Prefer to chat, contact us on + 44 (0)203 476 7792 

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

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General

What is a virtual office?

A virtual office gives your business a professional address, mail handling, and optional call answering services, without the cost of renting physical office space. It’s a flexible, low-cost solution ideal for startups, remote teams, and home-based businesses that want to protect their privacy and enhance their credibility.

What is the difference between a virtual office and a registered office address?

A virtual office is a trading address for you to use on your business website, marketing materials, invoices, business cards, directories and more.

A registered office address is your company’s official address given when registering your company with Companies House.

You can use our business addresses for both purposes by selecting the registered office address add-on when subscribing to a Virtual Office.

What's the difference between a Virtual Receptionist, Virtual Switchboard and a Virtual PA?

A Virtual Receptionist will answer your calls, collect the caller’s name, contact details and reasons for calling, and share the details with you straight away.

With a Virtual Switchboard, your receptionist will answer your business calls and qualify the caller before transferring them to your most appropriate team member. If they are unable to take the call, then your receptionist will take a message and send you the details.

With a Virtual Personal Assistant, you get all of the above, plus live call forwarding to your staff, appointment booking, calendar management, and more.

 

Can I use my virtual office address to register my company with Companies House?

Yes, you can use your Virtually There virtual office address as your registered business address for Companies House and HMRC with our Registered Address add-on, available from just £8.50 per month.

Using a registered business address helps keep your home address private while giving your business a more professional presence.

Under UK law, every company must maintain an “appropriate address” as its registered office address, where official documents and correspondence can be received and acknowledged.

Our Registered Address service allows you to meet this requirement while benefiting from the flexibility and convenience of a modern virtual office service.

Can I use the virtual office address on my website and marketing materials?

Yes, you can use your virtual office address on your website and all business materials.

However, you cannot use your virtual office address to register with Companies House without adding a registered office address to your subscription.

Why should I use a call answering service?

Call answering services provide a cheap and professional solution to business call management. For an in-depth look at the benefits, view our Call Answering Services page.

Are all my calls answered by you?

All calls are answered by our experienced UK-based team 24/7, 365 days a year.

How do you know how to handle my calls?

Our smart tech instantly recognises when your number is being called and automatically sends it to your Virtual Receptionist or Virtual Personal Assistant. On their screen will appear your business profile, with your script, business information, instructions and more.

How do you know when the call is for me?

Our smart tech automatically recognises your number and sends the call straight to your Virtual Receptionist or Virtual Assistant. In a flash, they receive all of your information before the call even rings.

Is there a set-up fee?

No, we don’t charge set-up fees for any of our services.

Are your prices inclusive of VAT?

No, all prices on our website are shown excluding VAT. VAT is added at checkout, so you’ll see the full amount before you pay.

Can I have calls transferred to me or my staff?

Yes. With a virtual personal assistant subscription, your calls are handled exactly as you’d like. We can transfer calls directly to the appropriate team member, or if you’re unavailable, our virtual receptionists will answer on your behalf, gathering the caller’s details and message and sending them straight to your inbox

Can I advertise the phone number you give me?

When you sign up for a call answering service you will be given the option to purchase a virtual landline number which you can advertise on your website, business cards, invoices, marketing materials and anywhere else you want.

Can I use the phone number without your receptionists answering my calls?

Yes, our virtual landline gives you a professional number that automatically diverts straight to your mobile or landline.

Can you only answer my calls when I am busy?

Yes. You can schedule when to divert your calls through to us, so we handle your calls instead. Follow our call divert guide to find out how.

Do I need proof of ID to set up a virtual office or registered office address?

Yes. We’re legally obliged to collect copies of one photo ID and proof of your home address from a utility bill for AML (Anti-Money Laundering) checks.

You will be asked to take a selfie with your ID (your face must be clearly visible). You can use a driving licence, passport, or other Government-issued photo ID as proof of identification. 

See a full list of acceptable documents.

Do you accept parcels?

No, we don’t accept parcel deliveries at any of our locations. Any parcels delivered to a Virtually There location will be rejected and returned to the sender. Where a return isn’t possible, the parcel may be securely destroyed.

To avoid any issues, please make sure you only use your address for the mail services included in your subscription and don’t have parcels or packages sent to the location.

Will you answer my calls 24/7?

Yes, all calls are answered by our experienced team 24/7, 365 days a year.

Get a quote and enjoy a 14-day free trial, no strings attached.

Do you provide support for international businesses?

We proudly support international businesses.

Whether you’re expanding into the UK or setting up a new company from overseas, we’re here to help you get started smoothly. We offer virtual office and registered office addresses, with mail scanning and post forwarding services to suit international clients.

How do you work out my monthly bill?

  1. Our Virtual Receptionist service comes with inclusive monthly minutes. Any calls over this threshold are added to your monthly bill.
  2. Our Virtual Office and Registered Company Address services are charged on a fixed monthly bill. Any addon services are added to this monthly charge.
  3. Our Virtual Landline service diverts callers from your new business line directly to your mobile from £6 per month (billed annually). Call transfer charges are applied per minute – £0.02 for landline, £0.07 for mobile. These are added to your monthly subscription charge in your monthly bill. 

How long does it take to sign up?

 You can sign up to one of our plans in just 2 minutes. For assistance, please call us on +44 (0)203 476 7792.

How long will it take for me to receive my post?

With our 10 free or unlimited mail scan options, your post is scanned and emailed to your inbox the same day it arrives at our virtual office hub in Bristol.

If you prefer physical mail forwarding, please allow up to 5 days for delivery.

What happens if two calls come in at the same time?

If you receive multiple calls simultaneously, our smart tech will divert your incoming call to one of our other experienced receptionists. Your company details and call script will display on their screen, giving them all the info they need to manage the call the way you have instructed.

Will you recognise my regular callers?

Yes, our smart tech allows us to save caller details, call history and reasons for calling. This gives us the ability to provide a more personal and efficient call answering service.

What message details do you take?

You choose what information we collect from the caller, and we will message you the details via email or SMS.

Why choose Virtually There’s call answering services?

For more reasons why over 8,000 UK businesses prefer our services, visit our virtual receptionist page.

Virtual Offices

What is the difference between a virtual office and a registered office address?

A virtual office is a trading address for you to use on your business website, marketing materials, invoices, business cards, directories and more.

A registered office address is your company’s official address given when registering your company with Companies House.

You can use our business addresses for both purposes by selecting the registered office address add-on when subscribing to a Virtual Office.

Can I use my virtual office address to register my company with Companies House?

Yes, you can use your Virtually There virtual office address as your registered business address for Companies House and HMRC with our Registered Address add-on, available from just £8.50 per month.

Using a registered business address helps keep your home address private while giving your business a more professional presence.

Under UK law, every company must maintain an “appropriate address” as its registered office address, where official documents and correspondence can be received and acknowledged.

Our Registered Address service allows you to meet this requirement while benefiting from the flexibility and convenience of a modern virtual office service.

Can I use the virtual office address on my website and marketing materials?

Yes, you can use your virtual office address on your website and all business materials.

However, you cannot use your virtual office address to register with Companies House without adding a registered office address to your subscription.

Can I buy a registered office address without a virtual office?

Our Registered Office Address service now comes as a complete business address package, including a full Trading Address as standard.
This means you can use the address for Companies House and HMRC, as well as on your website, marketing materials, invoices and business cards.

The package starts from £17.00 per month, which includes:

• Registered Office Address
• Trading Address
• Free mail scanning
• Use across all official and public facing business needs

Because UK company law requires all limited companies to display a valid address on their website, our combined Registered Office and Trading Address package ensures you meet those requirements in one simple subscription.

 

Are virtual offices available to all SMEs or just digital businesses?

Virtual offices are available to all types of companies, not just digital businesses. Any company that wants a professional address without renting physical office space can benefit.

Do I need proof of ID to set up a virtual office or registered office address?

Yes. We’re legally obliged to collect copies of one photo ID and proof of your home address from a utility bill for AML (Anti-Money Laundering) checks.

You will be asked to take a selfie with your ID (your face must be clearly visible). You can use a driving licence, passport, or other Government-issued photo ID as proof of identification. 

See a full list of acceptable documents.

Do you accept parcels?

No, we don’t accept parcel deliveries at any of our locations. Any parcels delivered to a Virtually There location will be rejected and returned to the sender. Where a return isn’t possible, the parcel may be securely destroyed.

To avoid any issues, please make sure you only use your address for the mail services included in your subscription and don’t have parcels or packages sent to the location.

Do you provide support for international businesses?

We proudly support international businesses.

Whether you’re expanding into the UK or setting up a new company from overseas, we’re here to help you get started smoothly. We offer virtual office and registered office addresses, with mail scanning and post forwarding services to suit international clients.

How long does it take to set up my virtual address?

You can sign up for a virtual office or registered office address in just two minutes. Set-up is completed once our mandatory AML checks are completed.

You will need to provide copies of one photo ID and proof of your home address from a utility bill. You will be asked to take a selfie with your ID (your face must be clearly visible). You can use a driving licence, passport, or other Government-issued photo ID as proof of identification.

How long does it take to sign up?

 You can sign up to one of our plans in just 2 minutes. For assistance, please call us on +44 (0)203 476 7792.

How long will it take for me to receive my post?

With our 10 free or unlimited mail scan options, your post is scanned and emailed to your inbox the same day it arrives at our virtual office hub in Bristol.

If you prefer physical mail forwarding, please allow up to 5 days for delivery.

Is there a set-up fee?

No, we don’t charge set-up fees for any of our services.

Why can’t I use a Virtual Office as a SAIL?

Virtual office (VO) and mail-handling services are not staffed by your company or by the provider for the purpose of statutory inspections. Because a SAIL must allow physical access to the records within statutory timeframes, a VO address does not meet the legal requirements. Listing a VO as a SAIL can result in non-compliance and possible Companies House queries.

What should a business do instead?

  • Keep records at your own premises; or
  • Use a staffed location (e.g., your accountant or solicitor’s office) that can host inspections; or

File an AD03 form to update or remove any incorrect SAIL address.

Can I use my Virtually There address for DVLA purposes?

No. Virtually There addresses cannot be used for vehicle registrations, driving licence registrations, DVLA correspondence, parking permits, vehicle taxation or any other DVLA-related purpose. Any mail received in relation to these activities may be returned to sender.

Registered Office Address

What is the difference between a virtual office and a registered office address?

A virtual office is a trading address for you to use on your business website, marketing materials, invoices, business cards, directories and more.

A registered office address is your company’s official address given when registering your company with Companies House.

You can use our business addresses for both purposes by selecting the registered office address add-on when subscribing to a Virtual Office.

Can I use my virtual office address to register my company with Companies House?

Yes, you can use your Virtually There virtual office address as your registered business address for Companies House and HMRC with our Registered Address add-on, available from just £8.50 per month.

Using a registered business address helps keep your home address private while giving your business a more professional presence.

Under UK law, every company must maintain an “appropriate address” as its registered office address, where official documents and correspondence can be received and acknowledged.

Our Registered Address service allows you to meet this requirement while benefiting from the flexibility and convenience of a modern virtual office service.

Can I buy a registered office address without a virtual office?

Our Registered Office Address service now comes as a complete business address package, including a full Trading Address as standard.
This means you can use the address for Companies House and HMRC, as well as on your website, marketing materials, invoices and business cards.

The package starts from £17.00 per month, which includes:

• Registered Office Address
• Trading Address
• Free mail scanning
• Use across all official and public facing business needs

Because UK company law requires all limited companies to display a valid address on their website, our combined Registered Office and Trading Address package ensures you meet those requirements in one simple subscription.

 

What is a directors service address?

A director’s service address is the address of an individual company director, used for official communications related to their role as a director.

You can use our registered office address as a director’s service address for up to 2 directors as standard (£2 thereafter).

What's the difference between a registered office address and a directors service address?

A registered office address is the official address of the company itself, used for legal and administrative purposes, whilst a director’s service address is the address of an individual director, used for official communications related to their role as a director.

You can use our registered office address as a director’s service address for up to two directors as standard (£2 thereafter).

Virtual Landline

Can I advertise the phone number you give me?

When you sign up for a call answering service you will be given the option to purchase a virtual landline number which you can advertise on your website, business cards, invoices, marketing materials and anywhere else you want.

How much does each call cost?

You pay a per-minute call charge of £0.02 for landlines and £0.07 for mobiles on top of your virtual landline subscription.

Are your prices inclusive of VAT?

No, all prices on our website are shown excluding VAT. VAT is added at checkout, so you’ll see the full amount before you pay.

Is this service suitable for small businesses?

Yes, this service is designed for small businesses on limited budgets that still want a professional telephone number.

Is your service suitable for large businesses?

We recommend our virtual personal assistant service for large businesses. Virtual personal assistant offers a personal assistant who will answer your call, take caller and message details, transfer live calls to your staff, manage your calendar, book appointments, receive orders, manage your inbox and more.

How long does it take to sign up?

 You can sign up to one of our plans in just 2 minutes. For assistance, please call us on +44 (0)203 476 7792.

Can I use the phone number without your receptionists answering my calls?

Yes, our virtual landline gives you a professional number that automatically diverts straight to your mobile or landline.

Is there a set-up fee?

No, we don’t charge set-up fees for any of our services.

Call Answering Services

What's the difference between a Virtual Receptionist, Virtual Switchboard and a Virtual PA?

A Virtual Receptionist will answer your calls, collect the caller’s name, contact details and reasons for calling, and share the details with you straight away.

With a Virtual Switchboard, your receptionist will answer your business calls and qualify the caller before transferring them to your most appropriate team member. If they are unable to take the call, then your receptionist will take a message and send you the details.

With a Virtual Personal Assistant, you get all of the above, plus live call forwarding to your staff, appointment booking, calendar management, and more.

 

Are your call handlers based in the UK?

Yes, all of our call handlers are based in the UK.

What happens if two calls come in at the same time?

If you receive multiple calls simultaneously, our smart tech will divert your incoming call to one of our other experienced receptionists. Your company details and call script will display on their screen, giving them all the info they need to manage the call the way you have instructed.

Is there a set-up fee?

No, we don’t charge set-up fees for any of our services.

What message details do you take?

You choose what information we collect from the caller, and we will message you the details via email or SMS.

Are all my calls answered by you?

All calls are answered by our experienced UK-based team 24/7, 365 days a year.

Are your prices inclusive of VAT?

No, all prices on our website are shown excluding VAT. VAT is added at checkout, so you’ll see the full amount before you pay.

Why should I use a call answering service?

Call answering services provide a cheap and professional solution to business call management. For an in-depth look at the benefits, view our Call Answering Services page.

Can I have calls transferred to me or my staff?

Yes. With a virtual personal assistant subscription, your calls are handled exactly as you’d like. We can transfer calls directly to the appropriate team member, or if you’re unavailable, our virtual receptionists will answer on your behalf, gathering the caller’s details and message and sending them straight to your inbox

Can you only answer my calls when I am busy?

Yes. You can schedule when to divert your calls through to us, so we handle your calls instead. Follow our call divert guide to find out how.

How do you know how to handle my calls?

Our smart tech instantly recognises when your number is being called and automatically sends it to your Virtual Receptionist or Virtual Personal Assistant. On their screen will appear your business profile, with your script, business information, instructions and more.

Can I use the phone number without your receptionists answering my calls?

Yes, our virtual landline gives you a professional number that automatically diverts straight to your mobile or landline.

How do you know when the call is for me?

Our smart tech automatically recognises your number and sends the call straight to your Virtual Receptionist or Virtual Assistant. In a flash, they receive all of your information before the call even rings.

How long does it take to sign up?

 You can sign up to one of our plans in just 2 minutes. For assistance, please call us on +44 (0)203 476 7792.

Can I advertise the phone number you give me?

When you sign up for a call answering service you will be given the option to purchase a virtual landline number which you can advertise on your website, business cards, invoices, marketing materials and anywhere else you want.

How do you work out my monthly bill?

  1. Our Virtual Receptionist service comes with inclusive monthly minutes. Any calls over this threshold are added to your monthly bill.
  2. Our Virtual Office and Registered Company Address services are charged on a fixed monthly bill. Any addon services are added to this monthly charge.
  3. Our Virtual Landline service diverts callers from your new business line directly to your mobile from £6 per month (billed annually). Call transfer charges are applied per minute – £0.02 for landline, £0.07 for mobile. These are added to your monthly subscription charge in your monthly bill. 

Will you recognise my regular callers?

Yes, our smart tech allows us to save caller details, call history and reasons for calling. This gives us the ability to provide a more personal and efficient call answering service.

Why choose Virtually There’s call answering services?

For more reasons why over 8,000 UK businesses prefer our services, visit our virtual receptionist page.

Will you answer my calls 24/7?

Yes, all calls are answered by our experienced team 24/7, 365 days a year.

Get a quote and enjoy a 14-day free trial, no strings attached.

Virtual Personal Assistant

Are your prices inclusive of VAT?

No, all prices on our website are shown excluding VAT. VAT is added at checkout, so you’ll see the full amount before you pay.

Can I have calls transferred to me or my staff?

Yes. With a virtual personal assistant subscription, your calls are handled exactly as you’d like. We can transfer calls directly to the appropriate team member, or if you’re unavailable, our virtual receptionists will answer on your behalf, gathering the caller’s details and message and sending them straight to your inbox

Can you only answer my calls when I am busy?

Yes. You can schedule when to divert your calls through to us, so we handle your calls instead. Follow our call divert guide to find out how.

Are all my calls answered by you?

All calls are answered by our experienced UK-based team 24/7, 365 days a year.

Can I advertise the phone number you give me?

When you sign up for a call answering service you will be given the option to purchase a virtual landline number which you can advertise on your website, business cards, invoices, marketing materials and anywhere else you want.

How do you know how to handle my calls?

Our smart tech instantly recognises when your number is being called and automatically sends it to your Virtual Receptionist or Virtual Personal Assistant. On their screen will appear your business profile, with your script, business information, instructions and more.

How do you know when the call is for me?

Our smart tech automatically recognises your number and sends the call straight to your Virtual Receptionist or Virtual Assistant. In a flash, they receive all of your information before the call even rings.

How long does it take to sign up?

 You can sign up to one of our plans in just 2 minutes. For assistance, please call us on +44 (0)203 476 7792.

Is there a set-up fee?

No, we don’t charge set-up fees for any of our services.

What happens if two calls come in at the same time?

If you receive multiple calls simultaneously, our smart tech will divert your incoming call to one of our other experienced receptionists. Your company details and call script will display on their screen, giving them all the info they need to manage the call the way you have instructed.

What's the difference between a Virtual Receptionist, Virtual Switchboard and a Virtual PA?

A Virtual Receptionist will answer your calls, collect the caller’s name, contact details and reasons for calling, and share the details with you straight away.

With a Virtual Switchboard, your receptionist will answer your business calls and qualify the caller before transferring them to your most appropriate team member. If they are unable to take the call, then your receptionist will take a message and send you the details.

With a Virtual Personal Assistant, you get all of the above, plus live call forwarding to your staff, appointment booking, calendar management, and more.

 

Why should I use a call answering service?

Call answering services provide a cheap and professional solution to business call management. For an in-depth look at the benefits, view our Call Answering Services page.

Why choose Virtually There’s call answering services?

For more reasons why over 8,000 UK businesses prefer our services, visit our virtual receptionist page.

Will you recognise my regular callers?

Yes, our smart tech allows us to save caller details, call history and reasons for calling. This gives us the ability to provide a more personal and efficient call answering service.

Will you answer my calls 24/7?

Yes, all calls are answered by our experienced team 24/7, 365 days a year.

Get a quote and enjoy a 14-day free trial, no strings attached.

Virtual Reception

Can I advertise the phone number you give me?

When you sign up for a call answering service you will be given the option to purchase a virtual landline number which you can advertise on your website, business cards, invoices, marketing materials and anywhere else you want.

Are your prices inclusive of VAT?

No, all prices on our website are shown excluding VAT. VAT is added at checkout, so you’ll see the full amount before you pay.

Can I have calls transferred to me or my staff?

Yes. With a virtual personal assistant subscription, your calls are handled exactly as you’d like. We can transfer calls directly to the appropriate team member, or if you’re unavailable, our virtual receptionists will answer on your behalf, gathering the caller’s details and message and sending them straight to your inbox

Can you only answer my calls when I am busy?

Yes. You can schedule when to divert your calls through to us, so we handle your calls instead. Follow our call divert guide to find out how.

Will you answer my calls 24/7?

Yes, all calls are answered by our experienced team 24/7, 365 days a year.

Get a quote and enjoy a 14-day free trial, no strings attached.

How do you know how to handle my calls?

Our smart tech instantly recognises when your number is being called and automatically sends it to your Virtual Receptionist or Virtual Personal Assistant. On their screen will appear your business profile, with your script, business information, instructions and more.

How do you know when the call is for me?

Our smart tech automatically recognises your number and sends the call straight to your Virtual Receptionist or Virtual Assistant. In a flash, they receive all of your information before the call even rings.

How long does it take to sign up?

 You can sign up to one of our plans in just 2 minutes. For assistance, please call us on +44 (0)203 476 7792.

Is there a set-up fee?

No, we don’t charge set-up fees for any of our services.

What happens if two calls come in at the same time?

If you receive multiple calls simultaneously, our smart tech will divert your incoming call to one of our other experienced receptionists. Your company details and call script will display on their screen, giving them all the info they need to manage the call the way you have instructed.

What's the difference between a Virtual Receptionist, Virtual Switchboard and a Virtual PA?

A Virtual Receptionist will answer your calls, collect the caller’s name, contact details and reasons for calling, and share the details with you straight away.

With a Virtual Switchboard, your receptionist will answer your business calls and qualify the caller before transferring them to your most appropriate team member. If they are unable to take the call, then your receptionist will take a message and send you the details.

With a Virtual Personal Assistant, you get all of the above, plus live call forwarding to your staff, appointment booking, calendar management, and more.

 

What message details do you take?

You choose what information we collect from the caller, and we will message you the details via email or SMS.

Why should I use a call answering service?

Call answering services provide a cheap and professional solution to business call management. For an in-depth look at the benefits, view our Call Answering Services page.

Why choose Virtually There’s call answering services?

For more reasons why over 8,000 UK businesses prefer our services, visit our virtual receptionist page.

Will you recognise my regular callers?

Yes, our smart tech allows us to save caller details, call history and reasons for calling. This gives us the ability to provide a more personal and efficient call answering service.

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