A firm of accountants is helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses and prepare for the economic bounce back with the launch of a new service.
Yorkshire-based Shenward, a multi-disciplinary practice comprising chartered accountants and business advisers, can now take care of all back-office functions with the launch of a new ‘virtual office.’
Busy entrepreneurs and small traders will benefit from the option to have a smart and professional office address, a local telephone number and a personal receptionist to handle calls and take messages.
Local telephone numbers with any UK area code and even international can be arranged.
The virtual office offers small businesses greater credibility, professionalism and improved branding but Shenward’s service goes even further offering a full finance function, including a dedicated bookkeeper, and a virtual company secretary to ensure the legal requirements of the Companies Act are met.
Sherad Dewedi, managing partner at Bradford-based Shenward, said the new virtual office service fitted seamlessly with the finance and company secretary functions and would save busy entrepreneurs time and money.
“Entrepreneurs, sole traders and small businesses need to project a professional image and a strong brand to give confidence to prospective new clients,” said Mr Dewedi.
“Our virtual office means they have the credibility and reassurance of an established address for business mail and they can also have a local landline telephone number and a real human being as a receptionist to answer their calls.
“The last 12 months has been an incredibly challenging time for anyone in business but particularly small businesses and sole traders.
“Entrepreneurs have to be ready to move forward and a virtual office is a way to rebrand and project a professional image to potential clients.
“As we emerge from the pandemic and the economy starts to bounce back businesses have to be ready to grasp new opportunities.
“Entrepreneurs and small businesses need to focus on sales, orders and growth. Their focus has to be on doing business rather than running the business. Having a virtual team minding the office and watching their back gives them the confidence to get out there and sell their services.”
Shenward already offers a finance function to clients which includes a bookkeeping service, VAT returns and the preparation of management accounts. A dedicated bookkeeper or finance manager will work for the company for an agreed number of hours per week.
The Company Secretarial Service means Shenward is appointed company secretary to remove the headache of keeping up to date with the demands of the Companies Act. The service ensures legal compliance and maintenance of statutory records, company registers and board minutes.
As chartered accountants, Shenward also offers the full range of accountancy services including tax consultancy, project appraisal and evaluation and company structures and re-organisation.
sherad added: “The virtual office is an affordable and cost-effective way to build a company’s brand and credibility. It has all the benefits of a real office without the fixed overheads of bricks and mortar.
“Many businesses are seeing the virtual office as a way to expand and grow out of the pandemic.”
