Today, there are over 33.2 million small businesses in the US.
The pandemic and the shift to remote work have shown that traditional office jobs may not be ideal for every American. While risky, starting your own company can be rewarding, especially if you pursue a long-sought-after dream.
Many entrepreneurs opt to start limited liability companies (LLCs), which offer huge benefits, such as less paperwork and more flexibility. For instance, you can run your company from home!
However, putting down your home address isn’t very professional or secure. So how can you get a business address for an LLC? Read on to see your choices.
Use Your Home Address as your Business Address
You’re allowed to use your home address when registering an LLC, so it’s a convenient choice. This is especially true if you offer services and products from your house and don’t want to deal with any hassle. You won’t have to pay for anything extra, and you can send and receive both regular and commercial mail in one place.
But putting your home address as your company’s contact information is detrimental. It won’t look like a reputable or legitimate business when customers search for your address.
Not only does it look unprofessional, but it also puts your privacy at risk. Once your address is out there, anyone can find you, unless you move. All it takes is one unhappy customer to start sending you junk mail, or worse, come confront you in your private space.
Rent a Physical Office Space
Renting a physical office space is the most immediate and obvious answer if you need to get a business mailing address that’s not your home’s. This provides you with a professional address to give clients, and if you deal with physical items, then this space also allows you to both sell and store them.
However, the average U.S. office listing rate costs almost $40 per square foot. Other costs you need to factor in include utilities, employees, office supplies and equipment, and insurance. These costs may be too much for your new company, especially if everything is doable from home.
So if you can’t afford to rent a physical office space but still want a business address for your LLC, then consider one of the below alternatives.
Rent a Coworking Space
If you can’t afford to rent a whole office on your own, then a more affordable option is renting a coworking space. You’ll enjoy the same amenities, but at lower prices. An added bonus is you’ll have a fantastic built-in networking system.
But the downside of using a coworking space is there isn’t much privacy. Also, it’s not always possible to get a desk or meeting space at your desired times.
Get a P.O. Box
A P.O. Box gives you a separate mailbox from the one at home, affording you privacy and security. Not to mention, it looks more professional too.
You can rent boxes of several sizes inside a post office. Once you choose an ideal P.O. Box size, you’ll receive a key to access it during business hours.
This is convenient if you need to mail things out a lot, as it’ll place you right at the post office. Plus, you won’t have to rent physical office space, so you can continue operating out of your house. This will cut down on costs for your growing company.
However, do note that while you can receive mail with a P.O. Box, you can’t use it as the official physical business address for your LLC (you can’t use one for a corporation either). So you may have to combine a P.O. Box with another business address option.
Use a Registered Agent Service
When you create a company, you’re required to have a registered agent. This agent is an entity that can facilitate communication between you and the government over legal matters. A registered agent service can receive these pieces of mail for you, then notify you.
Technically, you can be your own registered agent. However, this takes up your time and energy, and it doesn’t look as professional either. Plus, you’d have to use your home address.
A commercial registered agent can take care of legal correspondence, so you have more time to run your business. However, the drawback is that this service is solely for legal matters; if you need to send and receive products, then you can’t use a registered agent service for this purpose.
Rent a Virtual Office Space
One of the best options is to get a virtual business address for an LLC. You won’t have to rent out office space, as you’ll be “borrowing” one from the service.
For a low monthly fee, the virtual mailbox service will provide a professional commercial address, and receive and manage your mail. You can then choose to either have it forwarded to you or scanned, so you can access your mail from anywhere with an internet connection.
All you’ll have to do is sign up for an account, choose a virtual mailbox location, pick the plan that suits your budget and needs, upload a postal authorization form, and the service will get you all set up.
What’s even better is, many businesses offer additional services, so you don’t have to find other providers. For example, we at Business Anywhere can also help you register your business, be your registered agent, and provide online notary services.
Get a Business Address for an LLC and More With Business Anywhere
Finding the optimal business address for an LLC can be difficult. Not only do you need to consider your company’s needs, but also your budget. Going too big too fast can eat up a lot of your profits, causing you to shut down.
But with Business Anywhere, you’ll benefit from a number of services without having to empty your bank account. With our remote services, you won’t have to go anywhere to set up your LLC and get a virtual address for your business.
To get started, sign up with us now. We’ll help you get your company up and running!
