Standard Plan Structures
Understanding Plan Structures
Virtual office providers typically offer tiered plans based on services included.
Standard Plan Categories
Plan 1: Basic Business Address (₹1,000-₹2,500/month)
Ideal For: Freelancers, consultants, digital service providers
Includes:
- Professional business address
- Lease agreement and NOC
- Utility bill proof
- Address can be used for GST and company registration
- Email support
Doesn't Include:
- Mail handling
- Phone answering
- Meeting room access
- Coworking space
Use Cases:
- Using address for registration only
- Working fully remote
- No physical office need
Estimated Users: Solo entrepreneurs, remote workers, digital businesses
Best Provider for This: GoFloaters (flexible, founder-friendly), MYHQcost-conscious options
Plan 2: Business Address + Mail Handling (₹1,500-₹3,000/month)
Ideal For: Small businesses, home-based startups
Includes:
- All of Plan 1
- Receipt and sorting of mail
- Secure mail storage
- Bi-weekly mail forwarding
- Email notification on mail arrival
- Scan and digital copy of important documents
Doesn't Include:
- Phone answering
- Meeting room access
- Coworking space
Use Cases:
- Receiving GST and tax notices
- Business correspondence
- Document delivery
- Staying updated on mail while traveling
Estimated Users: Bootstrapped startups, small service providers
Cost Justification: Ensures you never miss critical government notices (worth ₹50,000+ in potential penalties if missed)
Best Providers: AWFIS (reliable mail system), WeWork India, IndiQube
Plan 3: Premium Business Address (₹2,500-₹4,500/month)
Ideal For: Growing startups, small companies needing client meetings
Includes:
- All of Plans 1 & 2
- Virtual phone answering (2-4 hours/day included)
- 4-8 complimentary meeting room hours per month
- Coworking space access (3-5 day passes per month)
- Access to networking events
- Professional receptionist service
Doesn't Include:
- Full-time phone reception (add-on)
- Dedicated desk
- Exclusive office
Use Cases:
- Monthly client meetings (using meeting room)
- Occasional need for workspace
- Professional phone presence
- Building business network
Estimated Users: Growing startups, service companies, consultants
Cost Breakdown Example (₹3,500/month):
- Business address: ₹500
- Mail handling: ₹800
- Phone answering (part-time): ₹1,000
- Meeting room hours: ₹1,000
- Administrative support: ₹200
Best Providers: IndiQube (comprehensive), Awfis (good value), WeWork India (premium)
Plan 4: Business Suite (₹4,000-₹8,000/month)
Ideal For: Growing companies, full-time team requirements
Includes:
- All of Plan 3
- Dedicated hot desk or flexible desk access
- 15-20 meeting room hours per month
- 10-15 coworking day passes per month
- Full-time phone answering during business hours
- Virtual receptionist services
- Complimentary month pass for extended access
- Priority event invitations
- Dedicated account manager
Use Cases:
- Team of 2-3 people needing workspace
- Regular client meetings (10-15 per month)
- Professional office presence
- Growing business needing flexibility
Estimated Users: Series A funded startups, growing SMEs
Best Providers: Awfis (best for scaling), IndiQube (customization), WeWork (premium experience)
Plan 5: Dedicated Office/Hybrid Plan (₹8,000-₹20,000/month)
Ideal For: Teams of 3-8 people
Includes:
- Dedicated private office (1-2 cabins)
- 5-10 dedicated desks
- Unlimited meeting room access
- Virtual receptionist and call handling
- Mail handling and courier services
- All coworking amenities
- Dedicated account manager
- Event space priority
- Parking (varies by location)
- Furnished (varies by provider)
Use Cases:
- Team office with privacy
- Regular client meetings
- Team collaboration space
- Professional address as main office
Cost-Benefit: Cheaper than physical lease (₹30,000-₹50,000/month) but with flexibility
Best Providers: All major providers offer this tier
Pricing Comparison: Major Providers (Updated Dec 2024)
| Provider | Business Address Plan | Business Registration Plan | GST Registration Plan | Dedicated Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WeWork | ₹1,099/month | ₹1,899/month (12-mo) | ₹1,599/month (12-mo) | ₹8,000+ |
| Awfis | ₹1,200/month | ₹2,200/month (12-mo) | ₹2,500/month (12-mo) | ₹7,500+ |
| IndiQube | ₹1,500/month | ₹2,800/month (12-mo) | ₹3,500/month (12-mo) | ₹8,000+ |
| myHQ | ₹999/month | ₹2,000/month (12-mo) | ₹2,500/month (12-mo) | ₹7,000+ |
| 91Springboard | ₹1,000/month | ₹1,800/month (12-mo) | ₹2,800/month (12-mo) | ₹6,500+ |
| GoFloaters | ₹1,200/month | ₹2,500/month (12-mo) | ₹3,000/month (12-mo) | ₹8,500+ |
| Smart Works | ₹800/month | ₹1,500/month (12-mo) | ₹2,000/month (12-mo) | ₹5,500+ |
Notes on Pricing:
- City Variation: Delhi/Mumbai command 15-20% premium; Tier-2 cities 10-15% lower than listed prices
- Location Premium: Prime business district (Cyber City, Koramangala, BKC) adds 10-20% vs. secondary locations
- Bundle Discounts: Combining registration + GST plans often yields 10-15% discount vs. individual plan prices
- Annual Commitment Discounts: 24-month plans typically 15-20% cheaper; 36-month plans 20-25% cheaper than monthly rates
- Startup Discounts: Registered StartUp India companies may get 20-50% off (verify with each provider)
Plan Tenure Options
Most providers enforce minimum 12-month commitment for Business Registration and GST Registration plans because government authorities view month-to-month leases as unstable.
Standard Tenures
Monthly Plans (Business Address Only):
- Available for basic address plans
- Best for: Testing provider or temporary presence
- Slightly higher rate (5-10% premium vs. annual)
12-Month Plans (Standard - Most Popular):
- Government Requirement: ROC and GST prefer 12-month minimum lease agreements
- Discount vs. Monthly: Usually 5-10% savings
- Cost Example: ₹1,899/month × 12 = ₹22,788/year (Business Registration at WeWork)
- Best for: First incorporation, establishing GST presence, most startups
24-Month Plans:
- Commitment discount: 15-20% off monthly rate
- Cost Example: ₹1,600/month × 24 = ₹38,400 (effective monthly ₹1,600)
- Best for: Proven need, avoiding renewal hassle annually
- Advantage: Locks in pricing, avoiding potential rate increases
36-Month Plans:
- Maximum commitment discount: 20-25% off monthly rate
- Best for: Long-term vision, maximum cost savings
- Note: Rarely needed unless business has stable long-term plans
Tenure Strategy for Founders
Recommendation by Stage:
| Stage | Recommended Tenure | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-registration | 12 months | Government minimum; easy to upgrade/switch if needed |
| 1-year revenue | 12-24 months | Lock in costs, avoid annual renewal friction |
| Growing team | 24-36 months | Stability improves funding narratives |
| Series A+ | 24+ months or physical office | More permanent infrastructure investment |
Upgrade and Downgrade Flexibility
Typical Provider Policy:
- Upgrades: Charged on pro-rata basis (remaining months at lower rate, new plan at higher rate)
- Downgrades: May require notice period (usually 30-60 days)
- Pause/Freeze: Some providers allow 1-2 month pause annually at no cost
- Renewal: Usually billed annually; some offer monthly billing for shorter terms
Add-On Services and Costs
Beyond base plans, providers offer:
| Add-On Service | Monthly Cost | When Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Extra mail forwarding | ₹500-₹1,000 | High mail volume |
| Dedicated phone line | ₹500-₹1,500 | Phone-heavy business |
| Additional meeting room hours | ₹200-₹500 per 10 hours | Frequent client meetings |
| Coworking day passes | ₹200-₹400 per pass | Need flexible workspace |
| Dedicated locker storage | ₹300-₹800 | Document security |
| GST compliance support | ₹500-₹1,500 | Tax filing assistance |
| Virtual assistant services | ₹1,000-₹3,000 | Administrative support |
| HR/Payroll services | ₹1,000-₹5,000 | Employee management |
Pricing by City
Virtual office costs vary significantly by city based on real estate:
Tier 1 Cities (Premium):
- Mumbai: ₹1,500-₹5,000/month for premium plans
- Delhi/NCR: ₹1,200-₹4,500/month
- Bangalore: ₹1,000-₹4,000/month
- Hyderabad: ₹1,000-₹3,500/month
Tier 2 Cities (Moderate):
- Pune: ₹900-₹3,000/month
- Kolkata: ₹800-₹2,500/month
- Jaipur: ₹700-₹2,000/month
- Indore: ₹600-₹1,500/month
Savings vs Physical Office:
- Virtual office (Bangalore, premium plan): ₹3,500/month
- Physical office lease (Bangalore, prime location): ₹40,000-₹70,000/month
- Monthly savings: ₹36,500-₹66,500
- Annual savings: ₹438,000-₹798,000
Return on Investment (ROI) Calculation
Scenario: Bootstrapped Startup, Bangalore
| Expense Item | Annual Cost (Physical Office) | Annual Cost (Virtual Office) | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (₹50,000/month) | ₹600,000 | ₹0 | ₹600,000 |
| Utilities | ₹60,000 | ₹0 | ₹60,000 |
| Furniture & Setup | ₹50,000 | ₹0 | ₹50,000 |
| Maintenance & Repairs | ₹24,000 | ₹0 | ₹24,000 |
| Virtual Office Service | ₹0 | ₹42,000 | ₹0 |
| Total Year 1 | ₹734,000 | ₹42,000 | ₹692,000 |
ROI on Virtual Office: Immediate 1,646% value gain vs. traditional office setup.
Negotiation Tips for Startups
1. Volume Discount for Multiple Locations**
- If needing addresses in 2+ cities: Negotiate combined rate (10-15% discount typical)
2. Bundle Pricing**
- Bundling services (address + phone + mail): Usually 10-20% discount
3. Annual Commitment Discount**
- Paying full year upfront: Ask for 15-20% discount
- Provider gets upfront cash flow; you get better rate
4. Startup Program Discounts**
- Many providers have specific startup programs
- 20-50% discounts for registered StartUp India companies
- Ask specifically for "startup discount"
5. Negotiation Timing**
- End of month/quarter: Providers more flexible with pricing
- Longer commitment (24 months) earns best rates
6. Multi-Service Upgrade
- Starting with basic plan, upgrading later: Negotiate locked rate for future upgrades