While there is an abundance of outsourcing companies and freelancers in North America, sometimes, for more economical quality work, you may find your small business considering offshore contractors to fill your needs. When choosing to do business offshore, you need to consider the public relations implications. Some of your customers may find out that you use offshore resources, and this may in turn cause them to reconsider doing business with you.

Whether it is having your website designed and built overseas, or having your call centre located in places like the Philippines, Jamaica or India, the cost savings for you and the customers you are serving can be great. Choosing the right provider in the right country is important, because some of the traditional offshore providers are no longer the least expensive option – and could even end up costing you more than what it would in local or other world markets.

There are some very important considerations when choosing to deal with an offshore company for your small business needs. You have to take into consideration potential cultural or language barriers that could interrupt workflow or cause misunderstandings of the work itself. Also, because you are dealing with a company half way around the world, you have to remember what time zone they are in, and when is the best local time to reach them.

You need to check your customer contracts and agreements to ensure that there are no hidden clauses or penalties for using offshore resources that your customer does not approve of. This is especially true if you are sharing their data on a potentially non-secure computer or server in another country that you do not have full control over. The security of your data and the trust of your customers far outweighs the potential cost savings of using an offshore company to entrust with your data.

No matter if the offshore company you are looking at is manufacturing components or delivering a service to your business, be sure to make an actual trip to visit them and their facilities. Seeing photos or videos of a plant or an office space can be deceiving – or may not be the actual place that you are expecting your work to be done in. Next, do not just plan to meet with one potential offshore vendor; plan to meet with a few on the same trip. Let each potential vendor know that you will be meeting with other competitors. This could help in the pricing what they offer you in order to be competitive.

Just like when you rent an office space or even a virtual office, seeing is believing. Ask to see the entire facility and not just the areas they have planned for you to see. The front office might look nice, but it may also be just a front, and not where the real work is done. If you are using the offshore company as your call centre, be sure to see the call centre floor. If you are using the facility for data work, ask to see the server room and the location of where your data drive will be in their racks.

Do not just meet with the ‘suits’ from the company. Ask to meet some of the workers on the front lines. If you tell them in advance you want to meet the workers or team members who will be working on your project or products, it is best to bring it up while you are physically meeting with them, so they do not bring in ‘ringers’ in advance.

If you are having products manufactured or components built, be sure to inspect the facility for safety concerns and any evidence of potential use of child labour. Remember, many large companies you deal with here in North America have penalties imposed for breaking a contract if they find that even part of what you are supplying was made by child labour.

Lastly, prepare a set of policies and procedures that you expect them to follow. This will not only ensure the job is done to your specifications, but will provide you with a legal ‘safety net’ in terms of the contract. You may even want to consult a lawyer who is familiar with your offshore suppliers’ local laws to help you prepare your contract and your policies manual that you expect them to follow.

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A Guide to Virtual Workplace Technology

18 King Street East Suite 1400
Toronto, Ontario
M5C 1C4 Canada
416-574-1112

18 King Street East Suite 1400
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5C 1C4
416-574-1112

Site Designed By Giant Shoe Creative.

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.craftbeermamrket.ca 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 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 on our home page or click here:

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.

How to use Offshore Resources

Looking to Learn More?

A Guide to Virtual Workplace Technology

How to Create a Fantastic Seminar/Training Session or Networking Event

How to use Offshore Resources

Looking to Learn More?

A Guide to Virtual Workplace Technology

How to Create a Fantastic Seminar/Training Session or Networking Event

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Our Amenities