Running a Remote Business: How-To Guide

The Ultimate Guide to Running a Remote Business

Are you looking to learn how to run a business remotely for the first time? Or are you about to transition your employee operations from in-person to remote? Regardless of the specifics, launching a remote business can be a huge undertaking. 

If you’re hesitant about making the switch, continue reading to see the seven essential steps for running a remote business and the four benefits that come with it. 

A 6-Step Guide to Running a Remote Business

Before gaining your first customer or remote employee, you should take these seven steps to ensure your remote business remains operational. 

1. Create a Remote Business Plan

A smart entrepreneur will create a business plan before investing time and money into a new venture. 

A business plan should be approximately 30 to 50 pages and include:

A business description

A purpose and vision

A unique selling proposition 

A list of goals and a plan for reaching them

2. Decide How Your Business Will Operate Remotely

If you try to manage a remote business the same way you would an in-office operation, you’ll run into difficulties. 

Decide how you’ll run your business remotely by considering enacting the following:

A remote employee policy—The policy should outline expectations about employee availability, response times, travel requirements, and security rules.

Expectations for employee work schedules—Decide whether you require employees to stick to a set schedule or allow them to work more flexibly. 

3. Establish a Virtual Business Address

You'll need a business address if you plan on registering your business as an LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship. 

Establishing a virtual business address is ideal for privacy reasons (because it eliminates the need to list your home address) and also lends your company credibility. 

Davinci offers desirable virtual addresses in major cities all over the world. You can also add mail receipt, forwarding services, and other helpful perks for your remote business. 

4. Launch a Professional Website

Any business, remote or in-person, needs to have a professional website. A proper website has an easy UI, pleasant graphics, and describes your business in a language anyone can understand. You should put your virtual office address on the site to add credibility.

5. Arrange a Space for In-Person Meetings

There will be times when over-the-phone or video meetings won’t suffice. In-person meetings require a quiet space to discuss business matters without outside interference. This is where renting an office space or conference room by the hour can be useful. 

Davinci offers meeting space rentals by the hour or the day. Each space is fully equipped with the tools needed to run a meeting, and you can easily reserve a space online. 

6. Focus On Employees

Because you and your team aren’t in the same space, it’s important to set aside time to focus on your employees through consistent one-on-one sessions, recurring weekly meetings, and group team-building activities. 

This will be particularly important when onboarding new employees, as you’ll want to spend extra time explaining how the business and various departments work. Unlike in-office personnel with a front-row seat to background operations, remote workers won’t be as aware and will need more hand-holding in the beginning. 

4 Benefits of Running a Remote Business

Significant benefits come with running a business remotely, whether you’re transitioning from in-person or just starting out.

1. Larger Candidate Pool

Being a remote business means you don’t have the same location limitations as a physical office, which vastly widens the candidate pool.

More people are looking for remote opportunities and it’s becoming a requirement for many talented individuals. Around 65% of people say they want to remain full-time remote workers. In fact, 58% of employees say they would “absolutely” look for different opportunities if they can’t stay remote.

This means that as a remote business, you can have your choice of top talent within your field. 

2. Reduced Overhead Costs

A practical benefit of a remote business is the money you save on business expenses. By not having a physical location, you can save on:

Real estate

Office rental fees

Utilities

Cleaning fees

Parking fees

Supply fees

Overhead fees

All that money saved can be put elsewhere, whether back into the business or in employee raises.

3. Reduction in Sick Leave

Because remote workers don’t have to worry about a long commute or getting coworkers sick, they’re less likely to call out when ill than those who work in traditional office settings. In fact, recent reports show that 67% of work-from-home employees will work while not feeling well. 

4. Improved Employee Retention

People like working from home, because they find it offers more life/work balance. Happy employees are more loyal employees—And 74% of employees say a remote work option makes them less likely to leave a company.

Davinci Has All Your Remote Business Needs

Whether you’re launching a remote company or are transitioning to running a remote business, Davinci can help. We provide companies like yours with virtual offices, and if you require a space to host in-person or hybrid meetings, we also offer rentals with all the tools you’ll need to host a productive meeting. 

Give your remote business the credibility it needs with a virtual office address from Davinci.

About Coco Quillen

Coco is the Chief Operating Officer at Davinci Virtual Office Solutions. She manages the strategic development and operational implementation of services for Davinci. She works closely with all teams to ensure customers are well taken care of.