Frequently Asked Questions on Serviced Office in Hong Kong and Shanghai

What is a business centre? What is a business centre? Basically, a business centre is an office space solution provider that facilitates doing businesses in a number of ways. Business centres are used by companies of all sizes and industries, and their key services include serviced offices, virtual offices, meeting rooms and business registration.

What is a serviced office? A serviced office is a fully-serviced, fully-furnished office available to rent on a flexible term from 1 week to 2 years. Normally, a single monthly fee includes furniture, Internet, phones, phonelines and daily cleaning as well as complimentary coffee and tea.

What is a virtual office? As the name implies, a virtual office is a service without an actual office. Virtual office clients are entitled to use the business centre’s address, phone number and/or fax number for their business identity. The business centre will provide mail handling and call answering services associated with the address and phone number.

Who can benefit from a Hong Kong business centre or Hong Kong serviced office? Typically, those who choose a HK business centre or Hong Kong serviced office are managers in town for a short-term project. Businesses seeking temporary office space to expand and start-up companies are among the other kinds of firms that find this option attractive.

What might a Hong Kong business centre or service office provide? A reputable, quality-minded Hong Kong business centre should offer all of the following:

Where can I find a Hong Kong serviced office or business centre? Hong Kong newspapers regularly carry listings for business centres and serviced offices. You can also search on the web. Or go here. Be careful when searching on the web as many links go to booking agencies and not to the actual Hong Kong business centre or serviced offices.

What are the drawbacks of going through an agent for a Hong Kong business centre or serviced office? By going direct to the vendor you will get a better idea of the product as many of the internet booking agencies have no direct experience with the Hong Kong business centres and Hong Kong serviced offices they offer. The operator of the service is also in a better position to be flexible about terms.

How much should I pay for a Hong Kong business centre or Hong Kong serviced office? The prices for Hong Kong business centres and serviced offices vary greatly. As Hong Kong is a very expensive city for office space, many vendors squeeze in as many offices as they can. Before committing to any space it’s wise to see the floorplan for the entire office and not just the space on offer.

What extra costs might be involved in Hong Kong business centres and Hong Kong serviced offices? Usually Hong Kong business centres and Hong Kong serviced offices provide little more than a desk, chair and telephone. Sometimes premium offerings (such as Neo Suites by Jumpstart) offer more space and the package includes items such as a printer and scanner.

What are the advantages of virtual office particularly in Hong Kong and Shanghai? Rents in Hong Kong and Shanghai are among the highest in the region. If you are not required to have a physical office or you can work at home, then you can save a lot of money with a virtual office. Fees for virtual office services are also much lower than serviced offices. Contract lengths for virtual offices are also very flexible, ranging from 3 to 15 months.

Can I use a virtual office if I already have an office? Yes. In fact, a lot of companies use virtual office services as a tool to boost corporate image. First, business addresses provided by well-known business centres in Hong Kong and Shanghai are located in grade-A office buildings in prime areas, and having such an address on your business cards and website can boost your company’s branding. Second, your company benefits from the business centre’s highly professional and multilingual call answering service. Third, if you need to meet a client or supplier face to face, you may use a meeting room with world-class equipment.

Can I register my company using my virtual office address? In Hong Kong, you can register your company after you have subscribed to our virtual office service. Jumpstart also provides business registration services and offer discounts if you subscribe to our virtual office service at the same time. In Shanghai, however, a virtual office subscription does not qualify for business registration. Instead, you need a lease agreement with a minimum term of 12 months in order to register a company. Jumpstart provides various options for one-year serviced office leases in Shanghai.