As more businesses switch on to the cost-saving, CO2-cutting benefits of a virtual office, the popularity of remote working has been steadily growing across the country.

A virtual office is beneficial for many different companies and business models. For small or start-up ventures it can help to boost the image of a company by providing a professional business address, meeting room hire and other professional touches, such as a call answering service.

For larger firms, it paves the way for expansion into new territories, as businesses can use the building address on their correspondence and hire meeting rooms to create a more established impression within specific areas.

The cost-saving benefits are obvious, as businesses can instantly cut out the overheads associated with office rent, rates, furniture, building or contents insurance and more. For firms struggling financially, whether as a result of the credit crunch or because they are still in the early stages of trading, taking on the cost and responsibility of an office can be a huge risk.

It can also absorb finances that may be better put to alternative uses - such as taking on more staff, upgrading telecommunication systems or implementing more targeted marketing activities.

Web technology enables remote working

Many successful entrepreneurs have chosen to go virtual, and have been aware of the advantages of virtual working for many years. For them, it's simply a way of life.

Entrepreneur David Cancel says, "My advice for those starting a new company: Stay virtual as long as possible," while Adrienne Giannone, CEO of Edge Electronics, is counting the savings after turning seven salespeople into telecommuters. "I'd rather keep my people and not spend the money on the bricks and mortar," she says. (Associated Press)

With the constant development and improvement of web and mobile technology, remote working is becoming more acceptable in the workplace, and virtual offices are beginning to play a much larger role in today's business community.

Communication needn't be an expensive process - staying in touch with colleagues, staff or clients when working remotely is now easier than ever. The internet has opened up communication and everyday business necessities such as file sharing, through the likes of email, instant messenger and intranet sites. Even video conferences are free, thanks to Skype, which allows free video calls between locations all over the globe.

This has dramatically opened up the opportunities available for businesses, and means that businesses people can now perform much of their working day at home, instead of travelling to an office.

In recognition of the growing popularity of this trend, recent research suggests that 60% of small businesses in the UK are started at home, while the recession has encouraged 5,500 people in the UK to swap the daily commute for a home-based venture every single week.

Researcher Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, said: "Basing the business at home is certainly no obstacle to growth as home business owners are making the most of technology to outsource work and collaborate with other talented minds."

Virtual offices build team culture

Entrepreneur Coach Wei echoes the benefits of remote working, although he warns that it's essential to work on the virtual team connection: "Make sure that you have Skype chat and face-to-face sessions on a weekly basis."

He continues: "Being virtual is a great experience that I recommend highly for the initial phase of any start-up. Zero rent obviously helps. It is cool and fun to be working in coffee shops." He goes on to add that virtual working is an important ingredient in building team culture, "by forcing the team to be diligent and creative about team work and collaboration."

It is possible for some businesses to stay virtual, although this depends largely on the nature and culture of the company, as well as the staff themselves. But if the time does come to take on an office, this should be approached with caution - and only if the time is absolutely right.

"It's time to move out only when the answer to the question 'Is getting an office space going to help grow my business?' is a firm, 'Yes'," says David Cancel. Until then, there are other means available, such as co-working spaces, part-time offices and shared workplaces."

All too often an office is rushed into for the wrong reasons, which can ultimately lead to financial difficulty if done too soon. David Cancel sums this up by saying: "I've never witnessed a correlation between cool offices and successful companies."

For more details on virtual offices and how they can help your business grow, search online at virtualofficeworld.com or speak to one of our consultants for free regional advice.