Business address advice

[Joratk]

I currently work from home and am involved in a couple of different ventures, but none to date that require me to disclose my address, except for on company registration documents.

However, I'm currently working on something new that would require me to list my address in order to have any credibility at all, but as I have no permanent business premises at the minute I am really unsure of how to approach this.

Do I:
A) List my home address (I would really prefer not to list this, and I also think it will make the entire outfit look less credible)
B) Find an office share place for cheap and use this address (is this even possible)?
C) Your suggestions please?

[interstellar]

Not sure of the pitfalls but wont a PO Box work or the below as you actually use theirs?

http://www.mbe.co.uk/mailbox_services/registered_c...

[offshoreeddy]

I used to use our accountant's address, but it became a pain in the butt. Then I used the Regus address we used to be at, now I've just got fed up and use my home address, I don't think anyone makes a big deal out of it these days really.

However, someone like these guys (http://www.theworkstation.co.uk/virtual-services/) might be an option, I've used them for a couple of months last year when I was moving house and it worked out ok.

[WilliamWoollard]

As a potential customer a PO box address would put me off more than a home address.

I was initially reluctant to have my business listed at my home address, I'm not sure why, it just didn't feel right. I did though, and it's been on all my correspondence for the last 5 years until recently without problem.

Besides, to the casual observer, 55 Acacia Road could be a business or residential property.

[rog007]

It's a fair question and, as others have stated, in most cases it will not be an issue.

Couple of other things to consider:

- Google maps may show up your business as a pin linked to your home address
- Google maps street view may show your house and vehicle/s; what might that convey to customers who have a look?
- When it does go wrong, how are you prepared to handle, at worst, complainants knocking on your door?

[Joratk]

Thanks for the advice all. I could ask my accountant to see what he says so that may be an option.

rog007 said:

It's a fair question and, as others have stated, in most cases it will not be an issue.

Couple of other things to consider:

- Google maps may show up your business as a pin linked to your home address
- Google maps street view may show your house and vehicle/s; what might that convey to customers who have a look?
- When it does go wrong, how are you prepared to handle, at worst, complainants knocking on your door?

This is what I'm worried about. Where I live is fine by all means, it's a new private housing development that I have lived in for less than a year, but it's doesn't quite convey the image I want. I'm going to be offering a professional service to businesses and I think if they snoop around and see I'm running it from home it may well be off-putting. Another problem my address is 123 Suchandsuch CLOSE - which is a dead giveaway that it's a private residence imo.

Do Virtual Offices get their own separate standalone address or is it a PO Box? If it's the former then I may well rent one of them to get me going, as I really don't want to be tied down with renting premises that sucks up all my money while I'm still trying to get longstanding clients.

[LordHaveMurci]

Do you know anybody that would be happy for you to use their business address as your postal address, you could even re-direct the mail at the PO so they don't actually receive (much) mail?

[Joratk]

LordHaveMurci said:

Do you know anybody that would be happy for you to use their business address as your postal address, you could even re-direct the mail at the PO so they don't actually receive (much) mail?

There's a couple of people I could ask in theory, but I wouldn't class them as friends more associates so I feel I might be pushing the boat out a bit to expect that of them.

[essayer]

There are a number of companies who provide virtual addresses, so you can be 'XYZ Ltd, Something House, High St..'. They'll bundle up/forward or scan the post for you.

We used FOSVA who were very good.
With a bit of digging a customer could see it was a serviced office, but IMO it's better than a PO Box or a home address.

[Joratk]

Would a Regus Virtual Office meet this requirement? Ie. my own standalone address?

[Mr Overheads]

Joratk said:

Would a Regus Virtual Office meet this requirement? Ie. my own standalone address?

In short - Yes


The Serviced Office Park I'm physically located at does do this service as well. Essentially they'll forward all your mail (or you can pick it up). When you need a meeting room you can come in just for that. Think they also offer a telephone service i.e. receptionist answers as if they are our business and can either transfer the call to you (if you take their IP extension service) or take a message.

[Simpo Two]

Joratk said:

I currently work from home and am involved in a couple of different ventures, but none to date that require me to disclose my address, except for on company registration documents.

However, I'm currently working on something new that would require me to list my address in order to have any credibility at all, but as I have no permanent business premises at the minute I am really unsure of how to approach this.

Do I:
A) List my home address (I would really prefer not to list this, and I also think it will make the entire outfit look less credible)

I made up a house name and used that instead of the number for some credibiity. By the time clients got here, if indeed they needed to, they didn't mind that I worked from home. I said 'Well I could rent a shiny office and put a secretary in it, but it would go on the bill...'. Worked fine for 20 years. I don't know why an address has to be secret - unless you're expecting Rogue Traders to turn up...

Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 7th March 15:03

[Joratk]

Thanks for the advice all. I think a Regus Virtual Office is going to be the way I go. I've also found online that I can get a 12 month Gold Card for free which should offer some perks and discounts.

Hopefully it will only be a temporary solution, and I'll soon move into permanent premises as I suspect that, whilst more expensive, it might be less of a headache/problem causer.

[surveyor]

Joratk said:

Thanks for the advice all. I think a Regus Virtual Office is going to be the way I go. I've also found online that I can get a 12 month Gold Card for free which should offer some perks and discounts.

Hopefully it will only be a temporary solution, and I'll soon move into permanent premises as I suspect that, whilst more expensive, it might be less of a headache/problem causer.

Like it. Ask for advice - then ignore it

[Joratk]

surveyor said:

Like it. Ask for advice - then ignore it

How did I ignore it? There were multiple posts clearing up questions I had regarding a Virtual Office.

Perhaps you should refrain from posting mindless drivel that offers no value at all in the future.

Cheers

[Beetnik]

Joratk said:

... none to date that require me to disclose my address, except for on company registration documents.

The law states that you must include your company’s name on all company documents, publicity and letters.

On business letters, order forms and websites, you must show:

the company’s registered number
its registered office address
where the company is registered (England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland)
the fact that it’s a limited company (usually by spelling out the company’s full name including ‘Limited’ or ‘Ltd’)
If you want to include directors’ names, you must list all of them.

Ref: https://www.gov.uk/running-a-limited-company/signs...

Edited by Beetnik on Monday 7th March 19:06

[bga]

We used a Regus VO for years until we bought our own office. It worked.

We had some physical space for a while but Regus' service deteriorated so we packed that in. The VO services didn't suffer the same problems & I would recommend.

[Beetnik]

LordHaveMurci said:

We comply with the law, none of the Company officers home addresses are listed anywhere though, what's your point?

Well, in the first instance it's not addressed to you but to the OP and as the OP states he doesn't disclose his home address and doesn't have a business address either real or virtual then I'd say it's not unreasonable to assume that he either uses the registered address or none at all. There are lots of companies out there who fall into the latter bracket and my post was intended to be informative and useful.

Sorry if you find this not to be the case.

(I could add that as his personal address was used for the company registration then it's a matter of public record and would takes all of 2 minutes to find)

[Joratk]

bga said:

We used a Regus VO for years until we bought our own office. It worked.

We had some physical space for a while but Regus' service deteriorated so we packed that in. The VO services didn't suffer the same problems & I would recommend.

Awesome, that's good to hear. They have an office about 10 minutes from where I live so it looks like it will work out very well indeed!

Beetnik said:

Well, in the first instance it's not addressed to you but to the OP and as the OP states he doesn't disclose his home address and doesn't have a business address either real or virtual then I'd say it's not unreasonable to assume that he either uses the registered address or none at all. There are lots of companies out there who fall into the latter bracket and my post was intended to be informative and useful.

Sorry if you find this not to be the case.

(I could add that as his personal address was used for the company registration then it's a matter of public record and would takes all of 2 minutes to find)

Yes it will still be possible to find my home address through a company search. My previous/current ventures are an ecommerce site, with amazon and ebay accounts, and a non-profit that is registered elsewhere. But the difference there is, listing my home address for returns etc on the ecommerce doesn't pose a problem, but going to businesses looking for them to avail of my service, but giving them my home address, doesn't, to me, tie in with the company image I am trying to project.

[surveyor]

Joratk said:

surveyor said:

Like it. Ask for advice - then ignore it

How did I ignore it? There were multiple posts clearing up questions I had regarding a Virtual Office.

Perhaps you should refrain from posting mindless drivel that offers no value at all in the future.

Cheers

You'd already ignored the mindless drivel that I was about to post, so thought I'd be helpful instead :L