Virtual Office Systems Help Entrepreneurs Avoid Debt

Only half of small businesses that tried to borrow last year got all or most of what they needed, according to a survey by the National Federation of Independent Business. That’s one reason why Sam’s Club is planning to make loans available to its small business customers.

Sam’s Club is launching a business loan pilot program that will make $5,000 to $25,000 loans available to qualifying members. The program also includes low-rate merchant credit card processing, convenient order-ahead programs and early shopping hours.

“Access to capital is a major pain point for our members and the small business Main Street community,” says Catherine Corley, vice president of Membership at Sam’s Club. “We believe this pilot program is a step in the right direction to help fuel small business growth and create jobs to stimulate our economy. It’s also simple to apply and costs less, which is consistent with our goal to help our members make smart choices and provide superior value.”

That $25,000—or even $5,000—will go a long way if you rely on a virtual office system instead of traditional office space. Leasing traditional office space, installing a phone system, furnishing your space, hiring a receptionist and some staff members, and so on would more than eat up $25,000 in the first year alone.

By contrast, you can set up a virtual office system for a fraction of the cost. A virtual office system includes a virtual office, which gives you a premier business address, an 800 or local phone number, mail drop off services, and access to a day office or conference room when you need one. Your employees can telecommute from their home offices, if you have any. Virtual offices start at just $50.

With a virtual office system you can lower your full-time staffing costs by leveraging part-time virtual assistants on demand and using a virtual receptionist who can complete various other administrative tasks. And virtual office technologies like Cisco’s WebEx let you coordinate virtual staff meetings with employees, customers and partners all over the world without every having to step foot on a plane, or even drive across town.

So whether or not you qualify for a Sam’s Club loan, consider the cost-savings you could enjoy with a virtual office system. You may discover that you don’t need a loan after all.

Check out this video for more information on Sam’s Club loans:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cg4OS5WXhc[/youtube]

About Jennifer LeClaire

Jennifer LeClaire is a veteran business journalist, editor and new media entrepreneur with a strong niche in real estate and technology.