Your Home Based Office Made More Professional

April 22nd, 2011

Having a home based office can be ideal and has some obvious advantages– you work from the comfort of your own home, you don’t have to deal with traffic which means you have more time to spend working, you don’t have to spend a fortune on gas, a home office makes it easier to create a work/life balance, you don’t have to rent out an office space and you don’t have to deal with the corporate world demands.

But there are also some disadvantages to working from home – no access to a professional meeting space, no IT team, no professional phone answering service (so you’re stuck answering all of your work related phone calls yourself) and no business mailing address. The lack of all these things can get in the way of running your home-based business efficiently.

Let Metro Offices help your home-based business operate more efficiently and appear bigger and larger to your clients by taking advantage of our home based service package.

Virtual Office Services
o Business Address
o Phone Answering Service
o Virtual Assistant
o Mail Service
* Remote Office Solutions
o Work from home, a client location, or anywhere using Metro Offices remote worker technology and services.
* Meeting Rooms

Keep the comforts and benefits of your home office without sacrificing the professionalism and efficiency of a larger, on-site business. Visit our website today and request your free quote!

Telecommuting and the Problems We Face

April 16th, 2011

It’s no secret that telecommuting is rapidly changing the business world as we know it. President Obama has even approved a bill giving government agencies 180 days to create telework programs for employees. Telecommuting is proven to save companies and the government billions of dollars a year which is why companies are quickly adopting telecommuting for their own employees. Metro Offices has been a leader in telework solutions for the Washington D.C. area for many years and can offer business owners some advice when it comes to communicating with telecommuting employees.

So what happens to office communications when your employees are all working from different locations? How do you keep communications clear and everyone on the same page? Sometimes phone calls, emails and instant messengers just aren’t enough. Well Metro Offices can help! We offer a program called Telework Plus which is essentially our telework services plus our virtual office services. It’s important that you gather your telecommuting employees together multiple times a year and our premier and accessible meeting locations around the D.C. area are perfect for team meetings.

You can also hold social, after work and holiday events for your entire staff. Many of these events can be held at Metro Office locations for your convince.

It’s important to keep trust alive and build relationships between co-workers and involving all of your employees in work procedures as well as casual events is the best way to do this. Without these things it can be easy for companies to sacrifice production and efficiency.

Contact us at Metro Offices and let us help you with your telecommuting solutions today!

Find and Secure the Ideal DC Office Solution with Pre-Construction Special

March 31st, 2011

With the high costs of a DC office space, business owners are seeking new ways to find and secure an ideal space without breaking the budget. A traditional office space is no longer affordable for most businesses. But our new Workplaces on Demand offer an affordable yet professional option for business owners who require the space but refuse to pay outrageous prices. Right now Metro Offices is offering a Pre-Construction Special where you can get two months free rent when you sign up for a 12-month lease. Learn more: HERE.

“Workplaces On Demand” offers great potential and value to companies of all sizes. Metro recently provided “Workplaces on Demand” for clients with 100 to 200 employees in their own space. This DC office space option provides a turnkey solution including space, furniture, equipment, phone/Internet, and services customized to the client’s needs-all delivered on the agreed upon date.

All the client has to do is move-in and start being productive in their business. Metro Offices will also manage the solution and all of the services throughout the term of the contract.

The value proposition is simple. Workplaces On Demand provides the following benefits:

  1. Immediate Start-up
  2. No initial capital required
  3. Finite term lease to match-up with business need
  4. P & L expense rather than capital investment
  5. Allows Government Agencies to avoid the current long, drawn-out process of opening new facilities.

The value proposition is simple. Workplaces On Demand provides the following benefits:

  1. Immediate Start-up
  2. No initial capital required
  3. Finite term lease to match-up with business need
  4. P & L expense rather than capital investment
  5. Allows Government Agencies to avoid the current long, drawn-out process of opening new facilities.

Companies need to be fluid. Why should companies be forced to waste time and resources on on negotiating leases, bidding on furniture and construction contracts, etc.? With Workplace on Demand, they can turn to the experts and have a fixed cost and have it delivered quickly and ready to go.

For details about our Pre-Construction Special Offer and what Metro Offices will manage for you (so you don’t have to) through Workplace on Demand, visit http://www.metroffice.com.

Let Washington Virtual Office Services Take Care of the Little Tasks that Slow You Down

March 25th, 2011

If you are like most business professionals, the little tasks in the day can really slow down your productivity. Washington Virtual Office services are available to take care of these tasks, so you can focus on the things you need to do to grow your business. From phone answering to mail service to administrative support, these office solutions can give a big boost to your productivity without the need for hiring another full-time employee.

It often feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day, and it is easy to spend way too much time in the office, but when you have the support and assistance of professionals who are more than capable of handling the day-to-day tasks that pop up, you will find that you immediately have more time.

Because the cost of hiring another employee is often cost-prohibitive, small business owners, home-based businesses, government agencies and even corporations have turned to hiring Washington Virtual Office staff. These professional services provide peace of mind for busy managers and business owners who need to be sure tasks are being accomplished, even when they can’t do them personally. What’s more, outsourcing these tasks means that you don’t have to pay the high cost of benefits for another employee.

What’s included in Washington Virtual Office services? Take a look at the solutions available to you:

  • Daily mail processing and mail forwarding.
  • A prestigious business address to use for business cards and to collect your mail.
  • Virtual receptionists.
  • Phone answering services
  • Virtual club in an easy on-demand location to stop in for work on the go, complete with Wireless Internet, telephones, and a comfortable business lounge.
  • Guest office usage in a fully-equipped private office–available on-demand by the hour, day or week.
  • A wide variety of business support services such as Word processing, desktop publishing, project design/consulting, Excel spreadsheets, presentations, newsletters, database management and much more.

Learn more about Metro Office’s Washington Virtual Office services and business support services at http://www.metroffice.com.

Move Beyond The Competition With A Washington Virtual Office

March 25th, 2011

For many small business owners, tackling the numerous small details that are an integral part of running a successful enterprise is something that takes a great deal of time, and eats into the operating budget. In order to overcome both problems, more and more companies are considering the benefits of a Washington Virtual Office, which saves money and allows business professionals the much-needed time and energy to focus less on everyday tasks, and more on creating and growing their business.

The idea of the Washington virtual office is especially helpful to start-up businesses, since these companies are typically short on cash and on manpower. Hiring a receptionist or administrative assistant may be a necessity for virtually any company, but when funding is limited, salaries for additional employees are hard to come by.

Choosing to use a Washington Virtual Office rather than hiring front office employees is not only guaranteed to save you money, but in today’s difficult economic climate, it can make all the difference in the world on whether or not a start-up makes it through the first three years, while still showing a profit.

Start-ups that know from day one that hiring of additional employees isn’t something the company can afford often find themselves working around the clock in order to succeed, effectively carrying the workload of an additional two or three team members. Investing in a Washington Virtual Office shaves hours off of the daily to-do list, and allows a company to work more efficiently, and in a more organized fashion.

In addition, nothing puts more fear in the hearts of potential clients than dealing with a start-up so small that the owners serve as the receptionist. With the benefits of a Washington Virtual Office, you’ll impress clients with the idea that, although your company is new, it’s already got all the bases covered, and is poised for success. The advantages of a prestigious Washington D.C. address in a city known for expensive real estate can’t be overestimated, since the impression you’re leaving behind is one of a successful new enterprise that’s on the fast-track to success, and has got it all together, even in the face of a struggling economy.

If you choose to make a Washington Virtual Office an essential part of your business, you’ll quickly find that you have all the benefits of a fully-staffed corporate environment, a prestigious location most start-ups would never be able to afford, and the time and freedom to spend your working hours doing what you do best: developing your business.

Your virtual office includes daily mail sorting and forwarding services, a virtual receptionist, complete phone answering services, a guest office that’s always available on-demand for face-to-face meetings, a virtual club that’s easily accessible for all your business needs, and all the business support services you’ll ever need to help your company grow and prosper.

As a start-up in a particularly challenging economy, your task is already difficult and more than a little overwhelming. By making the benefits of a Washington Virtual Office an important part of your working life, you’re putting yourself in a unique position to enhance your chances of success, while simultaneously helping to save you time and lead more well-organized existence.

For more information on Washington Virtual Office, DC Meeting Rooms, Telework, Executive Office Spaces, FlexDesk and other cost-effective business solutions visit Metro Offices online at www.metroffice.com.

# # #

Kathlene Buchanan is the president and founder of Metro Offices, one of the premiere, women-owned, executive office centers in the Washington, D.C. Metro area. With presence in 8 different locations throughout the capital area, Metro Offices offers a full range of innovative business solutions and advanced technologies to help businesses compete in today’s transitioning business environment. Buchanan has been in the industry since 1979, and Metro Offices has been operating since 1989 with locations in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

Washington Virtual Offices: A Green Choice for Your VA, MD or DC Business

March 21st, 2011

A Washington virtual office is cost-effective and increases work productivity, and it also allows you to play an active role in creating a “greener” environment. Use a Washington virtual office for your professional needs, and you’ll be doing your part to improve the environment. It’s good for businesses, employees and the world–a win, win, win!

Who knew that something this easy and convenient could actually play a significant role in making our world a greener place? Here are some ways these business solutions help you do your part:

  • Wave goodbye to high overhead, and hello to a green business
    • Big businesses and small alike benefit anytime they can cut overhead expenses. By leasing just the office space you need, you reduce costs to your business – and to the environment at the same time.
    • Cut down on gas consumption. Metro Offices makes it practical and affordable to have all the benefits of a great business address in a central location. Your employees – and the environment – will thank you.
  • Energy costs cut down to size
    • Cut costs by not running an office building – air conditioning, heating, and electricity consumption in traditional offices accounts for astoundingly high expenses.
    • Electricity is minimized because you have full control over what’s connected when.
    • The amount of paper printed is reduced because you’ll soon discover and appreciate how much more efficient it is to share files and documents virtually.
  • Virtual office desktops save time, money, and energy while boosting productivity
    • Many professionals using virtual office capabilities use a virtual assistant. By outsourcing everyday tasks to a highly-trained independent contractor, you save on payroll and training while getting excellent results.
    • Reduces common energy consumption because by digitizing as many of your documents and procedures as possible, you’ll use just a tiny fraction of the paper traditional business procedures use.

A green business creates winning results for its customers, employees and contractors, its own bottom line, and the environment. Using Washington virtual office space and virtual office services is a profitable, convenient, and eco-friendly solution for any size business. Learn more about Washington Virtual Offices at www.metroffice.com.

New Metro Offices Partnerships with US Women’s Chamber of Commerce

March 15th, 2011

Metro Offices announces a new partnership with the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce to promote and support women-owned businesses as well as women career professionals.

As a 501(c)6 not-for-profit trade association, the USWCC was founded in 2001 to advance the economic status of women in business. The organization is unique because it is non-captive, meaning it is funded by individual members, small businesses and small business advocates—not corporations who seek to market to women, which is typical of many women-focused organizations.

The USWCC currently utilizes Metro Office space at 700 12th Street, NW, Suite 700 in D.C.

As a woman-owned business, Metro Offices believes in the mission of the Chamber to develop leaders, accelerate economic growth and provide a community force for women in business.

USWCC’s CEO Margo Dorfman said the organization is the independent force behind an economic revolution in America coined as a Women-Led Economy: “We know legislation isn’t the only way to grow a business or make sure your economic needs are met as a woman in business, which is why we have launched the Women-Led Economy,” explained Dorfman.

With 500,000 members nationwide, the USWCC is using a platform of influence, innovation and opportunity to work with and for members to grow successful businesses and careers. The organization has gained recognition as the most influence-effective economic force in America.

The partnership between Metro Offices and the USWCC further promotes this mission, and Metro Offices encourages clients to consider becoming a USWCC member. If you are a business that is women-owned and you are looking for a way to tap into federal contracts, find capital and provide affordable benefits for employees, the USWCC is a good relationship to form.

The USWCC will be hosting a meeting in conjunction with the National Association of Small Business Contractors on March 10th at the Metro Offices’ Metro Center, 700 12th Street NW Suite 700 Washington DC. The meeting focus will be an interview with a Small Business Contractors representative regarding upcoming opportunities available.

Metro Office Seeks Partnerships to Make a Positive Impact

It’s partnerships such as the one with USWCC that give Metro Offices an opportunity to make a positive impact on the business world. Another such partnership in the works is one with Autism Speaks—the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization. The Metro Offices team will be partnering with this charitable organization to promote its mission to serve and speak for children who cannot always speak for themselves.

Learn more about Autism Speaks at http://www.autismspeaks.org.

For more information on the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce and the Women-Led Economy, visit http://www.uswcc.org.

DC Telework Reduces the Cost of Doing Business

March 12th, 2011

For those living and working in the Washington D.C. area, the worst part of the daily grind is the painstakingly slow commute, something that’s being remedied through the rising popularity of D.C. telework. The D.C. area has one of the most painful commutes in the United States, ranking only behind Los Angeles when it comes to the amount of time workers end up spending in their cars.

In addition, a majority of those who work in the District Of Columbia call cities in Maryland and Virginia home, areas in which housing may be affordable, but certainly isn’t cheap. If the average worker were able to regain the 90-120 minutes spent in the car each day, and were able to cut down on expensive gas bills, it reasons that both his productivity and financial well-being would improve thanks to the change.

It’s this way of thinking that’s convinced more and more companies to begin considering the benefits of DC telework, a choice that’s shaving hundreds of thousands of dollars each year from operating budgets and leading to happier, healthier, more financially prosperous employees. Contrary to popular belief, a majority of companies that have taken employees out of the office and are keeping them at home have found that productivity levels and quality of work has actually gone up.

When spared the headache of the daily commute, forced conformity to traditional office hours, the necessities of an office dress code, and the endless ways to alleviate boredom and waste time in an office environment, employees tend to flourish. When freed from the restraints and distractions of the traditional office setup, workers don’t become lazier, they tend to become more self-motivated, making the most of the hours they spend at work in order to have more time for other obligations and interests.

In addition, when outside distractions are removed, employees start the day feeling more energetic, focused, and ready to work, rather than grumpy and sluggish after fighting traffic just to get to the office each day.

Another benefit of D.C. telework is that while employees reap the benefit of having more freedom in scheduling and less micro-management, companies are taking advantage of the financial benefit that comes from employees who take fewer sick days, unscheduled personal days, or have problems with chronic lateness. The added hours a typical worker gains from avoiding D.C area traffic, combined with the freedom that comes from working at home, means that it is easier for most to create a better balance between work and home life.

The result, in a majority of companies that have made the switch, is that employees have noticed an improvement in both enjoyment and attitude toward time at work, as well as time at home. If greater balance leads to a happier, more productive lifestyle for workers, it also leads to a more positive, successful, cost-effective environment for companies.

In today’s difficult, recession-conscious job market, everyone has been forced to rethink traditional ways of doing business, and what just doesn’t work anymore. Many would agree that given the potential benefits, telework is truly the wave of the future, and D.C. is proud to be on the cutting-edge of this trend.

For more information on  DC Office Space, DC Meeting Rooms, Telework, Executive Office Spaces, FlexDesk and other cost-effective business solutions visit Metro Offices online at www.metroffice.com.

# # #

Kathlene Buchanan is the president and founder of Metro Offices, one of the premiere, women-owned, executive office centers in the Washington, D.C. Metro area. With presence in 8 different locations throughout the capital area, Metro Offices offers a full range of innovative business solutions and advanced technologies to help businesses compete in today’s transitioning business environment. Buchanan has been in the industry since 1979, and Metro Offices has been operating since 1989 with locations in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

New Ballston Center: DC Office Space Accommodates the Mobile Worker

March 11th, 2011

Situated immediately off Interstate 66, only six miles from Reagan National Airport, our new Ballston Office Center will accommodate businesses of every size, both commercial and federal, and will offer state-of-the- art solutions for mobile workers, teleworkers, and especially government contractors who desire a prestigious DC office environment in a convenient DC Metro location. With a quick walk to the Ballston Metro station, you are just a few stops from DC, Capitol Hill and the Pentagon. The Center is scheduled to open on June 1st, and preleasing is now available.

This location will be a penthouse level Center much like the current Fairfax Office Center, featuring a striking penthouse tower, and Metro Offices is improving on the design of the facility to better accommodate today’s mobile workforce.

Features include:

  • Large and comfortable Internet café lounge and a wine bar.
  • Space designed specifically for Flexdesk/teleworkers with a cluster of custom built-in workstations that include beautiful exterior views.
  • Two 25 person training rooms with convertible walls that will enlarge the rooms to accommodate 50 to 60 people for training and special projects.
  • Pods of convertible offices that can be individual offices, multi-office suites or team rooms designed for flexibility to support both large and small groups in many different office configurations depending on what your company’s needs are at any given time.

Additional Expansion: Three New Centers Serve Businesses, Federal Workers

In addition to the upcoming Ballston Center opening, Metro Offices has been opening new locations to meet the need for more Workplaces on Demand. All of our locations offer convenience, much-needed business solutions, and a touch of luxury:

  • With a 45-day turn around time, the Eatontown New Jersey Center opens its doors on March 19th and features 135 seats on two floors. The  VA Technology Acquisition Center and the Office of Information Technology for the Department of Veterans Affairs will be using the space over the next 18 months.
  • The Frederick Maryland Center opened March 2nd. Designed for 182 people with 15 meeting rooms on three floors of a Class A Building, the turn-around time was  90 days. The facility is being utilized by the Office of Acquisitions and Logistics  divisions of Veterans Affairs.
  • The 1725 Street Center opened in August 2010 features space for 102 people on one floor and is currently in use by the Human Resources and VALU divisions of Veterans Affairs. Metro Offices went from award to lights on in 21 days!

If your public agency or private company is interested in DC Office Space and Workplaces on Demand, please contact Metro Offices through our website at http://www.metroffice.com.

Pain at the Pump Paves the Way for DC Telework Opportunities

March 8th, 2011

The groan has been heard around the nation resulting from outrageous gas prices, making commuting to and from work a hardship for many DC Metro area employees. What can be done to lessen the financial burden without sacrificing productivity? The answer is DC Telework Solutions.

Studies have shown time and time again that with the right support and solutions, telework can be an extremely cost-effective way to keep businesses running smoothly while decreasing costs for both the employees and employers. Employees save when they can work from home or from a convenient on-demand DC office space; and employers save when they can decrease or even eliminate expensive traditional office space, as their employees work remotely.

It’s clearly a win-win situation for all people involved. In addition to cost-savings, employers who are using telework programs for employees have found that the employees are more loyal to the business, because they are satisfied with the flexibility telework offers. There is less need for sick days and personal days, because teleworkers can schedule their days in a way that is best for their appointments while keeping productivity high.

Rather than spending two or more hours on the road each day tackling the commute, employees who utilize DC telework services can get down to business right in their home office, or anywhere they have wireless access. Employees can access all of their vital work information through use of a VOIP platform. Having the ability to work anytime, anywhere significantly increases employee productivity and business productivity as a whole.

While working remotely is ideal for day-to-day work situations, most businesses also have a need to meet in a physical location, which is where Washington Virtual Offices and DC Executive Office Spaces provide much-needed solutions. Combined with Telework, these facilities offer the best of both worlds to business owners seeking innovative ways to increase employee productivity and continue conducting team and customer meetings as usual.

With the technology available in today’s business world, there is no reason for businesses to continue operating in the same old way- just because that’s the way it has always been done. New times call for new and better solutions. The top businesses today are zeroed in on finding ways to becoming more efficient while utilizing cost-effective methods.

So while the cost of gas is a frustration for all of us, the light at the end of the tunnel reveals itself in the form of DC Telework Solutions. For more information on DC Telework, DC Executive Office Spaces, FlexDesk and other cost-effective business solutions visit Metro Offices online at www.metroffice.com.

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