Expanding internationally is the next most logical step for more companies today than ever before. A great part of that can be attributed to the ease in using virtual offices as the passageway to expansion. Using virtual offices to expand internationally could be the most effective tool for a business of any size.

Expanding internationally can be very costly. Between travel expenses, time, furnishings, equipment, staff, and a lot more, the idea of expanding internationally could easily and quickly be shut down based on the contemplation of the high costs alone. Using virtual offices to expand internationally solves those issues by allowing a company to establish a solid presence in a foreign market without the typical costs associated with establishing a physical location in a new international market the company seeks to interject itself in.

For a minimal monthly fee, businesses using virtual offices to expand internationally can use an address to receive mail, have a receptionist take and reroute calls accordingly, and have a conference room at their disposal for meetings on an as-needed basis. Using virtual offices to expand internationally may be the only option available to a small business owner that wishes to enter a foreign market as high costs of establishing a physical location can be highly prohibitive.

Using virtual offices to expand internationally allows a company to establish credibility and a presence in a new market and possibly test the market essentially, prior to using a large part of the company’s budget to enter a new market that could possibly prove to not work in the best interests of the business. A business owner is able to launch the product or service in the new market, make business contacts, and give the test ample time to see if it is a good fit without pouring a vast number of resources into the new market. If the investment proves to be a good fit, the company can make plans to move forward with more knowledge in hand. If the new market seems to not be a good fit, the company has invested minimally and can walk away without too much of a loss.

One step in using virtual offices to expand internationally is in establishing virtual phone numbers or ITFS numbers (the international equivalent of a US toll free number). A company can opt for either one, depending on whether they are looking to create an image in the new market that represents more of a large, global brand versus a small, local business. The use of these types of phone numbers gives the company the ability to provide a means of communication for those in the new foreign market to reach and communicate with the company at no cost to them. The phone number is likely to be posted on the company website and anywhere else the company chooses to announce and promote their new international expansion. The most popular provider of these numbers is Global Call Forwarding, a US based company.

Using virtual offices to expand internationally could offer many significant advantages to a company of any size, including:

· Offering flexibility and mobility because calls made to a virtual office can be forwarded to almost any number in the world.
· Establishing solid legitimacy with the use of a physical address in the new market.
· Offering support staff at the international virtual office location to answer calls, take messages, receive email correspondence, receive mail, and arrange the use of an on-site conference room for meetings, on an as-needed basis.
· Cost savings with low overhead costs.

The advantages of using virtual offices to expand internationally are many. This option offers a way for businesses of any size and scale to experiment with new opportunities without severely disrupting the budget of the organization.