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5 Reasons Why Entrepreneurs Shouldn't Conduct Business at Starbucks

25th Jun 2015
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Imagine this scenario. You've just started a conference call with a vendor who might be useful for your team's upcoming project. A couple of seconds into the call, you hear a child crying in the background.

"Everything OK?" you ask.

"Ah, yes. Just a second," the potential vendor says

A few seconds later, he comes back to the line. The child is no longer crying, but you can hear the dull roar of traffic. Between horn honks, you tell the vendor you're having a hard time hearing him.

"OK, just another second please," he says.

When he returns this time, it's finally quiet. You start talking about how his product can help your company's expansion efforts. But wait a sec. Was that a toilet flushing?

"You doing alright, buddy?"

"Yes, I'm sorry," he stumbles. "Just trying to find a quiet place to talk, but I guess the bathroom at Starbucks wasn't the best idea."

While this scenario may be far-fetched, it certainly encompasses all that can go wrong when you don't have a virtual office in which to conduct phone calls, hold meetings and get general business activities done.

Without an office available, many entrepreneurs rely on coffee shops and restaurants with free WiFi connections to conduct business dealings. This can work to an extent, but there are certainly pitfalls to the practice. Here are some to consider. But first, we must advocate a little to the former, here’s an article that describes these “extents”.

1. Distractions and interruptions

You just can't control the behavior of others in a public setting. From wailing children to nosy neighbors to overly friendly baristas, you can't predict when you'll be interrupted from an important call or email exchange. There's also the possibility that distractions will cause you to lose focus as you work on a presentation and make an embarrassing - and potentially costly - mistake.

2. Unprofessional appearance

Conducting business at coffee shop just seems unprofessional. Sure, people have face-to-face meetings over coffee at Starbucks or Panera Bread or Au Bon Pain all the time. Doing so is perfectly acceptable from time to time, and people do successfully perform some work at such establishments. What's not acceptable is setting up shop at one of these places and conduct every aspect of business there. A better solution are virtual offices where you can make phone calls, conduct video conferences and carry out other activities in a professional environment.

3. Your business appears unstable

Without a brick and mortar location to meet clients, your business may appear to be a fly-by-night organization. Whether it's justified or not, people are inherently suspicious of businesses that lack a physical address. So even if you conduct occasional lunch or breakfast meetings in restaurants, you should still provide your contacts with the physical address of your office rental.

4. Unpredictable technology

When you rely on free Wi-Fi connectivity at a restaurant or even public library, you can't be certain it will work 100 percent of the time. If you have no control over the technology's maintenance or operating capabilities. Having your own dedicated Virtual Office where technology receives routine maintenance means you'll always have the Internet connection you need for video conferencing, presentations and other interactions. Plus, you won't have to worry about spotty cell coverage since suites come with secure landline telephones for your use.

5. Lack of networking opportunities

While the staff at the coffee shop in your neighborhood are likely very nice and helpful, they can't offer you the same benefits as other business professionals. Entrepreneurs who don't have access to a virtual office miss out on networking with like-minded professionals. It's vitally important to make any and all connections when you're attempting to launch a business. Connections made at this level could be the impetus needed to move the business to the next level. Plus, there's the opportunity to learn from others who have been in the trenches and can help you through the rough patches. 

Starbucks is great for a cup of coffee and a bagel, but it's not right for conducting daily business. Virtual offices are a much better option for entrepreneurs who want to take their business to the next level.

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By User deleted
25th Jun 2015 07:58

Go up market - Cafe Royal ...

This is a good place for meetings - large or small

http://www.hotelcaferoyal.com/meetings-and-events/

Probably better than IOD, which on the last visit, seemed to be over-run by pretty dodgy looking characters from abroad

http://www.iod.com/your-venues-and-benefits/iod-venues/116-pall-mall

 

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