Why would a company want its customers to know that it? based in Downey; Diamond Bar; or even Des Moines, Iowa, when ?for a monthly fee of about $200 ?it can have a Beverly Hills address?

Global Business Centers offers companies ?irtual offices?including a Beverly Hills phone number, an address including mail-forwarding services and even the use of office space on an as-needed basis in the company? Beverly Hills building. A receptionist will answer the phone, then forward the call. Services range in price between $165 and $245 a month.

?ou get a lot more credibility having your office in Beverly Hills than you do in just about anywhere else in the United States,?said Jules Weinstein, vice president of sales and marketing for Global Business Centers.

The service has proved popular with startups looking to save money on office space as well as established firms looking to add a Beverly Hills presence, Weinstein said.

He said the business has several hundred clients, but declined to discuss revenue for the privately held company.

Global Business Centers was founded in 1995 as an executive office suite provider and eventually expanded into the virtual office realm. The company has partnerships with virtual office providers that sell addresses in cities such as New York; Chicago; and Sydney, Australia.

But at least one business owner found the Beverly Hills address wasn? always an advantage.

Peter Marine, who started a synthetic turf company in 2004, said he has started leaving it off his business cards because customers think they are paying ?he Beverly Hills price.?p>?e don? advertise it as much as we used to,?he said.