Here at virtualofficeworld.com we know that a virtual office can be one of the most cost-effective tools available to help start-ups boost their company image. A prime business address, professional call answering service and meeting room hire are just some of the facilities available - all of which help to project a more successful business image.

As a result, a perceivably more established company can help to advance business connections. And perhaps most importantly for smaller businesses, this virtual office solution can be achieved with a single, low monthly cost - perfect to help start-ups get off the ground.

The Mumpreneur community

Part of the start-up sector that is gaining increased recognition is the 'Mumpreneur' community. For years, stay-at-home mothers and housewives have been quietly coming up with business ideas and entering the world of entrepreneurship. While some have made great leaps into the world of business, others have struggled to balance the demands of motherhood with running a company.

But now Mumpreneurs in the UK are being recognised for their hard work, determination and the enormous value they are adding to business circles. As a result specific support networks are springing up all over the country to help busy mums manage their family and business lifestyles.

Business Mum Week and the Mumpreneur Conference are such examples of support networks that have been created to help encourage enterprising mothers. And during an economic decline, with redundancies rising and UK unemployment at its highest level for 14 years, it's now more important than ever that those start-ups and fledgling businesses are given every chance to succeed.

For mums who work from home, a virtual office could help to promote a bigger and more successful image of their company. While the object of Mumpreneurship is to be at home with their children, the physical office becomes obsolete. But at times, when a meeting room or business address is required to help keep the home address anonymous, or simply to help project a bigger company image, a virtual office can provide the ideal packaged solution.

"Professionalism matters"

As explained in the words of one small company that gained enormously from a virtual office, "professionalism matters - and it makes a huge difference."

According to a recent blog article by Unitedvirtualoffice.com, Carol, a successful Mumpreneur who sells niche jewellery designs from home, was frustrated by the lack of take-up and deals for her designs.

"The clients said 'we like your designs... they are good' but they never came back. "It was then that I realised the importance of a professional look."

She explains how she hired a virtual office, and rented meeting rooms at the building for meetings with clients.

"I made my presentations at those offices. Within months my business changed. I started getting bulk design orders from large companies at very good rates.

"I learnt it the hard way that professionalism matters and makes a huge difference. The virtual office made me look like a well established professional designer and inspired confidence in clients."

The successful image that a virtual office can create is one of the main benefits associated with the solution, and combined with its low, manageable monthly costs, the virtual office is becoming more and more popular.

The current economic downturn is pushing an increasing number of individuals down the entrepreneur route - be it through job insecurity, redundancy, or taking advantage of lower overheads - and the Mumpreneur community is keen to harness this trend and spread the word on current support networks available to help mothers into business.

Speaking to the Birmingham Post about an upcoming conference and award ceremony, Mumpreneur Sam Hart, the founder of a tax advice website www.samhart.co.uk, says:

"The nation's mums are a creative, innovative and inspirational bunch of people. The Mumpreneur Conference is a great way for mums with a fledgling idea - or even a fully-fledged business - to meet other super-mums and to get the advice, support and guidance they need to take their first steps on the Mumpreneur journey, to find new ways to help in juggling their business and their families."

The conference has been organised by mothers in business, and aims to fill the void of support targeted specifically at busy mums.

For more information about the conference, go to www.mumpreneurconference.com, or visit www.businessmumweek.com for more details about Business Mum Week.

If you're a Mumpreneur, or you're starting a business and looking to expand and promote your enterprise, speak to one of our consultants for free help and advice about how a virtual office can help. Alternatively, search online at virtualofficeworld.com to find virtual offices in the UK.