Starting a new business can be very stressful. You’ve to develop a business plan, hire industry experts and consultants, get professional employees, and get a good location. By the time you’ve done all these, you must have already poured a lot of money.
But then, you shouldn’t forget the bureaucratic side of your business, which is filing your Limited Liability Company (LLC), which is very important for the well-being of your startup.
You might be wondering if you need a physical address before filing your LLC. The answer is you need to have a registered agent address if you’re registering for an LLC, a corporation, or a Limited Liability Partnership.
This article will guide you on registering a virtual address for LLC. Let’s go!
WHAT IS A VIRTUAL ADDRESS?
A virtual address is a mail address you get to rent, situated wherever you want, at which you can get postal mail and bundles. A virtual business address is a more affordable option than leasing office space to enlist one’s business or LLC.
What is the difference between a business address and a registered agent address?
A business address and a registered agent address are required for your LLC.
If you’re new to the business world, you might find the differences between a business address and a registered agent address confusing. Are they the same? What are their differences? Which one is more important? These are among the numerous questions you might be asking yourself. Here are your answers!
A business address is used to establish your permanent place of business. It is the address of where your business is working from or where your business can be reached.
On the other hand, a registered agent is an individual or business established to accept the service of processing documents for your business entity, such as an LLC or a corporation.
They also act as your primary contact with the secretary of state and can receive other official government notifications like tax forms and compliance Information on behalf of your LLC. It is a requirement in all States for every LLC or corporation. the registered agent can be an individual or company.
In short, a business address and a registered agent address are two different things. While a business address is simply the main location where a business operates or can be reached, a registered agent is a person or company assigned to receive important lawsuits and government documents.
Check: How to rent a mailbox with a street address?
What are the Types of Business Addresses?
Your business address can be one of the following:
1)Home address
A home address is the least demanding method for kicking your business off and accompanies numerous accommodations:
– It’s free! You don’t have to pay extra to utilize your residence.
– You can undoubtedly check for mail or get bundles in your night robe.
– The drive is non-existent, saving driving-related costs.
Numerous new companies and entrepreneurs utilize their place of residence as the quickest method for getting a business moving because the startup cost is lower. Nonetheless, there are protection and believability concerns regarding involving your residence in your business.
2)Postal Office Boxes (P.O. Boxes)
Rather than using your home address, another choice is to buy a Postal Office Box, also known as a P.O. box, through your neighborhood mailing station. P.O. boxes are generally situated inside an actual mail center.
3)A commercial office or location
A commercial business address is an address that is tied to a commercial office location. It is an actual street address that can be used for almost all purposes.
4) Or it can be a virtual address
A virtual address is an exact street address with an actual letterbox, where you can get mail and packages.
PostScan Mail has more than 400 road addresses from one side of the country to the other globally, in significant urban communities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City. You can involve this virtual location for your business address and registered business address.
How to Get a Business Address For LLC
There are so many reasons you’ll need a business address for your LLC.
If you’re running an LLC, you need to have a registered agent that will be receiving official correspondence for your business. And you’re expected to provide a mailing address for this agent. The address must be in the same state where you run your business, and it must be a street address, not a P.O. Box address for business.
But then you might be running a home-based business, and you wouldn’t want to have your home address out in public. This is where the virtual address for LLC comes in handy! Here’s how to get one in three easy steps:
Step 1: Choose a real street address in your preferred location. Register this address with a virtual address service like PostScan mail. Ask your service provider if your address can be used for the business, then pick up the monthly service that fits you.
Step 2: Fill out the USPS Form 1583. You’ll then provide two identification forms, one of which must be a picture I.D. This allows a third-party Commercial Mail Receiving Agent (CMRA) (i.e., your virtual mail service provider like PostScan) to receive mail and packages on your behalf.
Step 3: You’re fully ready to start receiving emails! Once your virtual address for LLC is set, you can instantly start receiving mail from that address, and you can also use it as your business address for LLC. Apply for a change of address and let your business contacts know of this new address.
Get Started with Virtual Address for LLC Service with Us Now!
Which Type of Business Address is the Best Choice for your LLC?
A virtual business address is the best choice for your LLC. A virtual address is a real street address with a P.O. box for business where you can receive your packages and mail.
There are many virtual address providers, but PostScan Mail is inarguably the best. They’ve over 400 Street addresses both in the U.S. and other countries.
An added advantage is that these addresses are located in big commercial cities, boosting your business and putting you in the same league with bigger brands.
If you’re using a virtual business address for your LLC, all your mails will be opened, scanned, and uploaded to your online mailbox to check from the comfort of your room or office. You can also send requests like open and scan, forward, archive, shred or recycle.
A virtual business address will allow you to handle all-important business mails in real-time. You can also use the address on your website and social media accounts.
Other Benefits of Virtual Address for your LLC:
1. Economical
When starting a new business, it’s important to keep costs as low as possible. By using a virtual address, you’ll be able to save the money you’ll use in renting and setting up an office and hiring an employee.
2. Credibility
Having a virtual address in a big city like New York or Miami can give your customers a good impression of you. Unlike a residential address that might chase away some clients.
3. Privacy
You might not want to use your home address as your business address for LLC. Using your residential address is like exposing your location to all business aspects as it will be published on directories, your website, social medial handles, and other marketing platforms.
This can put you and your family at risk, whereas a virtual address gives you a real street address away from your residence.
Therefore, you can use it freely on your websites, social media accounts, and directories without any fear.
Can you use a PO Box for LLC?
No, you can’t use a P.O. box for an LLC. Though some situations allow you to use a P.O. box for your business, it isn’t a good idea.
The reason it is discouraged is that PO Box addresses aren’t supposed to be used as a business address, it is a PO Box in a Post Office and should only be used for receiving mail.
You cannot use this address with your customers as it’ll lessen your credibility when they look up your address and a Post Office shows up. A Post Office also controls when you can access your mail and packages and who you can get mail from.
For example, you can only receive mail from USPS, not DHL, UPS, or FedEx. You’ll also be tied to the official post office working hours, which means you may not be able to access your mail on holidays or weekends. It is also illegal to use a PO Box address as a registered agent because there always needs to be someone available to accept and sign for mail.
On The other hand, the marketing experts at Google advise against using a P.O. Box for a business address because it leads to poor rankings through the search engine
For example, if you want to advertise your business on Google and use a P.O. box as its address, you might get a poor search engine ranking as a P.O. box address doesn’t give strong evidence that your business is legitimate.
Can You Use a Private Mailbox for Your LLC?
With a private mailbox, you get some more flexibility as you have a real street address that you can use for business instead of a PO Box number.
You’d be able to call in and check on your mail there are also more advanced features like mail forwarding and mail tracking. You can accept packages from all shipping carriers, unlike at the Post Office.
However, it isn’t a professional address because a mail center or The UPS Store will show up when customers try to find your business.
You can use this address as your business address, especially if you’re a shipping company or expect a lot of packages. But similar to a PO Box, you cannot use a private mailbox as your registered agent.
Can You Use My Home Address For LLC Registration?
Home-based and online businesses are growing rapidly popular; working from home is a great idea and can save you a lot of expenses on renting space, hardware, and office services.
But using your residential address as a registered agent or as a business address with customers and partners jeopardizes your safety and privacy. Other downsides of using a home address are:
- Building a reputation for a home-based or online business is difficult if you don’t have a physical address for your business. You’ll need to gain the trust of your customers, banks, and investors. Using your home address will not increase your business’s credibility, but may keep your business in the amateur stage.
- Using your home address can only be sustainable for so long. When your business starts to grow, you’ll need a commercial business address to compete with the bigger competitors in your industry.
- You’ll need to market your business address and use it on your website or give it to your customers; this is a security threat to your home and family. This address would be on the public record and you don’t want a customer showing up on your doorstep during dinner.
- Working from home isn’t easy and you need to set boundaries to make it work but since this is also your business address, you’ll be receiving personal and business mail and packages at your home.
Check: Needed Services to efficiently handle your home-based business
Why is a Virtual Business Address the best alternative?
These addresses are located in commercial areas that’ll boost your business’s professional image and put you in the league with bigger competitors.
The envelopes of your mail are scanned and uploaded to an online mailbox that you can access online through your phone or computer. You can send out handling requests like open & scan, forward, shred & recycle, or archive. There will always be someone available to sign and accept your mail and packages.
You can handle any important business mail in real-time and use this address on your website, social accounts, and other marketing platforms. Get a business address in a major city for as low as $10 per month.
How to Set Up a Virtual Business Address For Your LLC?
Setting up a virtual address for your LLC is simple and can be done in three quick steps.
Step #1: Pick a real street address in your preferred location and a plan that works for you. Contact PostScan Mail to ensure your chosen address can be used for registering a business.
Step #2: Fill out the USPS Form 1583 which allows a third-party CMRA to receive your mail and packages. You’ll need to notarize the form with two forms of ID and send the form to PostScan Mail.
Step #3: Start getting mail! Once your virtual address is set, you can start receiving mail at your new address and using it as your business address. Apply for a change of address and let your contacts know your new address.
Conclusion
A Virtual Address is the best form of address for an LLC. It’s economical, private, gives you access to your mails wherever you are, and puts you in the same league with big competitors.
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- Uncover the Advantages of Virtual Mailing Addresses
Photo by Drew Beamer on Unsplash
