Workforce trends are heading in a digital direction and virtual offices are no exception. Virtual offices give us the flexibility to work wherever we want while allowing us to save on the costs associated with maintaining a physical location (not to mention, they let us avoid long commutes so we can sleep in a little longer).

In many ways, virtual offices have improved the way we work, but like everything else in life, nothing can be 100% perfect. In this article we will break down the advantages and disadvantages of virtual offices, so you can decide for yourself if it’s right for you.

Advantages of a Virtual Office for a Small Business

1. Professionalism

Businesses that don’t have a physical location still need to maintain a degree of professionalism with their business address in order to stay competitive. This professionalism can not be easily achieved by letting your clients and potential customers know that you work from your kitchen table or a small computer desk in your basement. And the only thing worse than using your home address as your business address is using a post office box. When potential clients see these types of addresses they may start feeling concerned about your legitimacy.

In addition to turning away potential clients with a home address or P.O box, Google also does not take too well to these addresses. It prefers to see virtual offices used in the address section of your Google My Business listing.

Telsec’s virtual office provides you with a prestigious address in Toronto’s Financial District, that will elevate your business’s image and let clients know you take your work seriously.

2. Save Money

The second (and just as important) advantage is the enormous cost saving of not having to pay rent for physical office space; as well as the other costs associated with a traditional office such as having to furnish it, and purchase office equipment and telephone systems. Having a virtual office at an office business center not only saves you money on office expenses but also saves you time and money on commuting into an office every weekday. Think of the cost of your time! If you spend 2 hours a day commuting, then that represents 10 hours a week that you could have been working on your business and earning money.

3. Reduced Risk

The third biggest advantage of having a virtual office is the reduced risk of operating your small business or start-up. Not having to make all of the capital expenditures on furnishings and office equipment means that you do not have all your resources tied up – and therefore you have fewer non-operational-related liabilities.

This lower risk may also be helpful if your small business wants to diversify or expand to other markets. You can easily set up another inexpensive virtual office solution in another market and appear to have a physical presence in that marketplace.

4. Flexibility

Another advantage of a virtual office is that you have the flexibility to work when it is convenient for you, wherever you are. You are also able to perform your normal work duties from your home, your shop, or on the road without being confined to a single office all day. This is especially true if you are using a VoIP virtual office solution that gives you an extension that can be reached anywhere in the world.

When you have your virtual office at an office business center like Telsec, you have the flexibility of accessing boardrooms and meeting rooms if you ever need to meet with clients or colleagues in person. You also have access to the photocopiers at a very low cost per copy as well as incoming faxes for free.

5. Mail Service

Virtual office clients have the advantage of using Telsec’s mail service program. This program provides you with a professional address (18 King Street East) to give your clients when they need to send you mail. Once the mail has been sent, we will redirect both domestic and international mail and faxes to your home address, or any other address of your choice.

6. Telephone Message and Mail Service

With virtual offices, you have the option of incorporating telephone answering services. Here you will receive a professional and personalized digital telephone answering service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and have unlimited incoming calls.

By having a dedicated business phone number, you can separate your personal and professional calls without needing a physical office landline. You will also ensure that all your important business calls are always answered.

Perceived Disadvantages of Virtual Offices

1. Needing a Physical Location to Complete Work

Businesses that use virtual offices have their employees performing duties from an assortment of locations. Essentially, there is no home-based office for employees to report to or meet with colleagues and clients. So, for businesses that need a physical space and daily physical interactions to get the work done, a virtual office may not be the best solution.

2. Lack of In-Person Social Interaction

Some believe that a disadvantage to working from a virtual office is the lack of social interaction between employees. While some will easily discount this disadvantage, it can be especially difficult for extroverts who thrive on human interaction. This is because, with a virtual office situation, human interaction is hard to come by – unless the employee is stepping out to work from a local library or a coffee shop to get that social interaction.

3. Lack of Motivation

Another perceived disadvantage of working from a virtual office is the distractions and lack of motivation; as this can sometimes cause morale and productivity to decline. For a person who has self-discipline issues and works best being consistently supervised, a virtual office arrangement can cause a lack of motivation.

4. Communication

Communication problems between employees can also be seen as a disadvantage of a virtual office. Communicating via email, texting, social media or even teleconferencing is just not the same as in-person conversations. This is because, more often than not, we might miss the subtle non-verbal clues in written communications. This can lead to poor communication or misinterpretation of one’s comments or notes – and can sometimes slow down interactions that could have been more easily communicated via a quick telephone call. But once employees are aware of these problems (or at least get used to non-verbal communication) this will become less of an issue.

Measures of an Effective Virtual Office & Working in a Virtual Team

Maintaining best practices will help you minimize the disadvantages of virtual offices. Good communication plays a vital role in keeping your employees engaged and motivated, especially in virtual team settings. To get over the roadblock of not being with team members in person, it is important to ensure you are recognizing good work, developing trust, honesty, and transparency with all employees, as well as encouraging constant communication.

Fortunately, there are many tools and strategies that you can use to work successfully in a virtual team and tackle these challenges head-on. Using virtual meeting rooms, and having consistent check-ins will not only help you avoid any misunderstandings, but will also increase your productivity.

When you work in a virtual team, it’s important to make an extra effort with relationships. Though it may take some time and resources, companies need to assess their virtual culture and implement strategies to make the culture more fun, inclusive, and enjoyable. An important part of establishing relationships with teammates is helping to build and maintain trust. Clearly communicate what is expected from your team. Give them the tools they need to succeed and make sure that you are doing everything you can to help them thrive.

Multiple Services to Choose From

Virtual offices have evolved with business requirements in mind by having a variety of services to choose from, including on-site conference rooms, meeting rooms, training rooms, and more. Virtual offices combine the features of traditional office spaces and private mailboxes to create something that will promote business growth even further.
Virtual offices are a great way to appear more established, which can be essential when a business is looking to create a solid professional reputation among clients, colleagues, and customers. Whether it’s just you or you have a team of employees, virtual offices give you the flexibility and professionalism you need to succeed.

Some virtual office services are a lot better than others, so make sure you thoroughly research your options first and try before you buy.

Some people are now calling virtual offices their cloud offices because they are also operating their files and software through cloud servers. Learn more about cloud storage solutions on this blog.

GREAT QUALITY NEIGHBOURHOOD

18 King Street East is a quality boutique Class A building – East
of Yonge Street: easy street parking, less traffic, excellent restaurants and lovely treed parks – St. James Park @
Church & King and Berczy Park @ Wellington East, Scott and Front Streets – Very high energy and engaging
area.

RESTAURANTS/TAKE OUT

Leave it to TELSEC. Let our staff take care of the catering for the important business meeting room rental or
training seminar! Just let us know what types of food you prefer and for how many people and let us do the
rest. For breakfast, lunch and dinner, Telsec can provide anything from assorted sandwiches to a high-quality
hot sit-down meal. We’re always happy to take care of our clients! https://telsec.net/boardrooms-meeting-
rooms/

1. CRAFT BEER MARKET (OUTDOOR COURTYARD)
Courtyard backs onto our Telsec building, 18 King St. E
1 Adelaide St E (enter on east side of Yonge St., south of Adelaide)
Toronto
Ryan Halsall
info@craftbeermarket.ca
Tel: 437-922-BEER (2337)
www.craftbeermarket.ca
Toronto’s first chef-driven food hall, perfect for lunch or team outings, with a wide selection of seasonal
dishes and local brews.

2. Beerbistro restaurant and bar
Outdoor patio next to our Telsec building, 18 King St. E.
18 King Street East, Main Floor
Toronto
Omid Azad
info@beerbistro.com
Tel: 416-861-9872
www.beerbistro.com

3. CONVIVIUM DINING – HIGH-END (SOME TABLES BACK ONTO OUTDOOR COURTYARD)
Courtyard backs onto our Telsec building, 18 King St. E.
83 Yonge Street
Toronto
Soumini Agate
sa@myconvivium.com
General Manager
Sarah Watson
sw@myconvivium.com
Floor Manager
Tatiana Frelik (Events)
tf@myconvivium.com

Tel: 416-691-9909
www.myconvivium.com

4. RESTAURANT 20 VICTORIA – MICHELIN 2025 APPROVED
20 Victoria Street
Toronto
Declan
20vicreservations@gmail.com
Tel: 416-804-6066
Instagram for reservations: https://www.instagram.com/twentyvictoria/

5. JOEY KING STREET
20 King Street West
Toronto
Nora Elhanafy
nelhanafy@joeyrestaurants.com
Tel: 647-678-5639
www.joeyrestaurants.com
If you want to wow your business partners or clients, then grab and go from this contemporary dining
spot with a menu featuring international and regional dishes. Order their upscale east like sushi, salads,
steaks or that wagyu beef carpaccio. Yum!

6. DACASTO (take out)
37 King Street East
Toronto
Enrico Dacasto
enrico@dacasto.com
Tel: 416-214-0986
www.dacasto.com

7. DEB BREAKFAST. CO (take out)
20 Toronto Street
Toronto
Sade Henry
torontostgm@eatdeb.com
Tel: 347-880-8291
www.torontostgm.com

8. THE POKE BOX (take out)
36 Toronto Street
Toronto
Jeremy
info@thepokebox.ca
Tel: 416-929-0363
www. thepokebox.ca
For business teams that love to indulge but want to feel good about it, consider ordering from The Poke
Box. Their individual boxed meals are prepared with fresh ingredients and packed with protein! Great
for sushi lovers but without a mess.

9. CARISMA (ITALIAN)

15 Toronto Street
Toronto
Michael Pagliaro
info@carismarestaurant.com
Tel: 416-864-7373
www.carismarestaurant.com

10. NAMI (JAPANESE)
55 Adelaide Street East
Toronto
Mana
namirestaurant1984@gmail.com
Tel: 416-362-7373
www.namirestaurant.ca

11. TERRONI (ITALIAN)
57 Adelaide Street East
Toronto
Patti Shaw
info@terroni.com
Tel: 416-203-3093
www.terroni.com

12. SWAAGAT – THE REAL TASTE OF INDIA
36 King Street East
Toronto
swaagattoronto@gmail.com
Tel: 647-943-9754

13. WOODS RESTAURANT AND BAR
45 Colborne Street
Toronto
Robin Singh
info@woodsrestaurant.ca
Tel: 416-214-9918
www.woodsrestaurant.ca

14. aKin – Michelin 2025 approved
51 Colborne Street
Toronto
Mike Birdsey, Genral Manager
Eric Chong, chef + owner
info@atkintoronto.com
Tel: 416-363-0151
www.atkintoronto.com
aKin is a modern Asian-inspired fine dining restaurant located in the heart of Toronto. Offering a
meticulously curated 10-course blind tasting menu that highlights local and seasonal ingredients, with
influences from diverse Asian cuisines.

15. CANTINA MERCATTO

20 Wellington Street East
Toronto
Niam H
info@cantinamercatto.ca
Tel: 416-304-0781
www.cantinamercatto.ca

16. UNCLE TONY’S
38 Wellington St E
Toronto
Siva Sathasivam
uncletonyssiva@gmail.com
Tel: 416-455-6650
https://uncletonys.ca/

17. FRESH KITCHEN + JUICE BAR – vegan restaurant
47 Front Street East
Toronto
Lindsey Dauilmar
ldavilmar@recipeunlimited.com
Tel: 647-693-7556
www.freshkitchens.ca
This plant-based restaurant is so good you won’t even miss meat. It’s a great choice for delicious and
health-conscious food and a top pick for those with dietary restrictions. Choose from their lunch and
dinner menu or opt for their takeout bundles and get appetizers and entrees for multiple people.

18. THE FLAT IRON: A FIRKIN PUB
49 Wellington Street East
Toronto
JC Trujillo
Jctrujillo3@gmail.com
Tel: 647-561-7224, 416-362-3444
www.firkinpubs.com/theflatiron
If your team likes pub grub, then the Firkin’s traditional English food is for you. Order from their party
platter menu for large groups, which includes all your classic pub favourites like fish and chips, sliders,
skewers, tacos, nachos, charcuterie boards and more.

19. SCORE ON KING (Sports Bar)
Outdoor Patio + Heated
Church & King
107 King Street East
Toronto
Tel: 416-519-4654
www.scoreonking.com

20. RESTAURANT LUCIE
100 Yonge Street
Toronto
info@restaurantlucie.com
Tel: 416-788-9054
www.restaurantlucie.com

21. PIZZAIOLO
(no e-mail)
104 Yonge Street
Toronto
Tel: 416-860-0700
www.pizzaiolo.ca

Restaurants

1. Ryan Halsall

CRAFT BEER MARKET (OUTDOOR COURTYARD)

Courtyard backs onto our Telsec building, 18 King St. E

1 Adelaide St E (enter on east side of Yonge St., south of Adelaide)

Toronto, ON

M5C 2V9

Tel: 437-922-BEER (2337)

Website: www.craftbeermarket.ca

2. Michael Pagliaro

Carisma (Italian)

15 Toronto Street

Toronto, ON

M5C 2E3

Tel: 416-864-7373

Website: www.carismarestaurant.com

3. Patti Shaw

Terroni (Italian)

57 Adelaide Street East

Toronto, ON

M5C 1K6

Tel: 416-203-3093

Website: www.terroni.com

4. Declan

Restaurant 20 Victoria – Michelin guide approved

20 Victoria Street

Toronto, ON

M5C 2A1

Tel: 416-804-6066

Instagram for reservations: https://www.instagram.com/twentyvictoria/

5. Mana

Nami (Japanese)

55 Adelaide Street East

Toronto, ON

M5C 1K6

Tel: 416-362-7373

Website: www.namirestaurant.ca

6. Restaurant Lucie

100 Yonge Street

Toronto, ON

M5C 2W1

Tel: 416-788-9054

Website: www.restaurantlucie.com

7. Niam H

Cantina Mercatto

20 Wellington Street East

Toronto, ON

M5E 1C5

Tel: 416-304-0781

Website: www.cantinamercatto.ca

8. Siva Sathasivam

Uncle Tony’s

38 Wellington St E

Toronto, ON

M5E 1C7

Tel: 416-455-6650

Website: https://uncletonys.ca/

9. Pizzaiolo

104 Yonge Street

Toronto, ON

M5C 2Y6

Tel: 416-860-0700

Website: www.pizzaiolo.ca

10. Robin Singh

Woods Restaurant and Bar

45 Colborne Street

Toronto, ON

M5E 1E3

Tel: 416-214-9918

Website: www.woodsrestaurant.ca

11. Amadeusz Domyslawski

GUSTO 501

501 King St. E

Toronto, ON

M5A 1L9

Tel: 416-477-5647

Website: www.gusto501.com

Health and Wellness

1. Thom Tullo

Morpheus8 by Inmode

47 Colborne Street

Toronto, ON

M5E 1E3

Tel: 416-863-6564

Website: www.amanspa.ca

2. Altitude Athletic Training

56 Colborne Street

Toronto, ON

M5E 1E3

Tel: 416-366-3838

Website: www.altitudeathletictraining.com

3. Physioheath Studios

33 Victoria Street, #130

Toronto, ON

M5C 2A1

Tel: 416-368-2525

Website: www.physiohealth.com

Hotels

1. Jennifer Smith

General Manager

The Omni King Edward Hotel

37 King Street East

Toronto, ON

M5C 1E9

Tel: 416-863-9700

Website: https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/toronto-king-edward

2. Mark Perry

General Manager

Executive Hotels and Resorts (Boutique)

8 Colborne Street

Toronto, ON

M5E 1E1

Tel: 416-350-2419

Website: www.spazen.ca or www.cosmotoronto.com

3. Emeline Boul

General Manager

Hotel Victoria (Boutique)

56 Yonge Street

Toronto, ON

M5E 1G5

Tel: 416-363-1666

Mobile: 647-574-5832

Website: www.hotelvictoriatoronto.com

4. Omkar Sawant

Reservations Manager

One King West Hotel

1 King Street West

Toronto, ON

M5H 1A1

Main: 416-548-8100

Reservations: 1-866-470-5464

Website: www.onekingwest.com

5. Van Nguyen

General Manager

Cambridge Suites Toronto

15 Richmond Street East

Toronto, ON

M5C 1N2

Direct: 416-601-3757

Hotel: 416-368-1990

Website: www.cambridgesuitestoronto.com

Our Amenities

We are by far the most experienced and best coworking team in the market – established in 1980

We are the highest Tech centre in the market

We have a very modern, high quality, brand new facility located at:

18 King Street East, Suite 1400

Toronto, Ontario M5C 1C4 Canada

- 18 King Street East is a boutique Class A building – East of Yonge: easy street parking, less traffic, excellent restaurants and lovely parks – St. James Park @ Church & King and Berczy Park @ Wellington East, Scott and Front Streets – Very high energy and engaging area
- A few steps (a few seconds) to the Yonge Street subway/underground PATH network and streetcar available outside building
- Building is located in Toronto's vibrant financial district
- Plenty of parking available in the area including street parking and reserved parking in the 18 King building
- Adjacent to the building huge outdoor food courtyard - Beer Bistro www.beerbistro.com and Craft Beer Market www.craftbeermarket.ca/locations/toronto/ restaurants and bars with onsite catering services
- Onsite amenities: Tim Horton's, Beer Bistro, Convenience store and Starbucks across the street
- Nearby amenities: underground PATH network, numerous restaurants, banking, Starbucks plus a wide array of nearby shops and services
- New modernized office layout fully furnished with meeting spaces and training rooms plus café lounge area
- We are leaders in the service of training/meeting rooms with full conference facilities, high quality hot and cold catering
- Largest training room and conference facilities accommodate up to 60 people classroom style
- Ultra-high-speed - 1 GIG pipe = 1,000 x 1000 fiber-optic network, which will deliver internet connection speeds faster than most North American services
- Private shower room
- Indoor Reserved Parking at the current building rental rate
- Bicycle secure parking
- Rent a space to accommodate your team for meetings, training sessions, corporate events or coworking space or flexible office space for one day, one week, one month or one year, or whatever term suits your business
- Telsec has over 650 locations in 40 different countries worldwide available for their clients. Office clients receive up to 8 hours of meeting space per month at no charge at any ABCN member location. Plus, Office and Virtual Office clients may rent a space from any member location at special member rates which varies depending on the location
- King Edward Hotel is located across the street - recently completed a $40 million renovation and boutique hotels close by within walking distance

Dining and entertainment at high quality restaurants only minutes away – Carisma, Terroni, Woods Restaurant & Bar and Michelin Rated - Restaurant 20 Victoria. Plus numerous lunch and takeout eateries nearby

Please check out our 70 second video, click below:

Take a look at our facilities www.telsec.net

Telsec will Customize Your Client’s Office(s) Layout to Meet Their Requirements.

You are welcome to drop-in any-time, a quick call would be appreciated to ensure our availability Vanessa 416-574-1112 or Josie 416-606-4349 or e-mail josie@telsec.net.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Virtual Offices

Advantages of a Virtual Office for a Small Business

1. Professionalism

2. Save Money

3. Reduced Risk

4. Flexibility

5. Mail Service

6. Telephone Message and Mail Service

Perceived Disadvantages of Virtual Offices

1. Needing a Physical Location to Complete Work

2. Lack of In-Person Social Interaction

3. Lack of Motivation

4. Communication

Measures of an Effective Virtual Office & Working in a Virtual Team

Multiple Services to Choose From

Looking to Learn More?

How To Effectively Structure & Run A Client Meeting

Benefits of Virtual Office Space during the Pandemic

Advantages and Disadvantages of Virtual Offices

Advantages of a Virtual Office for a Small Business

1. Professionalism

2. Save Money

3. Reduced Risk

4. Flexibility

5. Mail Service

6. Telephone Message and Mail Service

Perceived Disadvantages of Virtual Offices

1. Needing a Physical Location to Complete Work

2. Lack of In-Person Social Interaction

3. Lack of Motivation

4. Communication

Measures of an Effective Virtual Office & Working in a Virtual Team

Multiple Services to Choose From

Looking to Learn More?

How To Effectively Structure & Run A Client Meeting

Benefits of Virtual Office Space during the Pandemic

Our Amenities

Video Gallery