According to a recent RingCentral survey of over 300 customers in late 2009, small offices perform much of their work away from a physical office.
Some interesting results:
- 45% conduct business away from the office more than three fourths of the time.
- 80% try to give the impression to clients they are in the office when making or receiving business calls.
- 57% report having some employees work from a virtual office. Only 15% said all employees work from a single location.
Running a business under a virtual office model reduces office-related rental expenses and allows companies to expand their talent pool beyond a limited geographical area. In other words, the virtual office model provides a win-win solution for all types of businesses.
I see agencies taking advantage of the virtual office options in greater numbers. This is especially true for new agencies started by younger owners. They are more comfortable working in a remote environment.
This is interesting data, especially considering some segments of the insurance industry have had trouble finding talent. Younger owners aren’t as enthusiastic about putting on a suit and tie to sit in the office chasing leads all day. The image of an agency using a virtual insurance office as the the “storefront” and handling business from home, Starbuck’s, the dentist’s and elsewhere may help some bring some talent back to the pool.
Am working at my home office right now for GoVaughn.com Insurance! All of my services are in the clouds, including IP-based phone system, so I can work anywhere!