New company operating from home thinking about a 0845/0800 number? Company address?

[ARKHIbuild]

Hi All, I am starting two companies from home

1 ARKHIbuild which is a design and build construction company

2 ARKHIdesign which is a Chartered Architects practice

The problem I am facing is the place I live in is rented and I am looking to move within the next 6 months but stay within the area.

At the moment I am still working till the business takes off so would not be able to take calls from my landline number during the day but can answer my mobile. Also when I am fully operational there is only going to be myself working for the company so will be out of the office/home alot of the time seeing clients + site visits etc.

Q1/ What do people think I should put down for a company address on the website/business cards/etc?

The accountants? No address?
I have looked into virtual addresses but this is another cost I do not need at this time. Should I just state the area I operate in?

Q2/ What do people think I should do about a telephone number? I do not really want to reprint stationary when I move + at the moment I will not be at home in the day. I am therefore reluctant to put my home telephone no. down?

I have been looking into a 0845 or even 0800 no. which I could take with me when I move? On ukbf I have heard people mention 03 no.?

On the other side people say customers do not like non geographical no.? I am completely lost as to what to now do for the best?

Help/ advise welcome

Matthew

 

[MikeJ]

Get a PO Box, and redirect the mail

Get a Voip phone number. Speak to Voipfone.co.uk

 

[captaincloser]

For what its worth having an 'address' is surely a basic cost of doing business?

If you cannot afford a virtual address with someone to take calls from a landline you are already in trouble as a professional business. Va's vary wildly in charges and if you really research your area and haggle you will get a good deal and peace of mind.

Non geographic numbers are a turn off to many, but certainly not those promoting them. Personally I would not call 03 and would be wary of any 'professional' without a landline matching the area of his office. But that's opinion, nothing more.

Good luck with the new business

 

[Deleted member 61074]

Yep go for voip, get a 01 number for your geographic area (you buy the number from voip) its fully portable you take it with you when you move.

Forward to mobile when out of the office.

I've got voip 01 no for my business
voip 03 number for personal

 

[My Owl 1]

If you are out and about then a voip number is probably not for you, unless you want your home phone to be voip and then get the calls redirected to your mobile.

I would stick with your mobile number to start with and then when you are getting busier then you can decide on how you want to develop your communication, with it be VOIP, landline etc etc. You could use your current landline number in your rented accommodation as an ansaphone number with it rerouting to your mobile too.

We do internet phones and have a wireless version, which would mean you would have the mobility of the phone and keep your number, but that is dependant on a wireless connection.

Good luck with your business.

Best wishes

Avril

 

[ARKHIbuild]

Thanks for your comments!

I basically need to keep costs down as this is a start-up venture until I bring in enough work to hopefully be able to move into a small office. This may also never happen as I do not really need that much space to operate.

So my idea was to set myself up now to enable me to port the services if I should move.

Do you think it is necessary to have a trading address? or would the registered company address be sufficient

 

[cjd]

The number is pretty easy, just take a VoIP number that can be taken anywhere. Stick to a geographic number (01, 02) so that it can be called from a mobile easily.

Whilst you about a lot direct the calls from the number to your mobile and when at home or in your future office, knock off the divert and answer calls on a proper phone.

For us, numbers cost £1.99 per month and a divert to your mobile would be 12p per minute. Answering the calls without a divert is free. Some info here:

http://www.voipfone.co.uk/Call_Forwarding_And_Divert.php

As for addresses, if you think you're going to sell stuff on line, you must provide a proper address; you can use your accountants or solicitors address for a registered company.