay informed and receive instructions, companies are giving more attention to have a communication network, thereby leading to the development of better communication among workers.-Social Contribution. The virtual office allows companies to hire workers who otherwise would have no job opportunities, whether disabled, elderly or parents with young children. This also includes high-value employees geographically located away from the offices of the company.-The Virtual office provides a great opportunity to increase the activities of a company, and thus their productivity while reducing costs.

• The disadvantages of a virtual office

The virtual office also has disadvantages and it is important to know these to consider the risks:-A company that uses virtual office should make sure to provide its employees with the necessary for them to work from home tools. Also, it is important to have an efficient control from established offices and ensure closely monitored telephone calls of employees working remotely. It is important to maintain meetings in order to promote communication and motivation are conducted to carry out the activities.-Sensation of isolation. Having no contact continuously with the other employees of the company, means that they may lose the feeling of being part of a team.-Fear of job loss, decay in the mood, family tension. These disadvantages can bring related motivational and psychological aspects, which is why companies should pay special attention to both the stage of selecting candidates to work as teleworkers (workers in virtual offices), and to support activities, feedback, motivation and communication.

How do you work in a virtual office?

The way you work in a virtual office is very similar to that of a physical office. However, it is important to maintain the following activities:-You must have an address and in turn be responsible for the area, to report on this every day about what each person has worked on in the respective area to which they belong through an activity report.-To keep up with a selection of work and more importantly, meet the objectives and tasks set.-To be engaged in the work involving initiative.-To control the pace of work.-The worker must be connected wherever you are to maintain communication with the central office. In this mode it is known as telecommuting.-There's a person taking on the role of the correspondence, faxes, e-mails, phone calls and visits to call attention.

What characteristics should the personnel working in a virtual office have?

Some of the most important features that personnel working for a virtual office should be:-Responsibility and maturity-Ability to organise-To use initiative-Have a suitable atmosphere and work area at home-Professional temperament-Ability to communicate-Adaptability

What activities are most fit a virtual office?

The activities that most fit a virtual office are:-Sales-Consultancy-Accounting And billing-Software development- Computer Programming-Work Publishers-Journalism and advertising-Teaching and training-MarketingThe virtual office is a step ahead in the use of technology and is definitely an option for the future of business, an alternative for those who have to travel constantly to close agreements. As a result, work and communication becomes more effective.

Developing a successful online business is not an easy goal.

In this article, we present 13 key points to increase sales in an online store and improve performance. These 13 useful tips cover the different aspects that must be taken into account when designing a successful online store

• Title

The title should reflect the content of the web page. This way the user realises immediately if they are interested in the product or service offered.

• Teaser

It is important to put the products and the most popular and relevant categories in the foreground. The more visible they are, the more likely that the user considers them the most important information and therefore comes to it more directly

• Simplify the Structure

The basic structure of the website must be configured for the user to navigate through it quickly and easy. It should be very intuitive and communicate clearly through images, indexes, and bullet points. Only if the user shows real interest you should have access to a more in-depth explanation.Navigation should be set horizontally and highlight the main categories. The golden rule is: the fewer clicks needed = less discouragement to continue visiting the web = lower bounce rate = higher conversion rate

• Less is More Design

In this regard, both the quality of the images and the texts are very important. It is essential to maintain a clear and simple design. Do not overwhelm the user with unnecessary information; less is more! It is essential that the colour, contrast, shading, font, size, and shape are in tune.

• Post Customer Reviews and Elements of Trust

We recommend using the website elements of trust as seals, certifications, and customer reviews. You need to convince new customers they can buy safely. For this reason, it is important to place the elements of trust in a visible place

• Benefits and USP

Avoid the Unique Selling Proposition (USP), competitive advantages, and differentiating values. What makes you better than the competition? What makes your store unique? Note the deals; these products help increase your level of visibility and recognition among customers

• Limit Product Availability

Consumers have been always found products or services with limited or poor availability more intriguing when compared to those with easy accessibility. If availability is limited to a specific offer, the potential customer feels the need to buy the product as soon as possible

• Use the Thank You Page to Increase Sales and Cross Selling

It is important to try to cross sell complementary products. Cross selling, or upselling, increases the value of the sale. Promote similar products on the Thank You page displayed after customers have made a purchase.Customers especially like discount codes, and this is a formula for reinforcing shopping on subsequent visits.

• Chat Support

You can increase conversion rates by offering immediate assistance through web chat. Use personal conversations to sell in an active way. Customers are more likely to make a purchase when they have the chance to interact with a person. Also, the purchase dropout rate is minimised.

• Telephone and Contact Information

Company information and contact details that are clearly visible on the website are vital. Users should see that they can easily contact the online store.

• Purchase Facility

The purchase of the product must be quick and easy to avoid abandonment. The user must make the fewest possible clicks to carry out the purchase.

• Payment Options and Shipping Cost

Having a wide range of products increases the likelihood of purchase, but it is also important to have various payment options. Many customers buy only when they have made several alternatives to pay. In addition, these payment options must appear highlighted in the web and inform the user clearly about the order, shipping time, and costs. It can be negative if a customer discovers additional charges not clearly disclosed on the website.

• Site Optimization for Phones and Tablets

The usability of the online shop must be global, and not only in the process. The online store has to be adapted to any type of device, either through the Responsive Web Design (RWD) or adaptation of the device itself, as you never know how potential buyers will access the store.

Consider including the following technological solutions in your current Business Plan:

• Check out your website.

Analyse if your website is still tailored to the needs of your business. Is it time to move to an "e-commerce" solution that allows you to market your products or services online?

• Update your applications.

Move your spreadsheet accounting Software as a Service (in English Software as a Service, SaaS). The SaaS today best known example is Google Apps, which offers basic business services such as e-mail or MS Office Saas service platform with a designation as Microsoft Office 365, which lets you access the software through the Internet.

• Duplicates and archives.

Make a backup of documents and archive them. This is a more complex process than it seems. If we copy redundant data, storage capacity is exhausted, and if we do not make a backup of sufficient data, you might miss critical information. Among the most popular backup programs are ArcServer, ZendalBackup, Cobian, SECOFI, and NortonGhost.

• Take a stroll through the "Cloud."

You must have heard the various applications that give you the ability to place your files in the "Cloud.” Working with files in the cloud will allow your team to interact with the information from different points as being connected virtually, each of the computers can be in different places around the world. It also stores information that you consider necessary and indispensable. The application iDriveSync, for example, helps you create such virtual drives on your computer and gives you a capacity of up to 2 GB in its free version.

• Allow yourself to discover.

SEO is an acronym for "search engine optimisation.” Hiring an SEO can improve your site's ranking in Google and Yahoo; certain keywords can lead you to the top in just a few months. SEO is part of the "Inbound Marketing", a new tool that makes your business easy to find through search engines like Google, the blogosphere, and social networks. This tool improves your ranking in Google to get more traffic, produces and promotes blogs for your business, and also strengthens your community on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

• Turn up your "networking."

It is no secret that blogs, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube, among others, are no longer considered only places for entertainment purposes. These tools strengthen your management strategy and the possibility of attracting more potential customers for your business.

• Learn from others.

Search publications and blogs in your industry and subscribe to them via RSS. Interact with relevant experts, including those that can only be partially related. Follow the opinions of business leaders through Twitter. Monitor industry trends through Twilerts and Google Alerts, or make an RSS feed with information relevant to your industry.

• Make every contact sales opportunity.

CRM software (acronym of the English term, "Customer Relationship Management") is a management model based on customer orientation. The main advantage for a company is to increase the information to your customers and prospective customers, allowing the offer to address their wants and needs, thus increasing satisfaction and optimising its life-cycle. Normally, it produces increased sales and reduces the sales cycle.

• It projects the future.

You have to anticipate and respond swiftly and efficiently to market conditions to keep your business from the competition. To achieve this, you need information systems that perform activities flexibly, including all areas of the company, from financial to human resources. Enterprise resource planning allows you to integrate and automate operational activities or productive aspects of your business.

• United we stand.

This consolidates voice, data, web hosting and other computer service provider. Using this, you only pay one bill and contact one supplier with any questions. This will save you time and money.

8 Digital Tools to Help You with Your Business Plan

Many entrepreneurs know that having a good business plan is the key to carrying out their ideas, understanding the viability of their business, and assessing the financial side, among other issues.The Internet has several tools that help you develop a business plan.

Any.do

• Found in iOS and Android
• Free
• Organize and share your business
• Assign tasks and responsibilities lists dates
• Turn words into written text through a microphone

Basecamp

• Found in iOS and Android
• Free and pay
• Keeping track of each cloud archive, meeting and events that you carry out
• Share the project with the team and assign tasks to all members

BIZPLAN

• Found on the Internet
• Available payment
• Software that allows elaboration of your business plan by following simple steps
• Interface includes templates and models that can be edited

Premier Business Plan

• Can be found in iOS
• Available through payment
• Plan objectives
• Define your target and expectations of your company
• Find tips for drawing a marketing plan

Enloop

• Found on the Internet
• Available for free and pay
• Web application that guides users through every step of creating a business plan
• Sales, profit and loss
• Cash flow and balance sheet projections
• Explanatory graphics and other visuals

Evermeeting

• Found in iOS
• Available for free and pay
• Keep track of meetings, classes, conferences and other events in real time
• Record audio and add annotations
• Store data in the cloud

LivePlan

• Found on the Internet
• Available through payment
• A comprehensive tool that puts emphasis on building the financial model of the business
• Provides examples and counselling service a group of experts
• Free version with examples and templates for business plans on the web

Stratpad

• Found in iOS
• Available for free and pay
• Lets you assess the development of your business
• Data and graphs will show income, expenses, sales, product quality and customer satisfaction

These were some of the applications and software that can help you succeed with your business. Have you used any of these applications and tools? Do you know any other digital resource for business plans?

If you started a small business successfully and are looking for a significant increase in the number of customers or the amount of sales, it means you want to grow your business. There are many ways to do this, but choosing the right way to grow depends on the type of business, available resources, and how much money and time you are willing to invest. Check out the 8 strategies that follow.

1. Open another place

If you feel confident that the current point of sale is under control, consider expansion by opening a new location. Increase outlets and you will expand the number of places where you can sell your products. To increase sales points, you can open new stores or branches, make use of new brokers or dealers, or create new sales channels.

2. Offer your business as a franchise

The model franchise is one of the most successful ways to grow a business. Franchising is a way of doing business, through which a third party is given the right to use a trademark and operate a business. This system will allow you to grow without having to manage a new location. This will help you maximize the time you spend looking for new opportunities and improve your business.

3. Granting the license of your product

This can be an effective and low-cost growth, especially if you have a product or service trademark. Licensing is an agreement between a company that allows another use their trademarks, patents, technology and any other valuable properties. In return, you receive fees for sales of the products or services provided or sold under the license. To find a partner interested in your license, start by researching companies that offer products or services similar to yours.

4. Form an alliance or acquire another business

Two is always better than one. Investigate companies that are similar to yours, or that have deals that are complementary to yours, and consider the benefits of combining forces. Aligning with a type similar to yours can be a powerful way to rapidly expand your company. These partnerships could include agreements to combine resources (financial, human, or technological), functions (production processes or product distribution), share information like market knowledge , share distribution channels or outlets, or customers such as in the case of both companies have different types of products, but similar types of customers, and each company can complement each other’s products.

5. Diversify

Diversification is an excellent strategy for growth, since it allows you to have multiple streams of income that can fill in the gaps of the season and increase sales and profit margins. These are some of the most common forms of diversification:

• Sell ​​complementary products or services
• Teaching on the subject in which you are an expert
• Import or export your products or those of others
• Being a speaker or columnist about your business

6. Address other markets or consumers

In your current market, you are doing well. Are there others? Probably. Use your imagination to determine what other markets or consumers could use your product. Addressing new types of consumers means redirecting your products or services so that they are aimed at different types of markets that they are already attending. It may be necessary to create new products or services, or simply adapt products you already have, so they can also meet the needs or desires of other types of consumers.

7. Seek external markets

To export, a distributor is needed in the foreign country so you can take your product and sell it in their domestic market. You can locate foreign distributors to find out if there is any foreign company in your own city or state with a representative in the United States. Another option is to look for customers who purchase from you directly, for it is the easiest way to create a website and promote your products online. Another way to start exporting is participating in international fairs.

8. Increase advertising

Investment in advertising is another way to grow a business that does not require spending much money. Besides making use of brochures, posters, and cards, participate in trade fairs or give gifts printed with your company name. Remember that the best advertising is word of mouth. A product or service of high quality and excellent customer service will ensure you are always recommended by your customers.Consider advertising on the Internet. Often, customers discover business through a search engine on the web. Make sure your company has a presence on the Internet to maximize their exposure.Our virtual office service can also help boost your business presence, our mail forwarding address in London is a great way of boosting your businesses image. Be sure to contact us if you would like to find out more.

Could you possibly be thinking of establishing a Private organisation, limited by Guarantee? This article addresses the necessary requirements to begin the LLP company.When you are contemplating establishing a firm, it is critical to consider the kind of structure that you pick when you enlist your firm. Without a doubt, Limited by Shares Companies are the most popular type of Company structure known.It offers organisations the opportunity to look more professional and gives the opportunity to have unlimited shareholders.Be that as it may, it is essential to think of the kind of structure that would best suit your kind of business, not what is the most well-known choice. It may be worth weighing the advantages against that of another business structure – this case being a LLP (Limited Liability Partnership).

Definition

The essential meaning of a LLP is a partnership company with at least 2 individuals. Flexible terms of partnership are offered to this business type as well as taxes. It also has its own legal identity thus, if the business were to go bankrupt, the members’ private assets are protected.There are some amazing advantages of registering your firm as an LLP.

The Limited liability of its members

The title is somewhat of a giveaway truly, yet an LLP truly does provide some extremely flexible conditions for its members. This incorporates various distinctive things including:

• Without major hurdles, members can leave when they want.
• The liability of members are limited, hence the firm is a Limited Liability Company.
• By and large, an LLP provides less rigidity in modifying its internal structure.
• This can be extremely helpful as far as setting up rights, obligations and the formula to use when disbursing profits.

Tax Breaks

Members of LLP are not taxed in the same manner as members of other companies.

• LLP individuals are tagged as self-employed. This implies that National Insurance commitments are fundamentally short of what it would be in a Ltd company structure – where shareholders are tagged as “employees”.
• There are more chances to become eligible for Entrepreneurs' Relief as a Limited Company member than there are as a shareholder in organization.
• There is a higher probability of becoming eligible for Business Relief as a member of LLP.

Allocation of profits

As expressed before in this blog, one of the primary advantages of having an LLP is that it gives more room for flexibility which incorporates the way profits are disbursed to all members.

• The accommodating nature of LLP terms enables easy modification of things, as long as all members are in support.
• This also involves the allocation of share capital and profits which is somewhat easy to do.
• Conversely, a customary limited by shares structure is a great deal more inflexible and any huge modifications must be approached in a formal manner and delivered to the Companies House.

It can be useful for particular ventures

Numerous professional organisations structure themselves as an LLP – undoubtedly an extraordinary number of auditing firms, law offices and other professional organisations will form as an LLP. There are unquestionably solid foundations regarding why this is the situation.As indicated by The Brazilian Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain LLP:"is currently utilised for budgetary administrations and fund management business. It can be organized to give the administration obliged, whether close control or free regulation, and specifically it can accommodate the distinctive profit and bonus programs found in these sections"Undoubtedly, some non-profit organisations may think of an LLP plan to be better when they intend to go into a sort of joint business with an outsider. So in the event that you feel that your business may fall into any of these levels then it's definitely worth considering when forming your organisation.

Points to Consider

1. A registered office address should be provided

The registered office address will serve as the official physical location of the establishment and this is where all documents concerning the organization will be delivered to. It must be located within the United Kingdom; however, neither you nor your organization is mandated to have that address as your base – all you are mandated to do is to obtain the permission to use said location from the administrator or owner of the address. The location is usually available on public records and as such, most people prefer not to make use of their home address.

2. Add a director

• The person in charge of the daily activities of the organisation is the director. Companies Limited by Guarantee needs a minimum of one individual to work as the director. For every director of an organisation, the following information has to be provided:
• Name
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Occupation
• Town of birth
• Colour of Eyes
• Service address – just like a registered office, this would serve as the official address of the director, which could be made public.
• Phone number
• Residential address – not to be publicised

3. Appoint a member

This is similar to a shareholder; however, the term shareholder is not applicable in this case because there are no shares. At least one individual who could also serve as the director is needed. This implies that the company can be established by just a single individual. For every member, the following information is required:

• Name
• Phone number
• Town of birth
• Service address
• Colour of Eyes

4. Appoint a secretary (optional)

If you wish to employ or appoint a secretary, it is acceptable; however, it is not mandatory. If it pleases your company to employ the services of one, the following will be required:

• Name
• Phone number
• Town of birth
• Service address
• Colour of Eyes

5. Upload your own memorandum and articles?

That is it as far as the data that you have to give… unless you decide to upload your articles and memorandum – these refer to the files that state how the organisation is to operate. It's significant that we do of course give our own files that suit the lion's share of companies. The second to the last step in the formation process offers you an opportunity to upload yours.

6. Check over everything

Every data provided by you can be crosschecked in the summary page. If modification(s) are required, select ‘change’ next to the pertinent area. When you’re satisfied with everything, select ‘Submit’ – your request to create a company will then be forwarded to Companies House. At the point, an average of 3 hours is required to form the company after which an email will be sent to you confirming the formationThat is it; all that you have to give to establish a Company Limited by Guarantee. With this, you should be able to start-up your own Limited by Guarantee Company.

When you are thinking of freelancing, everything seems advantageous due to the following:

• Flexible schedules.
• Having a business.
• Be your own boss.
• Work remotely from home or from anywhere else.
• Choose the projects you want to work.

However, when you really start, you realise that being freelancer has some drawbacks. One of the clearest examples is the hours of work, because you work much longer hours than any worker employed. While you can work on projects that you like and you get a job, it is not nearly brainer.In this guide you will find the main challenges that await you working as a freelancer. Note that we do not intend to discourage you; we just want you to bear in mind what reality you will face from now on.

1- Doing business is not easy

Especially if it is not your job. When you are alone, getting new projects is complicated. You'll have to spend some of your time and your energies to find new projects.It is also very difficult to get projects regularly. You'll have 5 times more projects at some point and others in which you are not going to work on either. The challenge is to get some stability.

2- The price, the big question

One of the great existential questions of any freelancing is its price, i.e. what your hours are worth. It is a fine balance between being competitive and being able to pay yourself a salary, which is not easy to find however, setting the right price is a matter of time, you'll soon find your personal strategy.

3- Self-motivated is essential

When you work alone with no one to pat you on the back, it is so important to motivate yourself. In our blog we always try to talk about things that can help you achieve that, but one thing is clear: taking care of your health and your mind is essential.

4- Productivity

Another key to success of any freelance is the productivity. Schedules of work at home may be chaotic if you do not control it. Getting the most out of every hour of work is essential for a living and do not spend 24 hours a day working.

5- Nobody pays budgets

Learning to answer your budgets quickly, effectively and professionally is key to getting projects. Unfortunately, the reality is that 75-80% of your budget will not prosper and the time you have dedicated to them (sometimes hours or days) cannot be recovered.

6- Nobody pays for holidays

As a freelancer, your business is mainly based on selling your time. If you're not on the ball because you're sick, you want to take a few days or you leave on vacation; nobody is going to pay for your time.

7- In search of business model

Finding new ways to generate revenue is important for survival. Many freelancers choose to add training to its portfolio of services and it is something interesting to enjoy some stability.But there are other alternatives that are less directly related to the time freelancer, such as: selling digital products (eBooks, online courses), the sales services as products or affiliate marketing.

8- Staff-work balance

The fact of working remotely allows you to work anytime and anywhere, making it difficult to draw the line between your professional life and work. Define when you finish your work hours, as your personal time begins then and this is a major challenge.

9- The maturities

There are many projects that are not going to charge (even a part) until it's done. In fact, in most cases, you're not going to charge for your work until 60 or 90 days after issuing the invoice. These are unfortunately maturities that most companies handle.

10- Multitasking

When you work as a freelancer, you have to do everything. You need to sell, manage a business, to support existing customers and find hours to deliver projects that you have in hand. It is essential to have the agility and flexibility to make these changes quickly and effectively.

11- Learning to manage your business

Being a freelancer means having your own business, so you have to manage your billing, file your tax returns, control your spending etc.

12- Taxes

More than half of all your invoices used will be taxed. The conditions we face as freelancers are the toughest in Europe. When you do your numbers, you must take into account that there is a big difference between what you can bill and what you can charge as a freelancer.

Conclusion

Freelancing is a big challenge, but it's a really exciting lifestyle. It is a way of understanding the world and tailoring your work to your life rather than the other way round. So we hope this guide will help you to anticipate and foresee.

The use of virtual offices has been very popular for more than a decade now.Office rentals of this type have been invaluable, especially for entrepreneurs and SMEs who decide to start a business.Here are some tips when renting offices like this:

Location

Choose a virtual office that is located in a populated area easily accessible to your customers, partners and employees.Look for a building that is attractive, as this will boost its corporate image. Check the quality of the training rooms and boardrooms. Do not be swayed by images of websites; check the condition of the company offices.

Space

It is important that you evaluate specific areas of the rental company offices and choose professional space that will impress partners, customers, suppliers, and prospects. Generally, companies will offer offices for rent, as well as a few hours of meeting rooms and training rooms per week.

Availability

If the firm has rented virtual offices to other businesses, you probably do not have the use of training rooms or meeting rooms. If this is unavoidable, you can opt for a satellite assembly that can be used for meetings.

Ability to Publicise

Another thing to consider when renting an office is the right to use the e-mail. You want to be able to announce the address on your web site and promotional materials. Ask about the fees the firm charges for this. Some companies renting virtual offices also offer the use of a tax direction.One of the most important tips for renting office of this kind is to verify if your company logo can be placed in the lobby or waiting room, as this will be an important element to highlight its corporate image. You may have to pay an additional fee for this item.

Amenities

One of the basic things you should consider when renting virtual offices is if you are offered parking spaces for your customers or suppliers. Ask about the use of community office equipment (fax, photocopier, wireless Internet, scanner) and basic office supplies. Check whether the boardrooms and training rooms come with video equipment and furniture.Check the rates to rent offices via the Internet. Today, there are rental companies renting furnished offices and virtual offices that offer high quality and are easily accessible through internet rates.

Virtual Offices Indispensable Tips

When you do not have the economic infrastructure to start your business, you should not delay the launch of your company. Look for a better option in virtual offices.The office rent is an excellent choice when opening a business because of its indispensable class facilities, personalized attention, and services included at a low cost.The high cost offices pay in rent has impeded growth and the opening of new businesses and SME companies. The opening of new property markets has developed and promoted the use of new concepts that reduce the economic cost. These properties are virtual offices.It is estimated that a large percentage of new entrepreneurs have promoted and increased their return on investment income from virtual offices. In the case of the United States and Europe, virtual offices for new businesses or companies are not a new concept.According to experts, it is believed that entrepreneurs spend 50% or more to rent offices equipped and furnished. Traditional buildings are old-fashioned, especially if what you want is success and ROI.One of the main reasons why a SME does not survive the first year of life is operating expenses. Conditioning or adapting a rental office building represents indiscriminate spending to increase corporate business image.Did you know that? Through virtual offices, you get an equipped and furnished business centre at a low cost compared to traditional offices. Providing a business address in London without actually renting office space will provide an excellent corporate image on the web, personalised attention to its customers, and will focus the budget.Through the rental of virtual offices, entrepreneurs can improve their economic situation and increasing job vacancies in certain sectors.Virtual offices get other optional benefits or services that are not included in your monthly rent. Some of the extra services offered by virtual offices are:

• Receiving phone calls
• Correspondence management
• Broadband Internet
• Maintenance service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Rent per hour boardroom

The UK has a lot of competition in every type of industry. Keeping it in mind, it`s very important to make sure that your company stands out from the copycats and corporate wannabes. But how can you achieve this? The most important thing about brand recognition is content. What are you producing which no one else is? Perhaps you are offering excellent industry insights via company blog, or amazing original graphics and images on the website. Such content draws customers like bees to honey. You have to simultaneously think about how the content which you are creating is protected. After all, what can stop the competitors form copy pasting your content on their website? In this battle of defending your content, the ultimate weapon is copyright protection. But what is copyright protection? And, how it works?

What is copyright protection?

We will cover the basics first. The UK Government says that, copyright is a type of intellectual property protection which automatically applies to the original and creative work from the moment of its creation by a collective or any individual.Unlike trademarks, designs and patents, there is no specific requirement to register or apply for copyright protection. It should also be noted that there is no need of marking original work with copyright symbol in order to protect it. This is because protection in the form of Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 is already available.Having said that, you may find it worthwhile to register the work, in case you have suspicion that someone may try to use your work or claim to it to be their content. As long as you are able to give irrefutable evidence of you being the lawful owner, infringement claims can be easy to resolve resulting in better protection for you work.Any work which has copyright protection should not be performed, distributed, copied or used by anyone other than the owner. Doing so will have legal repercussions. The protection also makes sure that the works are not adapted or replicated – nor are they put on internet without explicit permission of the creator.

What does copyright protect?

Following different types of works are protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988:

• Original literary works – these include song lyrics, manuscripts, articles and manuals.
• Original non-literary works – these include computer software, computer programs, and web content and data bases.
• Works of Art - like design and architecture, photographs, paintings, diagrams, illustrations, logos, cartography and technical drawings.
• Music and sound recordings.
• Dramatic works like dance and plays.
• Television and film recordings.
• Cable programs and Broadcasts.
• Typography of any published literary, musical and dramatic work.

Even if one of your works fit snugly in one of the mentioned categories, it is important to point out that several exemption rules which relate to copyright protection exist.

What are the items exempt from copyright protection?

UK Government issued comprehensive new guidelines which outlined the situations in which it is ok to use someone else`s work. These guidelines were issued in October 2014. According to the lawmakers, the following are usually considered to be exempt from copyright protection:

• Personal copies with purpose of private use: Modernization of copyright act has resulted in allowing the people to make some private copies of different media which they had bought. Copies may be made for different purposes like keeping a backup or format shifting. This means that consumers have the right to transfer their personal CDs into the mp3 player, and copyright law will not be violated.
• Quotation: Law provides freedom for people to quote other peoples work. But it has to look reasonable and fair. Also full attribution should be given. Such replication will not break the law.
• Private Study and Research: It is allowed for individuals to copy films, broadcasts and sound recording for research without getting the permission from holder of copyright.
• Data-mining and Text: Changes in copyright law have resulted in individuals being enabled to copy items for purpose of analysis on computer. The exemption is only applicable for non-commercial purposes.
• Caricature, pastiche or parody: A limited and reasonable use of creative work is allowed for entertainment purposes. A good example can be, use of several lines from a song in its parody sketch. It will not violate the copyright law.
• Training or education: Teachers can use content by displaying or copying, for the purposes of education.
• Preservation and Archiving: Recently law was changed in order to make it easy for the libraries, museums and archives to preserve collections. They can copy all the creative works which they have in their collection, with the goal of preserving it for future.
• Accessible formats for disabled individuals: Many changes have been made in order to provide access to disabled individuals. They are allowed making one copy of the copyright works for personal use by a disabled person. It is also allowed for charities to make copies for disabled people.
• Public administration: It is permitted for the public bodies to share online some third party materials which have copyright protection. The most common item will usually be information which is sent by a business for purposes of maintaining a public register.

You can read the UK Government`s complete briefing on exemptions related to copyright, in order to be sure regarding use of your work under mentioned circumstances.

How long does copyright protection last?

There is a different duration of protection for different types of work. It also depends on the date of creation of work.

• Artistic works: Artistic, literary, musical and dramatic works enjoy protection of 70 years after death of creator or author.
• Sound recordings: They are protected for 50 years after creation.
• Broadcasts: They have a protection of 50 years after the first broadcast.
• Films: Movies and films have a protection of 70 years after the last death of the author of screenplay, author of dialogue, composer of music made for the film or the principal director.
• Typographical arrangements: Such content has a protection of 25 years after the initial publication

Is copyright protected worldwide?

Different countries have different types of copyright laws. However, a minimum level of protection exists as a result international conventions like the Berne convention. The owners of intellectual property in any of the countries which are party to Bern Convention enjoy the same protection and rights which are agreed in the convention. The owners also enjoy the protection offered by the laws of the individual countries.

How can I stop people from using my work?

You, yourself are responsible for defending the copyright infringement of your materials. You can take some steps, if you believe that someone is using your work without your permission. First, thing you should do is to check if the person or organization who is using your content has the license to do so, or if they have applied for the license. You can check this on the official license register of the Government. It contains all the creative works which are orphaned, meaning their owners could not be identified. It often happens that people apply for the license, if they want to use a protected work, but they are unable to find the copyright holder.In case there is an application for your work:

• You can seek to have the application stopped.
• You can claim to get license fee which was paid.

If the work is not on register, you should contact the individual who is using the content and tell him that the work is your property. You can tell them to stop the use, or provide them with written permission for the use of work. You can take legal action in case they don`t stop using your work despite your disapproval.

Can I license or sell my copyright?

Being owner of the copyright, you are entitled to license the use of your work. You also have the right to sell or transfer the copyright to anyone else. You will be required to register the work with some licensing body before being able to license it to allow someone else using it.The licensing body will be collecting the royalties on your behalf and you will be able to control how the work is used. In case you want to sell or transfer your copyright, you should make a document which will serve as evidence of the transfer or sale.

Can I copyright a company name?

No, unfortunately names cannot be copyright protected. However, you may be able to copyright a design or an artistic logo which has your companies name on it. The ideal way to protect the name of your business is to get it incorporated as a limited company with the Companies House. It will prevent people from registering a company with that name. You may also protect your companies name by getting it registered as trademark.