The Australian-based and internationally operating Servcorp organization certainly wasn't the first provider of so-called virtual office space to open for business in the Philadelphia market, but it is the most recent: In late 2010, the decades-old company--which currently does business with approximately 35,000 clients in nearly two-dozen different countries--moved into the 37th floor of BNY Mellon Center at 1735 Market Street in Center City.
If the industry happens to be one you're not familiar with, don't be surprised. "I've been in this industry for a lot of years," says Jennifer Goodwin, Servcorp's general manager and V.P. of U.S. operations. "And I think the executive suite industry is the best kept 50-year-old secret out there."
Also referred to in some parts of the world as the serviced office industry, a virtual office is essentially a solution for entrepreneurs, midsize businesses, and even Fortune 500 companies who need the support of a full office, but without the often exorbitant costs associated with financial district real estate.
On the lower end of Servcorp's suite of packages, for instance, is the Virtual Office Address, which allows small-time entrepreneurs to use the prestigious Servcorp addresses on their business cards and letterhead. More expensive options allow the use of Servcorp board rooms, offices, and even IT and secretarial staff at the company's various locations around the world--not a bad option for business travelers who might need to appear a bit more successful and internationally connected than they actually are.
"Ultimately, we're in business to make our clients' businesses more profitable," says Goodwin. "But it's about more than the real estate," she adds. "It's about us taking things off of your plate, so your primary focus is the profitability of your company."
Along with Servcorp, other major players in the virtual office space with locations in Philadelphia include Regus, HQ, and American Executive Centers.
Source: Jennifer Goodwin, Servcorp
Writer: Dan Eldridge
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