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After the home, the office is the place where a person spends most of their time. Therefore. it is important to consider several aspects that will get the most benefits - especially when you plan to reinvigorate your office space.Both the quality of work and productivity of employees can positively impact the business if there are properly enabled collaborative spaces in this so called "second home". The office should ensure a healthy environment for interaction and idea generation, so it`s well worth looking at methods of achieving this. If you are a new business and do not have an office, we would recommend our virtual office services.

Here, we share five tips that aim to create the ideal office.

• The most important asset of any organisation is its people. Collaborative spaces must adapt to people, not vice versa. Adequate workspaces can develop the potential of people to their fullest.
• While collaborative spaces are designed around current users, the reality is that they must be designed by taking into account the following 5-7 years of life of the organisation and its future users.
• Collaborative spaces are not equal in all companies. They should be proportionate to the nature of its users, enabling an optimal experience to work in. Every organisation needs personalised spaces that suit their culture, characteristics, type of work, and so on.
• Due to the use of mobile technology, today the work can take place anywhere and anytime. Therefore, collaborative spaces must adapt to this trend and be a way for people to generate ideas more quickly.
• You need to have products that enable flexibility, i.e. to allow the work to be conducted by group or individual, in a private or shared form, which is free to move and act as a social approach.
• With all this, brainstorming, presentation, teamwork and meetings can be performed in the same space and achieved through ergonomic thinking in terms of the office layout.

If you enjoyed this informative blog you can read more business related articles in Your Virtual Office London blog.

One of the great mysteries of business is how to make a business thrive and grow in a healthy way. The key seems to be in organisation, planning and perseverance.It is very common that when a company born as a family business or at home, starts to grow and succeed, its founders are not prepared to adapt to the business needs that this expansion in the company generates.One of the many mysteries of successful businesses is how to get a firm to grow at a healthy pace that allows you to tailor your management needs when they unfold.The specialised site Investopedia states that plans must be flexible to allow the organisation to be more fluid and adaptable, and notes that for a business to be truly successful you need to plan all necessary steps to strengthen company growth measures.

Here we list nine helpful tips to grow a successful business.

1. Organise: the key to business success is the organisation, allowing complete control over tasks and needs that arise. A good way to maintain order is through daily task lists (to do lists) in which you mark as an essential action to business survival as reviewing inventories, the analysis of capital, the mood of the workforce, contact with suppliers, weekly meetings, and so on.2. Record: all successful companies keep detailed records where they can easily analyse their financial health. This also lets you know what challenges you can face in the future and is a key weapon that will be relevant when seeking shareholder access credit or to find partners. It also allows you to know if your company is spending more than necessary on the budget, and where you can inject more capital to boost business.3. Analyse the competition: it is important that you know who your competitors are, what distinguishes them (price, product, or square) and that what you have implemented have given good results.4. Understand the risks and benefits: the key to success is knowing how to take calculated risks that can drive the expansion of your company. When you have to make an important decision about the future of the company, ask yourself - what's the downside? What could go wrong? This allows you to know if the potential gain is greater than what you put at risk.5. Be creative: it is always good to ask what else you can do to boost the way your company is perceived and make it stand out from the competition. Be open to new approaches for your company and be willing to make the necessary changes in the business model to ensure the life of the company.6. Keep your concentration: i.e., remember that "Rome was not built in a day" and that the worst thing you can do for your business is to expect immediate success. Remember that consistency, experience and continuous contact in your industry are the best means to build a real name.7. Be prepared to make sacrifices when a company starts. It can take great efforts but the real work begins when you start to find success. In many cases, the founder or manager has to work even harder than it did when working for someone else; it is important to be aware that things will be sacrificed for the good of the company, either time, rest, and even people and projects that may affect short-term business growth. It is important to have an open mind about the cuts that might be needed to encourage success.8. Provide an excellent service: the best way to distinguish yourself from the rest of your competition is advertising through word of mouth and that is only achieved positively through great customer service. This is essential to making a consumer know your brand and be willing to speak well of you with your acquaintances.9. Be consistent: this means not to stop fighting to achieve a business producing a higher yield. Maintain an ongoing dialogue with your customers and suppliers to find out what they expect from you, regularly analyse the needs of your market and drive continuous innovation in your business, because with this you can assure longer life.

A responsible approach to the environment for businesses can be very positive in terms of trade. But it is also important for a company to achieve its objectives in terms of practical green measures.If you are responsible for an SME, it is possible that you`re not too sure how to help people and the planet. It can be a steep learning curve, but if these important tips are taken on board, you will start in the right direction for your business and beyond:

Use the right type of office

If you decide on the right solution for an office then it will be very beneficial for you in terms of ecology. Serviced offices are ideal, because you can see easily if you are in a building with the requirements of environmental protection. You want somewhere that uses a good amount of insulation, as it can keep your bills down. Also, try to find a place that does not require major changes for the majority of their employees, as long trips may have a negative impact on the environment, in particular.

Save energy, if possible

Leaving the computer on while it is not in use can lose a lot of valuable and expensive energy. It's a clever move to buy power strips for suitable IT facilities. Further energy minimisation can be achieved by using special IT configurations as well.

Avoid using plastic cups

Plastic cups might seem ideal for those that would rather not do the washing up. However, the disposal of such items is difficult from the point of view of the environment, because their use involves needless waste. Instead, you should think about buying traditional mugs and consider the implementation of a dishwasher.

Moving towards being a green company

Moving to a new office can be a stressful process. However, it is not recommended for businesses to forget their impact on the environment while moving, because it would be ineffective.If you take the necessary precautions, then a relocation of the company can enable you to make a positive start from the outset. Not only this, but if you are careful about the natural world, it can save you money.Smooth relocations can be positive in several different ways, and you should look at the following tips if you want to continue being sensitive to environmental issues:

Plan your move carefully

Poorly planned moves are not usually green. You should start planning early enough to do it right. It should not be you alone who does all the planning. Allow some of the rest of the team to share your burden. If errors are minimised at the planning stage, it will bode well for the future.

Assess how green the removal company is

Before a transaction is made with the removals firm to carry items to the office, check their environmental footprint. If they have evidence of keeping a tight rein on carbon dioxide emissions, it may suggest that it may be reliable in other respects too.

Recycling of any waste

Moving offices can generate a lot of waste and rubbish. You may want to rush back to work when the removal is done, but do not neglect the possibility of recycling on return - keep up the good habits on a daily basis and let your team be aware of all the methods for keeping your company greener.

Here are some important ways to optimise your start-up:

1. Find a balance between your business plan and its execution.

It is very important to have a good business plan and marketing in which you will base the development of your idea, but do not forget that on paper often, things are very often different from reality. Of course, it is essential to know where you are going, but it is also essential to be flexible enough to change your plan when setbacks or changes occur in your internal or external environment.Keep simple and easily identifiable, measurable, achievable objectives in the plan. Keep in mind a clear picture of where you want to go and get ready to follow a path. But do not forget that in general, it is important to keep an open mind and be open to achieve the goals that you have set in a long-term plan. Remember that although the idea precedes action, it is through action that the idea is valid and takes its final form. In the end, the rule is: adapt or die.

2. Optimise your resources.

You are at an ideal time to start a new business, but it is also a time when it is difficult to obtain resources for the early stage of a new business. This is why the ability to maximise and conserve resources at an early stage of the business, dramatically increases the likelihood of success. Even with a large budget, companies that survive best are those who know how to manage their resources efficiently and live "below their means". Solve this problem and work is much more effective and efficient to fix the finances. A virtual office can help reduce overheads whilst boosting your image, this is a good way to make the most of your capital resource.

3. Build the right team.

It is important to realise when to lean on the right people for the activities that make you lose focus. These may be areas where you are not the most competent, or activities that consume valuable time you could spend on more productive issues. Building the right team also means doing it in good time. Hiring more people ahead of time can provoke capitalisation and expense or undue pressure. Always remember that spending / investment must always be preceded by a real need arising from growth in income.

4. Be a good communicator (or get one).

Building trust and good communication always go together. A good communicator is essential, since the presentation of an idea to potential investors, partners and customers is crucial; to convey good news to motivate your people or bad news to instill empathy and sense of responsibility are all effects of a great communicator.

5. Get a mentor.

The fact is that your business does not mean you should be alone. It is important to recognise that in an early stage you do not know everything, nor are good at everything. So getting someone who can guide you through your "slim" areas is a great way to plug the 'leaks' of your business. This is not always possible to achieve, but if you succeed, it's a golden opportunity, as through a mentor you can get the advice of someone who has been in the position where you are and who has significant experience. Use your judgment to determine whether criticism or advice will warrant a change in direction. Do not forget that in the end, only you are responsible for your business.This is not a recipe for an "infallible" business - there are companies that have met these criteria and fail, but in general these points will help you dramatically increase your chances of success.

Organising marketing events can be a great way for smaller companies to take an interest in them and get people talking about their products and services.As such, here are some ways to market effectively, that will not blow your budget:

Get a Partner

Venue costs can be prohibitive, especially if you use a premium locale in London (e.g., Soho, if your company is based on design). So having a partner on board that has available office space is a great way to eliminate this particular headache and sidestep long-term contracts, leaving you to pay the bill if things do not go as expected.

Meeting Room

There are many companies that now offer high quality meeting rooms at this type of event, and at prices that most SMEs can afford. Many of this type of place are actually based in London, which allows you to use the capital city, without using up all your capital.

Invite influential speakers

There are a few people who meet you for the opportunity to attend a business event as a speaker or VIP, so make a list of people that you think will help generate attention. Remember to include press contacts between them. You will not get everyone on the list, but make sure to arouse sufficient interest amongst influential people.

Go Online

If you want your event to be a success, you need to promote it, which can make social media an invaluable tool. Be sure to put the word out on social networking sites, newsletters and a website to generate interest.

The ability to open a new business is within your reach. Your Virtual Office London have helped advise many small start-ups on how to best run their new business operation. This topic is usually associated with greater well-being, freedom, fulfillment and many other attributes that reflect the desire of people to transcend professionally. However, starting a business is not really important, but to make it successful and to endure transcends and endures over time as "business".Starting a good business does not necessarily require large amounts of money, starting with a robust infrastructure or inventing the most innovative product. What it requires is that we know our business to find an opportunity, and seize this by preparing properly.Here we share some general considerations that are important to increase the chances of success in a new business:

1. Do something new or "the same", but different

First, you must already have an idea you want to do. That is, where to get a goal. Many businesses are formed and become successful because they know and detect important needs to develop effective ways of meeting them. This could be by developing a completely new product that identifies and solves a new "problem" or developing one that satisfies more "efficiently" a need that other products do.What`s important here is not to identify or solve a problem that is not a problem for those who would be your clients. Thus, validating your ideas and assumptions is necessary before opening any business. Finally, remember that the most important thing is to do something you like. If you do what you love and you persevere, you'll do well!

2. Confirm your potential customers

Related to the previous point, you need to confirm starting the business from the product or service that you have will eventually provide a solid base of customers. Many businesses that fail, start without properly assessing their customer base, spending most of the time in the development of the product or service and when they find those who they thought were their customers would not actually buy into the emerging market.Successful businesses base their development on the basis of verified, reliable and good paying customers. We also suggest that you take the time to develop a strategy for customers, which confirm that there really are people interested in what you're offering.Your Virtual Office London are a leading virtual office provider in London. We have helped many thousands of small business start up in business. Our services have been designed to help improve the image of your new business. A virtual office can really help increase consumer confidence in your operation and provides a good return on investment in most cases.

There are several benefits of being in business, including the increased adaptability and flexibility than other larger companies may sometimes lack. However, customers will often associate SME`s with being ill-equipped to carry out a quality job.To help with this, these tips can make it appear your newly formed company appear more important:

Office: yes or no?

Having offices can certainly help clients see that you are clearly established, because there is real concrete evidence to this effect. However, if they are not likely to visit your offices, then hiring out a mailing address will have the same effect at a fraction of the cost, allowing you to continue using your home, office, services and other, more flexible alternatives that work out much more cheaply.

Having a tip-top website

Today, people expect from a well-designed website one that loads quickly and allows them to discover the products and contact details. Therefore, make sure that your site is certain to help convince them that they are dealing with a professional, reputable company. Why not write blogs about business achievements, using pictures of the front of the office or somewhere similar with an elegant look to make them keen to see more.

Get away from email failure

Having an e-mail which is overly personal or that has a Hotmail address for example, will not make you look significant enough. Contacting through e-mail is as important as the address of the office to create a professional impression, so make sure that the e-mail address says it's a good deal.

Logo or not

The company logo can do a lot to even the smallest businesses to exude professionalism, if you choose one that combines style and timelessness. Getting the right kind of logo takes time, but it will definitely be worth it in the end.

Keeping things Tidy and Organised

You may have to take care of the cleaning of office space to give the best impressions, but what about your desk?If your office is a mess, it is likely to be much less efficient than it could be. An untidy or unorganised work surface hinders the member of staff`s ability to do their job as efficiently as possible, so you must bear in mind the following tips to keep your desk clean in action and create surroundings that make your company look great:

Place the bin close to your desktop

Having a bin a short distance from the workplace is one of the simplest steps you can take to keep your desk clean. Place all rubbish straight into the bin, and stop allowing it to build up on the desktop.

Incorporate a physical inbox

It could be something as simple as a paper tray that can hold all incoming documents. This way, you will know exactly where they are and when you need them.

Go paperless

It is a big ask to go paperless 100% in an office space, but there are many elements, such as notes, which can and should be transmitted digitally, if you want to keep a clean and tidy office environment.

Schedule Cleaning

You should try to regularly commit to a schedule of cleaning your desk. By assigning a specific period of time to sorting out your desk, it is more likely that it will actually do its job more effectively.

Remove excess

If something does not have to be on your desktop, just get rid of it and the saem applies around the office. For a start up business, these tips should set you on the right road to success.First impressions are so important, a virtual office can provide the same benefits as a real office. A virtual office gives a small business the same advantages but without the expensive overheads. A good virtual office provider can help your company with a prime mail forwarding address in areas such as London, a professional PA call answering service, and a registered office address for your company. Ultimately an established business will be able to give the right impression, for start ups and SME's getting off on the right footing can prove trickier.

If you run your business from your home office, you have to consider everything from decorations to furniture to the floorplan.These tips will help you make the best use of what you have:

Basic business needs

Unless you are lucky enough to live in a mansion, it is likely that the room reserved for office space at home is not as big as you want. Therefore, to not feel suffocated by furnishings, you should only fulfil the basic requirements.These include having a desk the right size for the location and type of equipment (if you have a laptop, a smaller desktop will do) and a comfortable chair to work in for long periods.

Suitable Decoration

While you do not want to fill the office space with unnecessary frills, you will not have to opt for a pure functional look when it comes to design. Add some photos or paintings on the walls, and make subtle use of colours that you like and that make you feel more energised. Having the odd flourish will add comfort to your surroundings and make the effect less clinical.

Organisation is a priority

Even if you have worked hard to create a sense of space in your home office, you may be undermined very quickly after starting work there if you start drowning in clutter. The amounts of paper in particular can quickly start piling up, and if not properly organised and stored away in files, you will quickly start wasting lots of time and space. If you do not have enough room in your current filing cabinets, you can use any existing chest of drawers or cupboards as a place to store your business documents.This blog was brought to you by Your Virtual Office London the mail forwarding, registered office and virtual office experts.

Finding a suitable location, as well as facilities for your business can sometimes be something of a minefield, as there are so many options and factors to consider before making a final decision.Choosing the wrong area for your company could prove disastrous, especially if it affects the customers, employees and suppliers.Prior to looking at all the available locations, make a short list of some of the basic facts that affect the final choice. Particular attention should be given to the building type, for example, if you need office space or an industrial site for a factory or warehouse.Think of your employees and how they can make it to work, especially if they do not have their own transport – alongside this, factor in if it`s somewhere your customers will be able to reach. Do some research on local public transport to ensure that the location is not too difficult to approach.Space and design are also key considerations, because conditions that are too large or small for your business requirements will cost more in the long run. Could the location itself have an impact on the company and if so, is it necessary to go to a more premium type of location? If this is the case, you should consider a serviced office space. London and other large cities often have a higher demand for commercial properties, making serviced offices a more viable option.Spending time to decide what you need in a building before you commit to a local search can make life easier and a more effective approach to finding the location that best fits your business.If you don't necessarily need to operate in a rented office then a virtual office can provide a good alternative. A virtual office allows you to operate from home, this helps with keeping overheads to a minimum which is especially important if you are a new venture. However your clients are given the impression you are based in a prominent area, perfect for new start-ups and small businesses.Your Virtual Office London specialise in virtual office services, a virtual office can comprise of a mail forwarding address, a registered office address and a call answering service. If you would like to find out more do contact us.

Every business is different, however, your company`s insurance policy requirements will usually be determined by exactly what it does, its framework, area and if you have staff members. A specialized insurance agent can assist you in choosing the kind and level of protection plans that best fits your organization`s needs, however in this content we have a quick look at the primary types of company insurance policy you could possibly consider. We have several in depth articles on various types of insurance cover should you require additional information.Initially we`ll examine the actual property that your organization has to secure and then proceed to other attainable types of insurance coverage you`ll require for your company.

Properties insurance

In the event you own an freehold building, you should cover it against natural risks such as flooding as well as other water destruction, fire, explosion etc. If you`re making use of your residence for business functions, verify that you`re protected for the company use – many insurance providers provide combined insurance policies such as either home or home office insurance cover.When you hire a business property, it`s better to look at the conditions of the lease contract to establish who has liability for covering them – you or the property owner.

Contents, company resources and tools insurance

Consider covering any company resources and tools, PCs and other products. Similar to your home items insurance, be careful never to undervalue the worth of anything you require to manage your company – the value covered should reveal the substitute cost. Pay specific interest to highly-priced tools that your company cannot operate without. You should think about if you only have to protect on company property or if you would like broader coverage. For instance, if notebooks are taken out from the workplace and utilized off site.In case your business is work at home, you`ll have to look into the terms of your residence insurance plan. It`s likely that the current insurance will have to be modified or changed to cover tools utilized in the course of company.Your Virtual Office London help small businesses increase their productivity through the use of our prestigious virtual office services. If you would like to discuss how we can help you, don't hesitate to get in touch.