It’s estimated that there are between 12 and 24 million online stores, which proves how much potential the digital world has. You don’t have to rent out a brick-and-mortar store, hire employees to work shifts, and pay for all the associated overhead, so it’s a no-brainer if you’re setting out to become a small business owner yourself.
You don’t need an office space, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t need a physical address for business. Read on to find out what this is, as well as why you should get one, and how you can do so.
What’s a Physical Address for Business?
A physical address for business is actually quite simple: it’s an address where you can receive mail and packages. Practically everyone has a physical address, as it’s usually their home one.
Nowadays, small business owners and entrepreneurs often use their home addresses for their companies too. This can be the cheapest and most convenient way to have a physical address.
While a P.O. Box can be your mailing address, but it can’t be your physical address. The law prohibits you from using it as so.
Who Should Get a Physical Address?
Anyone who needs to receive mail or packages should get a physical address. As long as you have a place of residence, you should already be set as an individual.
But what if you’re using the physical address for business purposes? Well, it’s not just large corporations and companies who should have a physical business address. If you have an online, home-based, or start-up business, or live a digital nomad life, you should have a physical address for business too.
Why Get a Physical Address for Business?
Of course, you can always use your home address for your physical business address. However, it’s a much better idea to have two separate addresses. Below are the main reasons why.
It Looks More Professional
In this day and age, it’s extremely easy for someone to type in an address on Google Maps to find out where it is and what the building looks like. Even though you can do all the best marketing in the world for your small business, your (potential) customers’ impressions can quickly be ruined when they see a house located on a residential street or a Post Office location.
When you have a professional physical address for business, it can give more credibility to your company. As a result, consumers will be more inclined to trust you.
You’ll Keep Your Home Address Safe
You can save some money by using your home address as your company one, but it can put your household’s safety at risk. Some people don’t understand boundaries, and they may turn up at your house to check out what you’re doing or to confront you.
They say that you should keep personal and business affairs separate, and this is no exception. By getting a different physical address for business, you can have peace of mind at home. In addition, you’ll receive less junk mail, as you won’t be on the Registered Agent database, which is publicly available to search.
Speaking of registered agents, although you can name yourself as the RA for your company, you don’t have to. You can use our affordable registered agent services instead.
You’ll Be Free of Shipping Limitations
Unfortunately, not every carrier will deliver mail to P.O. Boxes, so you may get stuck at some point. To avoid this issue and delays to your company, it’s best if you take out a physical business address right at the start. It’ll save you some headaches further down the road.
It’s Required by Law
Running a business from home can have fantastic benefits for you, but it’s not always welcome in neighborhoods. People want to keep their peace and quiet, after all.
To protect local residents, municipalities may have specific zoning restrictions regarding home businesses and their physical addresses. You’ll have to do some research and speak to the planning department to find out more about your local laws.
If, in fact, you can’t list your home address as a business one, you’ll have to get a third-party service.
You’ll Get a Physical Meeting Space
Not all physical address services will provide you with a meeting space, but it can be a nice perk. Should you need to meet with clients, vendors, or partners, it’ll certainly be more impressive than crowding around your dining table at home or a sticky table at a noisy coffee shop.
It’ll be Easier to Scale Your Business
It’s a pain to move from place to place, as you’ll have to change all your marketing material to reflect your current address. When you get a physical business address, you can relocate without worrying about the stress and money spent on new business cards, for instance.
A physical address in a different state can help you expand too. You won’t have to personally be there, but your company will still have a presence with that address.
How to Get a Physical Address for My Business
Are you now convinced that you need a physical address for your business? Then you’ll want to know the options available to you.
Here are some choices you can explore, based on your needs and budget.
Mailbox Services
Both the USPS and UPS have mailbox services. These are similar to P.O. Boxes, but the physical address will be the store’s address, with your box number as the suite number.
Mailbox services can give your company a more credible appearance. Plus, you’ll get handy notifications when packages arrive for you. You’ll also get added convenience if you have to mail and ship items frequently.
However, if you want to open a business bank account, avoid using mailbox services and P.O. Boxes as your physical address. Financial institutions won’t let you use either.
Coworking Spaces
If you’re searching for a solution that’s in between using your home address and renting out an office space, then coworking spaces are what you need. You’ll enjoy the benefits of having a physical office, but without the high prices.
While you’ll have to share the space with others, meaning you may risk scheduling conflicts, you’ll have a physical address to use for your business. You can also meet with clients, vendors, and partners in a productive environment.
Virtual Mailbox
One of the best choices is to get a virtual mailbox. You won’t have an actual place to visit to get your mail or hold meetings, but the other benefits far outweigh these drawbacks.
For example, you’ll get a professional physical address to use for your business. When people look it up, they won’t see anything strange.
Also, all your mail will be sorted through this service, so you won’t have to receive junk mail anymore. Once sorted, the staff will upload scans to a secure online dashboard.
On the dashboard, you can choose what you want to do with each piece of mail. Since there are mail forwarding services, you don’t have to be tied down to one address. You can travel the world for business or pleasure (or both), and update your forwarding address at each stop.
In addition, you can access your mail at any time. You won’t have to wait for regular business hours, as the site will be up 24/7.
The best part is, we at Business Anywhere have three competitively-priced plans for you to consider. You can combine these with other useful things, such as business formation, registered agent, and notary services.
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What if I Don’t Have a Physical Address for My Business?
If you’re forming an LLC or any other business entity type, you’re legally required to have a physical address. You won’t be able to use P.O. Boxes either, so you’ll have to pick one of the options above.
Make Sure You Have a Physical Business Address
As you can see, a physical address for business is essential. Not only does it allow you to send and receive mail, but in some cases, it also provides you with an actual space to conduct business in.
We understand that renting a traditional office space can be out of your budget though. By providing you with a list of ways to get a physical address for your business, we hope to provide cost-effective solutions.
If you need a virtual physical address for business, then get an account with Business Anywhere today.
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