By: Michelle Leach
In many ways, Execu-Suites offers the ultimate menu for home-based business owners hungry to grow their venture's brand and identity. Its clients can pick and choose from a number of solutions necessary to run a viable business: A dedicated fax line. The skills of a trained Secretary, Typing services (by the character) and an office away from the home with the option of using a conference room or boardroom at the Execu-Suite site instead of a loud coffeehouse to meet with clients. "They can get their mail delivered here if all they need is an address, so they don't need to use their home address; they can get a telephone service where we answer the phone for them and transfer that message to their cell phone or home so it appears they have a staff; they can use the conference room only or combine those services into a package that meets their needs," said Susan Kracl, vice president of Execu-Suites. "Everything has a specific price on it so they get the best value." These offerings are divided into two categories: office space and virtual/professional services. According to its Web site, offices ranging from 9x15 to 15x15 are available at Execu-Suites headquarters near 120th and Pacific streets. Included in the rent of each space is access to conference rooms, paper shredding, parking, utilities, daily coffee and tea and lobby and reception services. Each of the services included in the rent may also be purchased by itself or with other offerings, and fall under the category of "virtual/professional services." A "shared" secretary may answer one's phone, type one's letters or prepare one's envelopes. A professional skilled in QuickBooks or PowerPoint may work on a project-by-project basis to complete invoicing, presentations, newsletters or other specific needs on a case-by-case basis. "The virtual office business has picked up as companies are downsizing and sales personnel and others are forced to work out of their homes," Kracl said. Though they may be forced to work in a different setting, Kracl stressed entrepreneurs still want to convey a professional image. This can be achieved via Execu-Suites from the moment the business owner's client calls the live receptionist, wishing to arrange a meeting. When the day of the appointment arrives, the client is greeted by the assistant who then escorts him or her to the conference room where the business owner is waiting. Before the meeting gets underway, the business owner may offer coffee or tea to the client, who may then be treated to a PowerPoint presentation (the conference rooms are equipped for such presentations with the appropriate computer hook-ups and projection screen). As much as these offerings give the illusion that the entrepreneur has his own staff, Kracl indicated there are also pragmatic reasons to opt for virtual solutions. "There are significant savings associated with not having to employ a person to answer the phones or greet a client," she said. Kracl also noted that many times business owners complain that their assistants have significant downtime, in that they may only be answering a phone every 20 minutes. Owners may, in essence, be paying the individual to "do nothing." To get a better idea as to how much an entrepreneur may save with virtual solutions; the average salary for a secretary in Nebraska in 2008 was nearly $26,000 or roughly $12 an hour. An Execu-Suites client pays $135 monthly for one phone line, and receptionist services and other offerings are included in the $550 to $1,100 rental rate, if one opts for an office. In addition, Kracl said, the assistants working at Execu-Suites are better utilized as they represent multiple business owners, as opposed to an individual, so more work can be accomplished. The 18-year-old business support firm has taken great pains to create a comfortable and professional setting for its clients' clients. It swapped outdated, 1970s-era florals for contemporary artwork and classic woodworking. It added television sets to waiting areas, to occupy clients' time. One of its newest additions is a new conference room that seats up to a dozen people, and it exudes the feel of a boardroom and library; conveying both professionalism and coziness. Ultimately, the furnishings and amenities are part of a much bigger picture, lending a hand to help businesses succeed, Kracl indicated. "Our whole concept is to help people get started," she said. "They may grow out of this place, but it's like an incubator and we help them take their business to the next level." Ready to pick and choose the amenities/solutions to help your business get to the next level? Phone 778-5000 to schedule a personal tour. A virtual tour may be found at www.execu-suitesomaha.com.
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