When Sarah Kirklin arrived in Cloverdale, she was struck by the lack of available commercial rental space suited to small businesses.

"There's not so much commercial rental space in Cloverdale, unless it's big," she says, adding she found the situation puzzling, particularly because she noticed so many small businesses working from home.

A "virtual" office assistant based out of a rural setting in the Rockies for four years before moving west, the former commodities broker wanted to expand her business into a fully-fledged business services company.

After speaking with a local property owner who was willing to make the necessary renovations, they seized upon an idea to open up an office centre.

After working for clients as far away as Connecticut and Australia, she's now poised to work with people much closer to home.

On Nov. 2, she planned to open the doors to an office centre she says is the first of its kind to operate in Surrey.

In addition to renting full-furnished offices on short-term or semi permanent basis, their new venture, Cloverdale Executive Offices, will offer a range of secretarial and executive services to local business people.

"We're going to make it literally one stop help for small businesses," she said, adding the office centre will be a cost-effective solution to anyone needing just one office and periodic professional support for their business.

Her ideal customer is a small businessperson who needs help for everything from bookkeeping to taxes and needs to rent an office on a week-to-week, monthly, quarterly or six-month basis.

There are six offices available for rent at about $500 per month. She hopes to keep at least one office available for daily or weekly rental for people with short-term business needs in Cloverdale.

The new office centre will be located at 5669 176 St., above Michaud's Hair Salon.

"If people need a physical mailing address, we're going to be able to offer that as well," she said.