| Whoever said that starting a business should be | | | | there is a need to pump in more money for the |
| extremely expensive. The first thing you should think | | | | business, or even when you want to downsize, you |
| about when you are starting on your own is how to | | | | won't be floundering around difficult contracts when |
| cut as much cost as possible on the non crucial things | | | | you need to liquidate your resources and move your |
| and pump in all your investment and development | | | | business base of operations or start a new direction |
| dollars into the important bits of the business | | | | for the business. The idea of a virtual office is not just |
| framework. That is management 101 - the very first | | | | an idea that saves you money, it keeps your business |
| thing anyone with a an idea and a means to make it | | | | free floating, which means that directions can be |
| happen should know about is to draw up a corporate | | | | changes and strategies can be revamped. The one |
| plan that ensures every dollar is spent wisely. Money | | | | situation you do not want to be stuck in is setting up |
| management is the foundation that will build the | | | | your beautiful office and 6 months down the road, you |
| pyramids and help you reach for the sun. Don't be | | | | realise that the market is shifting and investments |
| foolish - this is the digital age, the age of the virtual | | | | should go elsewhere. If this means an office downsize, |
| office worker, the age of the dot com explosion - and | | | | or a relocation or even moving operations offline - you |
| you shouldn't be left behind. Take a look at your | | | | don't have to grapple with a difficult landlord, paying the |
| business paradigm, and think whether you actually | | | | default on your mortgage or rental agreement, rewiring |
| need to have a solid, physical base of operations. | | | | and explaining the move to your client base. Virtual is |
| Unless you are in manufacturing or distribution, one of | | | | fluid and fluid means keeping your business afloat. |
| the mistakes of many new business is that they don't | | | | Most governments in most countries have set up |
| realise that they can move their business online and | | | | economic laws which make it easier for business to |
| save thousands of dollars a month not paying rental. | | | | virtualize - although they can get a picky about taxes. |
| The start-up costs alone for setting up even the | | | | The hassle ends there, some paperwork and approval |
| smallest of business (5 - 15people) can be said to be | | | | and once you have the first step out of the door, the |
| crippling and can set corporate targets back a few | | | | road to success will get that much clearer. Virtual |
| months. | | | | officers are a great way to starting your own |
| The money that you had originally set aside for setting | | | | business on a budget and with 80% less stress and |
| up a physical office can be used as a sort of risk | | | | hassle. |
| capital that should be kept in case of emergencies. If | | | | |