I have been in one for 3 years.  I am paperless, so when the initial year was over, I down-sized the big glamorous space to a smaller practical space.  I dumped the lush executive-style corner, and basically have the ritz of a large 10x15 conference room.  Control your costs.  Receptionist answers telephone the way you want.  I never use the “secretarial services” as they are too costly.  I would say if you have good mobile phone reception in the space, do not use their long distance, use your mobile.  Use internet fax as it is cheaper than the EXEC Suite .15/page.  Get a busines rated All-In-One like Konika Minolta MF with a duplexer (about 1,500).  If you have staff, and your conference rooms are usually full, (I get 15 hours/mo free use) then consider 2 small offices…one to work in (no client view) and one to visit in.  Nice part about that is the furniture for conference room is cheap to make it look professional.  That way 2 file cabinets and a cheap door can be a desk to work from.

Thanks Amp,



For the phone system, we can use whatever we want so I’m looking at a VOIP.   I am also going to use some type of e fax system and buy my own printer/scanner machine. Offices come fully furnished with nice dark wood desks and cabinets.



Right now, there are two of us renting offices side by side with a connecting door/glass arc to make the place look like a private suite. The other FA may work part time (mother of 2), so I could have a part time assistant use that office if needed.



I was just worried that clients may question why you have just 1 or two offices with other businesses next door. Just a thought coming from a large bank. Of course, that thought is probably just one of those “insignificant mental barriers to going Indy”.

Omar, why not pitch a tent? 

I would think that the Exec suite provides all of the services.  My office doesn’t allow names on the doors, etc and maintains a certain dress code.  They also provide the phone system so it sounds like the place you are in is charging high dollar for real estate rather than services and real estate.  Get a good idea of what goes in and out of the building.  Look at the building marquis and identify all of the businesses with the same suite number.

I am also going to use some type of e fax system

Amp and Indyone,



Your feedback is much appreciated.



Amp, this office space is being marketed to higher end clients and they have dress codes and restrictions on what you can put in your office to try and limit who they get for tenants. Also the office manager seems pretty bada$$ so I feel confident that I won’t have a problem.   You point is valid though, the last thing I need is some idiot down the hall that has convicted felons coming and going.



Indyone,



I looked at faxcompare.com and found that there are about 6 competitors around $10 a month for an outgoing/ incoming fax plan.   You usually get a few hundred pages included in that rate, so why not get rid of that extra phone you use for your fax? Like you, I’m looking to become paperless to save on office supplies.



Thanks again!

I looked at faxcompare.com and found that there are about 6 competitors around $10 a month for an outgoing/ incoming fax plan.   You usually get a few hundred pages included in that rate, so why not get rid of that extra phone you use for your fax? Like you, I’m looking to become paperless to save on office supplies.

IMHO only, faxing went out with the 20th century.  I do not have a fax number, and I do not use them.  My b/d is paperless, and I have the ability to send secure, encrypted email of data of personal nature, and the client can reply, enclose the scanned docs.  Funny thing, all of my 60+ age group has a pc and a scanner, only a few working aged folks need to mail it in or fax, so they fax it directly to the b/d toll-free, and it gets imaged to their household data file for me.  So you can get around the fax issue.  (my ES charges .15/sheet on the fax)  UGH!

Yeah,



I’m all about technology and going paperless, but I’m not quite ready to do without the fax. I do have quite a few clients that for whatever reason, still use a fax machine.



Looks like I can get an e fax going for about $10 a month. I’ll take it.



Amp, is your b/d email address encrypted or do you use a third party email that has that service?

commonwealth provides encryption at the sender’s discretion.

We are paperless also, but I have to say, there are plenty of clients (and even vendors) that need to fax stuff.  Not everyone has access (or the desire) to be scanning and e-mailing.  I can scan at home, but if my PC is turned off or I’m rushed, it’s just way easier to pop something in the fax and dial the number. 

[quote=Omar]I am also going to use some type of e fax system

If you have a blackberry and set it up properly you can receive faxes on your phone and forward them to your email account to view and print.