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Virtual Office vs Physical Office: Key Differences

Virtual offices and physical offices. Both offer very different opportunities for businesses — and can be highly beneficial for your company. In this guide, we explain what virtual and physical offices are and what they can provide your business.

What Is a Virtual Office?

A virtual office is not an online office. It's not a digital space or chatroom that performs like an office, as some people believe. The term “virtual office” often leads to misinterpretation of the platform, as “virtual” is usually associated with a technologically-simulated environment, such as virtual reality.

A virtual office might be better called an abstract office.

A virtual office does not really exist as an office — not in the real world or a digital one. It’s not a physical space you can visit or use as a workspace as you can a traditional office. Instead, a virtual office is an address. It’s a legally verified location listed as part of a building.

This address can be assigned to your business, which allows you to use it for registration to official governing bodies like Companies House and HMRC, as well as have mail delivered directly to it. You can also list the address online or in advertising materials.

The primary reason behind having a virtual address is that you may not have a business address to use for your company. Many people are reluctant to register their home address to their company for numerous reasons, from not wanting their home address listed publicly to not owning the property.

If you’re interested in virtual office space, Mint Formations offer virtual office addresses in London at low-cost.

What Is a Physical Office?

A physical office needs little explanation.

A physical office is the traditional concept of an office environment we’re all familiar with. From a single leased room in an office block to an entire corporate premise, the physical office is a staple of the modern business world.