For small startups of only two or three people, a physical office space might just be a luxury and not a necessity. Why spend a good few hundred a month when you can recreate the productivity of an office without spending the money? Here are some tips on how to do without an office.
(1) You don’t have to be sitting within 3 metres of each other to shout at your Director of Marketing. You can do the same via the video conferencing tools in Windows Live Messenger or Skype. If voice chat is all you need, both tools also allow you to do so. Share links and transfer files easily too.
(2) Screenshare or hold online meetings with Yuuguu or GoToMeeting. Present to clients around the world or hold your weekly staff meeting. No need to look over your friend’s shoulder anymore.
(3) Store and share large files online with Box.net.
(4) Have a Pictionary moment? Draw your ideas online with Scriblink or Twiddla.
(5) Mark up documents to highlight typos, grammatical mistakes, append notes, and share them. Try Backboard or SharedCopy.
(6) Have the address you want without paying for it. Worried that your SOHO (Small Office Home Office) mailing address would seem too cheap? Go for a virtual office: have the prestige you want (Raffles Place address, anyone?) plus mail forwarding services for a low monthly cost. Some virtual office providers in Singapore include VirtualOffice Singapore, Regus, YourCityOffice and Smart Virtual Office Singapore.
(7) Rent is expensive. If you really need to meet, grab a coffee at Hans Café or if you have a little more cash to spare, coffee houses such as Starbucks and Coffee Bean provide good venues.
Additional resource:
Mashable’s 270+ Tools for Running a Business Online
Photo courtesy of wili_hybrid.
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