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Tag: Productivity

The Power of Business Credit Unleashed

Posted on by Melanie Rauch
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In the fast-paced business world, success is often measured by various factors, including revenue growth, customer satisfaction, and market share. However, there is one essential ingredient that is often overlooked that holds immense power – business credit. A solid credit profile can be the key to unlocking growth opportunities and ensuring your business thrives in the long run. If you want to understand the importance of a positive credit score for your business, how to use it to your advantage, and how Opus VO, the leading virtual office provider, can enhance your credit reporting experience to give your business the edge it deserves, follow along.

Building a solid foundation for your business requires more than just a great product or service. It demands credibility and financial stability, often assessed by potential investors, partners, and lenders through your creditworthiness. Establishing and maintaining your company’s credit profile is crucial since it can propel your business forward.

How to Establish Business Credit

To establish solid credit in the business world, follow these steps:

  • Get a dedicated business phone number and business address: This is an easy thing to do with a virtual office and doesn’t require a large investment.
  • Incorporate your business or form an LLC (limited liability company). This ensures your personal and business identities will be separate.
  • Get a federal employer identification number. This is a free service offered by the IRS. An EIN acts a bit like a Social Security number for a business entity, yet may change as time goes on.
  • Open a business bank account. Make sure you use the business’s legal name and address.

The Benefits of Having Business Credit

Business credit separates your personal finances from your business finances. By keeping them apart, you protect your personal assets from potential risks and liabilities associated with your business. This separation not only shields your personal credit from any adverse effects caused by your company’s financial performance but also offers professionalism and accountability that can inspire trust in investors.

Business Credit Determines Access to Capital & Funding

Whether you need a loan for expansion, new equipment, or additional staffing, a strong credit profile significantly improves your chances of securing financing at favorable terms. Lenders and financial institutions often rely on your credit score to evaluate your company’s creditworthiness and determine your interest rate and credit limit. By being proactive and taking control of your credit, you show that you can handle financial obligations responsibly, making you a secure risk and more attractive to lenders.

Alternative Funding Sources

Solid business credit opens various business opportunities, such as establishing trade credit with suppliers. Trade credit allows you to negotiate better terms, extend payment periods, and build valuable relationships with vendors. A company with a favorable credit profile is considered reliable and trustworthy, paving the way for favorable agreements and savings.

Why Choose Opus VO?

You may wonder how Opus Virtual Offices ties into this narrative. Opus VO, renowned for its exceptional virtual office solutions, offers a unique and invaluable advantage in business credit reporting. Opus VO offers comprehensive credit reporting as part of their virtual office services for every client as soon as they sign up.

Consistent credit reporting enables you to establish and strengthen your business credit effortlessly. By incorporating credit reporting into their virtual office solutions, Opus VO not only assists you in establishing a professional business presence but also helps build your company credit profile. Every time you utilize Opus VO’s virtual office services, such as mail handling, phone answering, or meeting room rentals, your business credit activity is meticulously reported to Moody’s, enhancing your overall business reputation.

Tips to Build Business Credit

  • Pay vendors early: paying on time can get you a good score on the Dun & Bradstreet PAYDEX, where scores range from 1 to 100. This score is based exclusively on your payment history with vendors.
  • Manage cash flow: when you have good credit, you are eligible for lower interest rates and better terms with vendors. Use credit cards to efficiently manage your company’s cash flow.
  • Monitor your credit report: errors and fraudulent activity can negatively impact your business and make borrowing difficult. Check your credit report a couple of times each year. If you find an error, correct it by filing a dispute with the proper reporting agency.
  • Work with vendors that report payments: Ask the vendors that you work with if they report to credit agencies. If they don’t consider opening accounts with new vendors that do, such as Opus VO.

Opus Virtual Offices

If you want your business to thrive in today’s competitive landscape, you must recognize the importance of business credit. It is a critical component that influences your credibility, financial opportunities, and growth potential. By choosing Opus VO as your virtual office provider, you gain access to world-class virtual office solutions and unlock the added benefit of their credit reporting service. Opus VO’s commitment to empowering businesses with comprehensive credit reporting sets them apart and makes them the ideal choice for entrepreneurs and companies aiming to maximize their potential. Invest in your business’s future today and leverage the power of business credit with Opus VO.

Six Hidden Costs of Starting a Business

Posted on by Melanie Rauch
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Starting a new business is an exciting time in every entrepreneur’s life, one filled with passion and ambition. What most new entrepreneurs overlook are the hidden expenses associated with launching a new business. Everyone is aware of the standard start-up costs, such as rent and inventory, but many overlook lesser-known expenses that can catch a new business owner off guard. Here is a list of the six hidden costs of starting a new endeavor that, when overlooked during budgeting, can make a difference between success and failure.

The six hidden costs of starting a business are taxes, permits/licenses, employee benefits, administrative expenses, insurance, and consultants. Understanding and preparing for these expenses will help aspiring business owners navigate the financial landscape more effectively.

  • Taxes: As a business owner, no matter what entity you create, taxes are one expense you cannot avoid. Depending on your state, you’ll have to pay federal, state, and local taxes. Your tax rate will vary as well, depending on your locality. For instance, California requires a 7.25% sales tax, whereas Texas, requires a 6.25% tax.

  • Permits, Licenses & Fees: Depending on the type of business you want to establish, you may need to factor in permits, licenses, or fees. Although many of these are one-time start-up expenses, they can be quite hefty, especially if they are not accounted for when finalizing a start-up budget. These expenses vary from industry to industry.

  • Employees & Benefits: The cost of employees and things such as benefits are not always predictable, yet they are necessary if you want to retain top talent and have happy employees.

  • Administrative Expenses: Expenses that are required to support your organization’s daily activities fall under the umbrella of admin expenses. Every business has them. They can be adjusted based on the type of business you open and the way you run your business too. For example, if you rent a brick-and-mortar office space, they will be higher versus if you go the route of a virtual office.

  • Insurance: Insurance is another expense that may vary depending on the industry you operate in. Regardless of that fact, insurance is a necessary expense to protect your business from litigation and unforeseen circumstances. Many states within the U.S. require companies to have workman’s comp. insurance, while other industries require a more comprehensive policy approach. Nevertheless, insurance is a hefty expense that should be accounted for when budgeting for your new business.

  • Consultant Fees: Hiring a consultant as a start-up, can seem costly. But the expertise they bring to the table can be invaluable and worth the upfront expense. Many companies value consultants more than full-time employees as they get very specific expertise at a fraction of the cost of hiring a full-time expert. In fact, a recent study found that out of 100 start-ups, 3/4 of them partitioned up to 5% of their budget for consultant fees.

Opus Virtual Offices

Opus Virtual Offices is a B2B provider of virtual office services to businesses across the U.S. & Canada. Competitively priced, Opus VO offers many services that set them apart from the competition. Services that will help you run your business efficiently while saving you money on administrative staff, and physical space, such as live reception, inbound/outbound call transfer, call log, and digital mail sort. When you’re ready to take the next step in your new business, think of Opus VO!

The Checks in the Mail…

Posted on by Melanie Rauch
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Streamline Your Business by ordering checks online. In today’s fast-paced world and global economy, efficiency and professionalism are essential for success. When you combine the convenience of a virtual office with the ease of ordering checks online, you just made your business more fluid and convenient. The need to reorder checks by going into the bank is over. Order checks online with just one click whether you are on the road, at home, or on vacation.

Despite paying most of your business bills via ACH, Zelle, or Chase Pay, the need for paper checks still exists. Physical checks with your business name add an air of establishment to your business, akin to the benefits of having a business address and business number. In this article, we’re going to touch on all the ways ordering checks online for your business can benefit your company.

Professionalism

Nothing is as important as putting up a professional front for your clients and distributors. What better way to do that than with business checks with your company name & address in the upper right-hand corner? A business check shows that you pay attention to detail, which lets your clients know that you will give their business the same attention. A customized check and other business products showcase your brand in a polished and professional manner. When you order checks online, you can customize your check to the smallest detail. Your checks can have your company logo, colors, and business information so that you can create a lasting impression with clients. Whether you opt for traditional checks, high-quality security checks, or stylish designs, physical checks ensure your financial transactions reflect the professionalism of your virtual office setup.

Brand Consistency

Maintaining brand consistency across all aspects of your business is crucial to building trust and recognition. When you order business checks online, you can extend your branding efforts beyond your virtual presence. Incorporating your company logo and design elements into your checks, envelopes, and other business products reinforces your brand identity with every transaction. This consistency enhances your credibility and professionalism, whether you’re dealing with clients, vendors, or financial institutions. Integrating physical checks with a virtual office setup creates a cohesive and memorable brand experience.

Convenience

When you have a virtual office, it makes a statement. It shows that you value flexibility and time-saving benefits. Online check orders align perfectly with this mindset by providing an easy and convenient way to order personalized checks and other necessary business products online. With just a few clicks, you can browse their extensive selection and choose a design that suits your brand. This streamlined process eliminates the need for time-consuming trips to the bank and unnecessary paperwork. Free up valuable time that can now be dedicated to growing your business, by ordering checks online.

Enhanced Security

Security is a top priority for every business, as is the importance of protecting your financial transactions. Most online check companies offer high-security checks incorporating multiple fraud prevention features, such as microprint, chemically reactive paper, and tamper-evident packaging. These measures safeguard your business against fraud and unauthorized transactions. Security checks can give you peace of mind by minimizing financial loss.

Opus VO

Opus Virtual Offices provides virtual office solutions to build professionalism, efficiency, and branding in today’s business landscape. With Opus VO, businesses can enjoy the benefits of a professional business address, mail-handling services, and meeting room access, all without needing physical office space. This flexible, cost-effective solution allows businesses to establish a professional presence and enhance their credibility. When you’re ready to take your business to the next level, order checks online and enhance your company branding and professionalism.

Entrepreneurship, It’s a Lonely Road

Posted on by Melanie Rauch
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Entrepreneurship is a challenging and rewarding journey. While it can be exciting to be your own boss and turn your dreams into reality, entrepreneurs face unique struggles and obstacles. These struggles can range from securing funding, managing finances, managing time, marketing, and branding while maintaining a work-life balance. This blog post will discuss some of the entrepreneurs’ most common struggles and offer practical tips to overcome them.

As an entrepreneur, the challenges can be overwhelming. Here are 6 everyday struggles that entrepreneurs face and some tips on how to overcome them:

  • Financial Pressure: Financial pressure is one of the entrepreneurs’ most prominent challenges. Starting a business can be expensive, and seeing a return on your investment may take time. To overcome this challenge, create a solid business plan and set realistic financial goals.
  • Securing funding: a subset of financial pressures every entrepreneur faces is the challenge of securing the necessary funding to grow their business. One measure you can take to avoid this pitfall is to look for alternative sources of funding. Consider crowdfunding, angel investing, or bootstrapping, along with the more standard forms of funding, such as government grants or SBA loans.
  • Uncertainty: part of chasing your dreams is the uncertainty of it all. Is it the right decision? Are you making good choices? Will you be a success? These are just a few things that run through every entrepreneur’s mind. It isn’t easy to know if your product or service will succeed or if you have the right approach to appeal to your audience. One way to overcome uncertainty is to conduct thorough market research. Seek advice from mentors in the industry, and maintain flexibility when it comes to your strategy.
  • Time Management: solopreneurs know the art of juggling. To succeed as a lone wolf, you must wear many hats and juggle different responsibilities. Time management is crucial for your success. Learn to prioritize your to-do list, which will only serve you well as time passes. Use time management software, create to-do lists, or use a matrix to rank priorities in order of importance to help with time management. One tip that is always beneficial is learning how to delegate tasks to others. This frees up your time to focus on critical things.
  • Loneliness: the road to success is often a lonely one. You will say no to many nights out with friends, parties, and social engagements. This is typically looked at as paying your dues. While there is a place for this, it can leave you feeling burned out, isolated, and alone. One way to beat the loneliness blues is to join a networking group or attend industry events, where you can find a mentor to offer guidance and support. This way, you won’t feel like you’re wasting time and get to enjoy some social interaction as well.
  • Burnout: Entrepreneurs often work long hours and tend to feel they need to do everything themselves when they first start out. This type of work ethic is what leads to burnout. To avoid this newbie pitfall, prioritize self-care and make time for activities you enjoy. Take breaks throughout the day, move your body daily, and learn to live in the present. When you’re working, be 100% committed; when you’re off, be 100% committed.

Opus VO

Entrepreneurship is a challenging journey, but with the right mindset and strategies, you can overcome every struggle and succeed. Remember to stay focused on your goals, seek support when needed, and prioritize self-care to avoid burnout. If you need support, consider a virtual office. With Opus Virtual Offices, you get more than just a prestigious address. You get many hands-on services so you can focus on building your business the way you want!

Burnout Like a Pro, A Humorous Guide to Entrepreneurship

Posted on by Melanie Rauch
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Small business owners are driven and passionate about their work. After all, getting a new venture off the ground takes a tremendous amount of discipline. Sometimes, the amount of self-imposed isolation and late-night hours needed to start a successful business can lead to burnout. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion that results from prolonged stress. It is not a state of zen!

If you’re an entrepreneur feeling the growing pains of starting your own business, here are 5 ways small business owners can avoid burnout with a side of humor. After all, they say, laughter is the best medicine. So, without further ado, here’s the entrepreneur’s guide to finding the funny side of burnout.

  • First off, let’s start with the obvious: caffeine. There’s nothing quite like that feeling of a fresh cup of coffee in the morning to get your day started. But when you’re burning the candle at both ends, caffeine can quickly become your best friend or your worst enemy. Before you know it, you’re mainlining espressos to keep up, and your body is running on fumes. Yet, you still can’t resist that sweet, sweet java. It’s like a warm hug for your soul, even if your stomach is churning and your hands are shaking.
  • Second is that knawing feeling of overwhelm in the pit of your stomach. As a new business owner, you’re likely the only one around. You manage your own finances, do your own marketing, act as a customer service rep, and you’re the one to deliver the goods. Something is always pulling at you, demanding your full attention. That feeling of wishing you could clone yourself to get more done in a single day is a sign of being overwhelmed by your responsibilities. If you take a step back to see the bigger picture, hopefully, you can see the humor in the situation and know that you’ve become a master juggler who deserves center-ring at the circus!
  • Let’s not forget exhaustion. Whether it’s due to stress, excitement, or just too much caffeine, entrepreneurs are notorious for sacrificing a much-needed solid night’s rest to push their business forward. But hey, sleep is overrated anyway, or so they say! In actuality, sleep is essential. Yet when you’re neck deep in burnout, sometimes the only thing you can do is laugh or cry. So find the humor in walking around like a zombie, stumbling around with your eyes half closed and the brain fog accompanying exhaustion.
  • Then there’s the constant hustle. As an entrepreneur trying to bootstrap your new venture, you may find yourself in a continual state of motion. Always searching and looking for more. You may begin to feel like you’re a hamster on a wheel, running as fast as you can but not achieving your goals. You need to stop and slow down, but then again, that hamster wheel can serve double duty as your daily cardio.
  • Lastly, there’s the impending fear of failure. When you’re all in on your idea, the stakes are high. You’ve poured your heart and soul into your business, and the idea that it may all come crashing down is petrifying. Sometimes the only way through is to look at the situation with a humourous lens. This will help you put everything into perspective.
Realize this feeling of overwhelm is only a season, so you can allow yourself to take a step back and breathe. While having a sense of humor can make the process easier, here are 5 practical tips you can implement to make the life of a budding entrepreneur a bit easier to master:
  • Set realistic expectations: Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither are successful businesses. Setting realistic expectations can help manage overwhelm and help you sidestep burnout. Try to break large tasks down into smaller, more manageable ones.
  • Prioritize self-care: when you are laser-focused on your professional goals, it’s easy to let self-care fall by the wayside. This is the wrong move. Take the time to do something you enjoy that you find relaxing. Taking the time to show yourself some love can alleviate stress and allow you to come back stronger.
  • Delegate: Instead of doing everything yourself, learn to hand off smaller tasks to others. A virtual office is a great way to do this as a new business owner or startup. When you have a virtual office, they handle many daily tasks that lead to overwhelm. Virtual office companies, such as Opus Virtual Offices, offer features such as live call answer, parcel post receiving, meeting rooms upon demand, and most importantly, a prestigious business address, so your new business has an air of authenticity.
  • Take time off: taking regularly scheduled breaks throughout the process is essential to avoid burnout. Take a long weekend, a siesta, or that vacation you’ve always dreamed of. This will allow you to come back stronger than before, with a renewed sense of energy.
  • Seek support: burnout can be isolating. There’s no need to go it alone. Seek support from friends, family, or a therapist. Join associations or other small business communities where you can talk to people walking the same walk as you. After all, they know best what you’re going through and may be able to offer advice that has worked for them in the past.

Opus Virtual Offices

Life as an entrepreneur can be a lonely endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be. Consider a virtual office if you are overwhelmed by the responsibilities of starting a new business. Not only does a virtual office save you money, but it’s a great alternative to a physical office. They offer services that will alleviate the stress of keeping a business running. Opus VO has over 650 locations nationwide, making it the clear choice. Wishing you the best of luck in your new endeavor!

Are golden handcuffs holding you back?

Posted on by Melanie Rauch
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You have big dreams and big ideas. You want to open your own business and be your own boss. But something is holding you back. Sometimes it’s fear of the unknown or a lack of confidence. Other times it’s the possibility of being laughed at by close friends and family. Or it may be that you feel bound by the golden handcuffs of your current position. These “golden handcuffs” may prevent you from chasing your dreams, whether they are starting your own business or vying for a promotion. Getting stuck in a comfortable role that pays well is easy, even when it doesn’t bring you closer to achieving your goals.

Golden handcuffs is the term used to describe the financial allurement and benefits that encourage highly compensated employees to remain with their current organization/company rather than moving up the ladder with a new company or branching off as an independent. These golden shackles typically come in the form of stock options, SERPs, large bonuses, company cars, health insurance, or other financial incentives that make the position too good to leave.

Embracing challenges and dedicating yourself to pursuing your professional wants can be a rewarding experience that’s most definitely worth the required effort and sacrifice. While all the added benefits of your current position make life easier, don’t let them make your current employment so attractive that you lose sight of what you really want out of your professional life. It’s important to recognize that staying in a comfortable situation may prevent you from reaching your full potential and pursuing your dreams.

Think of these points before you let yourself get shackled by golden handcuffs:

  1. You’ll never know if you don’t try:

Failure is the stepping stone to success. You need to adjust your perspective. The fear of failure can be paralyzing, but you’ll never know if you don’t try. You may have an excellent idea for a business that could be successful, but you won’t know for sure unless you take the risk and start. Even if your first attempt doesn’t work out, you’ll learn valuable lessons that will help you succeed in the future.

  1. The feelings of regret are worse than the embarrassment of failure:

Many people choose comfort over the risk of the unknown. They are the ones who suffer from the pain of regret over those who carry the weight of failure. You don’t want to look back and say what if? Take those risks and accept the outcome as a part of life. Don’t miss out on the opportunities that will pass you by if you don’t take that chance.

  1. You’ll have more control over your future:

Build your empire! When you own your own business, you control your future. You make decisions about the direction of your business and the types of projects you want to work on. You also have the freedom to create a work-life balance that works for you rather than being at the mercy of someone else’s schedule.

  1. You’ll learn valuable skills:

Starting your own business requires various skills, from marketing and sales to finance and operations. Even if your first attempt isn’t successful, you’ll learn valuable skills that can help you in other areas of your life. These skills can be transferable to other businesses and industries, making you a more attractive candidate for future employers.

  1. You’ll experience greater financial rewards:

While starting your own business comes with risk, it also has the potential for greater reward. When you own your own business, your earning potential is limited only by the success of your business. When you work for someone else, your earning potential is determined by your salary and benefits package. If you have a great idea and the drive to make it happen, you could earn more than you would in a cushy job, not to mention the rewards that will come from the personal satisfaction of being a success.

If you dream of owning a business, don’t let golden handcuffs hold you back. Don’t allow the fear of failure or the comfort of a well-paying job keep you from pursuing your dreams. You’ll never know if you don’t try. Following your dreams can give you more control over your future, help you learn valuable skills, and potentially lead to greater financial rewards than you ever dreamed of. So jump in feet first, take the risk, and see where it takes you.

When you’re ready to start your business, consider a virtual office Instead of investing in a physical lease. It’s the smart choice, so you can funnel the funds you do have to client acquisitions rather than paying rent. With an Opus Virtual Office, you get a prestigious mailing address for your business, you get to maintain your privacy, and you receive a slew of administrative services that will make running your business easy! Opus VO has over 650 locations, so that you can find the perfect location for your new endeavor.

Imposter Syndrome, You’re Better than You Think!

Posted on by Melanie Rauch
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You’ve put the time in, worked hard, burned the midnight oil, and finally received that promotion you were after. Yet, instead of feeling confident and at ease with the success you’ve worked hard to achieve, you feel undeserving and allow self-doubt to creep in. You start questioning your abilities and allowing that negative voice to tell you you’re unqualified for your new position. If this sounds familiar, you’ve experienced imposter syndrome at some point in your career.

What is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon that causes people to feel inadequate, as though they’re failures or undeserving of their success, despite evidence to the contrary. Although imposter syndrome can seep into every aspect of life, traditionally, it occurs in the workplace, predominantly affecting women in leadership roles.

5 Signs of Imposter Syndrome:

  1. You put in 110% – 24/7/365, and you’re exhausted. You go in early and stay late. You allow work to bleed into your time off and attend every meeting, including the optional ones.
  2. You’re an overthinking perfectionist. You are hard on yourself while cutting others’ slack and find it hard to let go of the little things.
  3. You’re constantly concerned that others will find out you’re not as good at your job as they think you are. You keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.
  4. You’ve convinced yourself that your colleagues are at the top of their game while you doubt your abilities.
  5. You find it hard to accept compliments and praise from colleagues or superiors. You allow your inner critic to drown out any feelings of accomplishment.

How To Use Imposter Syndrome to Your Benefit:

Imposter syndrome is not fun. No one wants to live in a world filled with self-doubt. Don’t despair; all hope is not lost. Follow these tips and learn how to feel confident in what you do.

  1. Take the time to learn a new skill in your field. This will eradicate those feelings that you don’t know enough or are not up to par.
  2. Be kind, not to those around you, but to yourself. Our inner voice affects how we think. Talk kindly to yourself, the way you would to a good friend. Self-compassion is a way to keep imposter syndrome at bay.
  3. Learn a new craft or skill. This can build your self-esteem and confidence in other arenas and make you feel better about yourself.
  4. If you can’t change that inner dialogue on your own, it may be time to seek professional help. A therapist or coach can help uncover the emotions behind why you feel inadequate in the workplace. Once those emotions are sorted out, the hope is that any feelings of inadequacy will dissipate.

Sometimes, imposter syndrome may be a sign of overwhelm. As entrepreneurs, it’s easy to feel alone on the journey to success. One way to resolve this is with a virtual office. Not only can a virtual office provide you with a prestigious corporate address, but it may also offer many services that alleviate the burden of running your own business, freeing up your time to focus on other things, such as client acquisitions. Opus Virtual Offices offers many premium services for a low monthly fee of $99. With services like live call answer, call transfer, digital mail sort, real-time call logs, and meeting rooms on demand, you are sure to feel as though you’ve got it all under control, and you can keep that imposter syndrome under wraps!

Top Remote Places to Work in the U.S.

Posted on by Melanie Rauch
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Remote work has increased in popularity over the last few years. This is due in part to the pandemic that brought about tremendous changes to the way people live and work. Home offices and guest rooms quickly served as interim office space for many. What started as a temporary fix has become the most desired work model by employees.

The trend of remote work is only increasing as time goes on. The reasons are simple, you can live where you choose and still have the job of your dreams. You get to create the lifestyle you want while still earning a living, and for many, remote work offers flexibility and the perfect blend of work-life balance. If remote work is something you’re considering, here are the top 7 states in the U.S. to work remotely.

Top 7 Remote Work Locations

1. Boulder, Colorado:

Ranked the #1 place to live in the U.S. by US News & World Reports 2022, Boulder has a lot to offer for those who love the outdoors. This small town near the Rocky Mountains offers hiking trails, rock climbing, and National Parks. Add this to the established start-up & tech scene, and it’s a clear choice for anyone who wants to work remotely and enjoy the outdoors on their time off.

2. Austin, Texas:

Austin is another city that ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News & World Reports coming in at #2. Austin has experienced incredible growth in the last few years and has become home to companies at the forefront of the tech industry. Nicknamed Silicone Hill, for good reason, Tesla, Apple, SpaceX, Facebook, Google, and Amazon have opened offices in Austin over the last few years. Austin has a lot to offer its residents, such as music festivals, Big Bend National Park, and some of the top barbecue restaurants in the U.S. Add this to the low cost of living and outdoor activities, and it’s no wonder that people are choosing Austin as their remote city of choice.

3. Seattle, Washington:

If big city life is something you enjoy in addition to the mountain air, then Seattle should be on the top of your list for places to work remotely. Famous for its coffee culture and tech industry, Seattle is growing in popularity for remote work. Not to mention you’ll be close to many beautiful places for those weekend getaways, such as San Juan Island, Vancouver, and Leavenworth, a city with European charm.

4. Sedona, Arizona:

Sedona offers more than just beautiful Red Rock State Park to its residents. A wonderful mix of outdoor adventures, eateries, and shopping experiences, Sedona is a wonderful vacation destination and remote work location. Considered a place of modern enlightenment, many find the Sedona Vortex to be a therapeutic location where they can tap into their creative energy.

5. Nashville, Tennessee:

Famous for the Grande Ole Opry and the Country Hall of Fame, Nashville is a great place for remote work. A city that knows how to blend work and play; once you settle in, you may never want to leave. Headquarters to household names, such as Nissan, Tractor Supply Company, and Asurion, many have chosen Nashville as their remote home location.

6. St. George, Utah:

A city where 14% of residents work remotely, St. George offers a great lifestyle to its residents, especially for outdoor enthusiasts. Home to many National Parks, a flourishing art scene, historical sites, and luxury shopping, many are flocking to St. George as their destination of choice for remote work.

7. Boston, Massachusetts:

Boston is a mix of our nation’s history, fine eateries, and luxury shopping, a great destination for remote work, especially if you’re a Red Sox fan! When you’re not at your desk, you can walk the Freedom Trail, stroll through Harvard Yard, or road trip to Cape Cod for an extended weekend. Boston also boasts a strong tech scene and offers a talent pool from some of the best universities in the nation.

Opus Virtual Offices

When it comes to remote work, the ultimate goal is to choose a location that aligns with your personal and professional goals. The 7 cities above offer a low cost of living and a thriving startup scene, making them a great choice for remote work. With an Opus Virtual Office, you get premium services, taking your virtual office up a notch. Opus VO has over 650 locations to choose from. Every virtual office package comes with services such as a prestigious business address, live call answer in your company name, digital mail sort, meeting rooms on demand, real-time call logs, and more. The only thing limiting your success when you opt for a virtual office is the size of your dreams!

CPAs & a Virtual Office, A Heavenly Pair

Posted on by Melanie Rauch
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Tax season is approaching, and it’s coming fast. No one understands the pressures of a quickly approaching deadline better than Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). A unique breed of professionals who love numbers and paperwork, they thrive on the thrill of seeking out deductions and credits that save their clients money. For the CPAs who not only love what they do but love being able to do it from anywhere, we’ll explain why a virtual office is an excellent solution for you!

When it comes to the world of CPAs and virtual offices, the only thing more confusing than figuring out tax codes and allowable deductions is figuring out where they work. While numbers are the first love of most accountants, the ability to work from the comfort of their homes, on their own schedule, is a close second and the reason why virtual offices are becoming the new norm for accountants across the globe.

A virtual office offers CPAs a place they can hide from the world, crunching numbers in their pajamas in the comfort of their home or sipping Mai Tai on the beach, all while maintaining a professional image. Gone is the worry of clients meeting in home offices with kids and pets underfoot or empty take-out containers on the desk. With a virtual office, clients will only see a prestigious business address, a top-notch tech-filled meeting room, and a friendly receptionist at the front desk.

If we can get serious for a moment, virtual offices aren’t just for introverted accountants. They are the perfect match for traveling CPAs, the work-from-home parents/CPAs, and all other CPAs who hate having to dress professionally on the daily. With a virtual office, you have the luxury of working from the location of your choice, where your only concern is wifi. That means you can work at the beach, the park, or while globetrotting with friends.

A virtual office offers many conveniences, such as lower overhead costs, a professional appearance, the ease of working from anywhere, and more. When you have an Opus Virtual Office, you get the benefits of live call reception, real-time call logs, digital mail sort, and the convenience of any of our 650 locations. That means you can service more clients, crunch more numbers, and get more done before April 18, 2023 – when tax returns must be filed without penalty.

But before you run off to set up your virtual office, you should know a few things. First, it can be challenging to meet with clients face-to-face. But let’s be honest, most CPAs aren’t exactly great at small talk, so this might not be such a bad thing. Second, virtual offices aren’t suitable for all types of businesses. If you’re a CPA who specializes in setting up farm equipment, a virtual office probably isn’t going to cut it.

In conclusion, virtual offices are an excellent option for CPAs who want to save money on overhead costs, maintain a professional image, and work from the comfort of their own homes (or beds). Just be sure it’s the right fit for your business, and don’t forget to wear pants when you’re on a video call!

Want To Be More Productive? Stop Multitasking

Posted on by Melanie Rauch
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It sounds counterintuitive. In fact, it sounds downright looney, but the truth is that most people are less productive when they multitask than when they focus on one thing at a time. According to many studies, multitasking has been shown to erode productivity by up to 40%, which can have a tremendous impact on output in the workplace. Let’s deep dive into why it’s important to take the pressure off, so we can move ahead and become the most efficient versions of ourselves in the new year.

Multitasking has, until recently, been glorified as the pinnacle of efficiency. When in fact, multitasking in the workplace only increases a superficial level of busyness while deteriorating productivity. When you attempt to do more than one thing at a time, you’re not focusing on anything 100%. It’s akin to a baseball team trying to bring home the batter that’s up and the player on second base – at every inning. It becomes exhausting to time everything perfectly. Eventually, what happens is you stop paying attention to the important details and begin to slip up.

What is multitasking?

In the workplace, this may look like you’re going through your inbox while dealing with customers on the phone and simultaneously completing inventory reports. Or you may be attending a meeting while working on an excel spreadsheet on your laptop and responding to texts on your cell phone. Multitasking is when you devote attention to more than one thing at a time. When you’re attention is splintered, mistakes happen, and workflow slows. Multitasking may provide us with a feeling of accomplishment, which is why we keep falling into the multitasking trap. However, studies like the one in Psychology Today show that multitasking reduces productivity by up to 40%. Why? because things will inevitably fall through the cracks. This is a surefire way to incur misunderstanding and inaccuracies, causing you to go back over your work a second time.

Why did multitasking in the workplace become desirable?

Multitasking may seem like the only way to deal with the influx of data that inundates us daily. In our attempt to keep up with the hundreds of emails, texts, intra-company messaging, and deadlines, we try to do more in less time to get it all done. But what happens when we respond to every demand simultaneously? our focus begins to resemble an N.Y.C. subway map.

It’s a misconception that multitaskers have it all under control because they are instantly responsive. But like all multitaskers will admit, divided attention means no task gets the best of you. As individuals, we have a limited amount of focus per day. Think of it as a fuel tank for our minds. There are just so many gallons in each tank. To get the most out of our focus tank, we need to be protective and deliberate in how we spend our focus.

How to get the most out of your focus:

Don’t give up hope just yet. Yes, we each have a limited amount of focus, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t tend to everything we want in a day. It means that we need to relearn how to focus on one thing at a time and then move on to the next. Another helpful tip is to do what requires the most focus first and then tend to all the tasks that are shorter in duration.

This would translate into focusing on what will move the needle forward in your business first, such as market expansion strategy or pitching new clients. Then, tend to all the small tasks that don’t require a lot of mental energy, such as zero inboxing, responding to texts, slack channel messages, and any other activity that takes less than ten minutes to complete.

Multitasking, the push & pull:

The pressure to respond to every demand can be daunting. That’s why so many of us are guilty of overscheduling and multitasking. We feel as though we are being productive and crossing things off our to-do list faster, but the hard truth is we are expending energy and wasting focus. Our brains are not hardwired for sustained multitasking, and businesses are on the losing end of productivity when employees multitask.

Yet, as much as multitasking robs us of productivity, it’s not going away anytime soon. The world around us is only getting faster. Technology allows us to speed up timelines and deadlines, and the pressure to get everything done continues to build. What needs to shift is how we prioritize what’s important and which tasks to focus on, and when.

How a Virtual Office can help:

Every entrepreneur knows that to run a successful business, you need to wear many hats. One of the benefits of having a virtual office is that you get administrative services, giving you the ability to focus on moving the needle forward in your business. An Opus Virtual Office provides services such as live call answer in your company name, a prestigious mailing address for your business, digital mail sort, call forwarding, call transfer, and more. When you switch to an Opus Virtual Office, we take care of the daily tasks so that you can be your most productive self with laser-sharp focus!

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