Many times I have wondered in the past about this: Are buildings really necessary to work into?
I mean, keeping in mind the technology provided, either completed or in beta phase, do we really need a roof-over-our-heads in order to maintain a web services firm? How can we give a new term and utilization in outsourcing or/and virtual co-working with a team that is expanded through out the world? How many projects can we produce at a given 8 hour working frame and most of all how much money we can produce in order to better use our free time.
The voices say so…
This brain-teaser is something that can create “voices in your head”. For me the reason was that I saw too many expenses going to working space rentals, insurance fees, extreme high bandwidth (for the complete team), loads of coffee and snack costs, water stationary supplies, personnel fees, etc. All of you, who have summoned a group of people to work under one roof, probably have encountered all these.
The thing is that the total amount of money needed for all these is a very good and fat monthly number capable to very-very well finance a person without having him working a bit. This was a SHOCK (!!!).
The second shock is probably that from all the significant clients you may have none ever will come to the physical building; instead you always go to them (!), which is more natural to do.
And it becomes better… so why the clients have to pay for facilities they never use (your office, your carpets, etc). So, why you need the walls and carpets for? Well, the truth is you don’t. Perhaps only in the case that the client wants to feel “safe” when he knows that you are located at Iamhere Street, number 10. This is something that tends to extinct as a concept, cause you have a tax id and social security number, a legal and personal existence, a cellular and non cellular phone, etc. And, of course, what a client buys it is your depth of knowledge and expertise and not your well-painted wall.
So, wake up and stand up. The business models for web services companies have changed a lot.
Following the light…
Personally, I changed everything to a multinational firm with team members working from where each one of them called “office” (home, desk, backyard, or even the cottage house). It is very easy, knowing all the procedures, implications, needs and timeframes on web projects production, to design a virtual web company scheme. This scheme was not about making one filthy rich (yet), but it sure gives the ability to control time and work plus to earn even more money with the same effort and time. I earn a lot of money in many ways. For example: I do not have rents, and similar expenses. I do not pay for personnel fees, insurance fees, etc. I prefer to work with people who can deliver the best per case. The amounts saved and earned there are huge. Not to mention the personal time gain (for all of you with kids 
Imagine this: Much more time to travel, to see and select projects, to utilize upcoming web knowledge and tools. I found that many people had the same concept and tried to find others like me to engage in their virtual office concepts. And we did. All not necessary costs were eliminated and transformed to marketing money. I even “rent” secretary services (I didn’t have before) and someone collects my calls and messages when I cannot pick the phone. My customer service capabilities evolved to a better one and now I can offer more in more reasonable costs. I have the time to go to more meetings and discuss for larger and very interesting projects.
Plus, I do what I like more, designing web sites and talking with customers.I use the combined capabilities of online tools like helpdesk and ticket-request systems, plus a very good project management system to tune and work with other people.
The team we have now can exploit the differences and capabilities of multicultural designers and professionals. This gave to our work another flare.
So…
So, here is a tip. Fear stops creativity and progress. Dear to dear and things will come if you really love what you do. It sounds like an ordinary most-told phrase, yet is nothing less than the truth. Use the technology for you, not only for client proposals. You will be amazed of the freedom gained and money earned.
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