Fequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of questions that many of our customers asked us. They are divided into several Sections
What is a Virtual Office?
Well, it simply means you "rent" the business address and enjoy the suite of services the virtual office provider provides. Rather than paying hefty rental, you have your "office" in the prestigious city area. For a fee as low as only S$5 per month, you impress your customers and business associates by owning a business address without having to pay the rental, overheads, staff salaries, office equipment and a whole lot of expenses!
A virtual office package is an excellent way to cut down risks and expenses when starting a business. You can legally use the business address when you register with ACRA ( Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore ). You may also use the business address on your name cards, business letterheads, rubber stamps, envelopes, any mailings and greeting cards, etc.
You may even use it to open a bank account, apply for government grants, use it on any official documentations. Virtual Office services are a range of professional business support solutions suitable for both emerging entrepreneurs and established businesses. No rents , no down payments, no need for deposits, no renovation loans no expensive furnitures to purchase just to make use of a nice business address!
In Singapore, it is illegally to operate a business without a proper registration with ACRA. And to register with ACRA, you are required to have a place of business, preferably a commercial address. You may apply to use your residential address subjected to approval by HDB. Furthermore, it is not advisable to use your personal residential address for business! It's not practical and there are quite a lot of consequences and inconveniences you may have to put up with.
Using a virtual office is always a much cheaper solution than leasing an office space. By simple estimation, a virtual office helps you save more than 80% of the startup costs. Well, unless you are looking to lease a very small 150 sqft CBD office ( 2 tables ) that going for at least S$3 per sqft right now.
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What's my potential savings?
Lets assume you are going to rent an office just to start up say a 150 sqft office in the CBD area with at least a receptionist. It will hosue 2 tables comfortably. Below is a breakdown of the cost you will be paying for the first year:
• 2 months rental deposit = S$600 x 2
• 150 sqft. office rental = S$600 x 12
• Renovation, Carpets & Furnishing = S$5,500
• 2 Office Tables, Chairs = S$350
• 1 Office Receptionist = S$1,000 x 12
• 1 Business Phone & Fax Line = S$50 x 12
• 1 Business Broadband Service = $150 x 12
• Singapore Power bills = S$50 x 12
Total = S$27,350
To start your busines you pay $27,350 even before you get yoru first customer! Why not just pay just $99 a year, enjoy almost everything similar? Immediately save yourself almost S$25,000. This amount of savings can be put to better use as your business capital buying more goods or just keeping it around!
Are there different types of virtual offices?
There are 2 different classes of Virtual Offices. There are those which are expensive and then there are those that are cheap! You could be paying above $100 onwards for simple business registration and mailing address a month for virtual office! You would be better off getting you own physical office in any CBD area. They do come with many "luxuries" thrown in. If you do not need a very impressive address such as the penthouse unit of any large commercial buildings here in Singapore, this is something you will need.
Then ther are the cheap ones. They are cheap up front, but everything else will cost you. It contains the very basic service and you end up paying more if you want to add more services.
SMART Virutal Office
Singapore is in a class of its own. We have the best of both worlds or you can say a mid range where you truly enjoy the best of both worlds. We are able to keep our prices as the lowest in Singapore, yet maintain an address in the CBD, while offering some of the "luxury" items at sub $100 prices! Take a look, and compare us!
How come you can do it so much cheaper than your competitors?
We pride ourselves as being the business of business. Here is what happened to us. We were using a Virtual Office provider like yourself some time ago. When we eventually found one, we were so happy it cost us $60 a year. Once these providers had us in , they started to increase their price. They had all sort of reasons like:
- Increase in overheads
- Following the market pricing
- Require more staff to sort your mail
Eventually our business outgrew the need and started using physical space. We felt that if we ever had the chance, we would start such a business and help you all save the cost. We own 8 companies now, 8 very successful business and has turned it more into a hobby than into daily work.
Our CEO understands the pains of young entrerpenurs starting out, how it is a struggle to find a place, and worry about starting out, getting that first deal, cost of everything means that before you can add a dollar to your pocket, you have to give a dollar.
We are able to make this so cheap because we own the office, the servers, the designers, the programmers. It is created so you can fully utilize these resources at a fraction of what you would have to pay with other providers that depend on this as their bread and butter and will MILK you for every dollar that you are worth.
Which to do first, register with ACRA or sign up with us?
Many of our clients ask us this question. Here is our view on this. We understand that you are concerned whether ACRA will approve of your business name. There is nothing to worry about here.
- Register with us first, with your proposed name.
- Register the same details with ACRA
- Wait for approval
- If ACRA rejects your name, you are free to change those details directly in our system 24 X 7
The reason is this. You may have mail that needs attending to. We need some details to be able to recognize the mail as being yours and that changing details in our system is free. ACRA is not!
Will you increase your price?
When you sign up, that will be your price for life. It will never change. That is what a our price lock guarantee is all about. NO OTHER PROVIDER DOES THIS. We may increase the price but you being our loyal client will never be affected. You will be expected to pay that same price from the day you started with us. How are we able to do this so effectively:
We made sure that our overheads are kept to the minimum so the savings are passed on to you
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We are watching the market to ensure that we are not priced out of the game
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We know what you are looking for so we try to keep it that way.
How long will the price lock last?
This is a life time price lock.While you are our customer continuously, we will not increase our price to you. PERIOD!
Do I need to have all information before i can sign up?
You would need to provide the following information in order to register successfully.
- Name
- Home Address
- Country
- Postal Code
- Home / Mobile Number
- Valid Email Address
- Date of Birth
- Business Name - Use your own name if you are doing just mail forwarding
- Nature of Business
What is included in the basic package?
Are foreigners eligible for the $99.00 Virtual Office Service?
Foreign companies is not eligible for $99.00 Virtual Office. In line with creating Entrepreneurship in Singapore, we made special arrangements to achieve the $99.00/ year pricing. It is tailor made for Singapore / Permanant Residents / Singapore registered companies only.
Can I exchange my hosting for other features?
It is meant to come free, we cannot change that for other features.
What is VOIP?
VOIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. Simply put it, it allows you to make calls via the internet, rather than call using a normal telephone. You require an internet connection and you can now make calls through your internet connection.
What are the advantages of using VOIP?
Lower set up fee.
If you were to lay a line with Singtel It will cost you around $120 to set up a line with Singtel. It costs $15 a month to maintain the line. With VOIP, it cost $50 and it comes with a free software.
Use everywhere
Regardless of where you are, you will be able to answer your phone, even in Starbucks. As long as there is an internet connection, you will be able to answer your phone.
Can I use the phone in a country outside Singapore?
Absolutely. Since we started this service, we have over 30 signups already. Many of our foreign companies are signing up this service so they can be closer to their customers. They want to be able to answer their calls and return their calls.
What is the cost of activation?
It costs $50 to activate the service. This includes all software and installation that you would need to set up the system. This applies to each new line that you apply for. A further tariff of $100 would be required as deposit to cover your cost of outgoing phone calls. All incoming calls are free. Here is a breakdown:
- $50 Activation
- $100 deposit
- $45 for 3 months of line
What is the minimum time period?
There is a minimum term period of 3 months. Payment is made prepaid for the following 3 months. Outgoing charges are charged separately. Rates Apply.
Can I choose my own numbers?
There are currently no golden numbers to choose from. All numbers are selected by a computer
Do you have a list of Golden numbers to choose from?
There are currently no golden numbers to choose from. All numbers are selected by a computer
Do I have to pay additional for these golden numbers?
There are currently no golden numbers to choose from. All numbers are selected by a computer
What do you mean you can help customers accept paypal?
Paypal does not allow people from many countries to accept paypal. At SMART Virtual Office, we are able to help you be able to accept paypal even if you come from countries with such restrictions. Sign up with our Virtual Office - Global package. It will guarantee you be able to activate your paypal services.
What are you offering to do for clients from such countries?
We will help you
- Open your bank account
- Send you all your your banking details
- Get you going with Paypal / Clickbank
- and lots more
Read more about it here
How come you are able to provide such service?
We have a unique system which allows each Global Client to have a unique address. SMART Virtual Office works closely with our local postal service to route all mail to our address effectively.
Is it legal?
The service is entirely legal. You still have to make a trip to Singapore to open the bank account. This is not a system to plug a loophole in any of the services.
What is a serviced workstation?
A serviced workstation is a table which gives you essential features of an office like a table and meeting room.
How come so cheap at $550 a month?
Why not... we own the office, the place and we really want to help you get your business going! Our cost has been pegged to something 60 years later. We do have overheads and all of which can be easily covered.
What is included in your services worstation?
- A workstation table
- FREE Internet
- FREE Web Hosting as long as you are our client
- 20 hours FREE use of our meeting room
- Free Utilities
- Phone Systems starts at $15 a month
What is the minimum period for renting a workstation?
We have a policy of 3 months rental. You would be required to pay a 1 months deposit
Would there be a discount if I were to rent longer?
If you are planning to rent a period of more than 6 months, we welcome you to discuss the potential with us.
Do you have a picture of your serviced workstation?
You can check out our workstations here
What is included in the basic accounting service?
- 50 or less transactions a month.
- A transaction is defined as any entry into the accounts
- A soft copy of the acounts will be provided to you as your financial statements
- $65 / month
- Payable quarterly
- No need to sign up any other offers.
What format will I get my account back in?
A soft copy of the acounts will be provided to you as your financial statements
Can I pay monthly?
Unfortunately no, we would require payment every quarterly
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