When starting a small business, many of us begin out of our own homes (myself included). This tends to be a smart choice and is a huge savings on startup expenses. However, somewhere along the way, you might notice a lot of things you need for your business require a physical mailing address. Should this be private information and if so, how can we do that?
Why do I need to give out my address?
Some of what requires a mailing address you might expect, such as:
- getting a business license
- filing an LLC
- opening a business bank account
- providing a billing (or shipping) address for a purchase
And let me tell you, I never batted an eye at any of that.
There were other things I really didn't want to put my address on and it caused me to delay essential tasks for my business. This would include:
- return address for client mailings
- my invoices
- company letterhead
- and most of all: the physical mailing address required to be at the bottom of each email that goes out to my list
Does my home address really need to be private?
That's up to you. If you are cautious about giving out your address in general, then you might not want to associate it with your business. Also, if you don't have a physical storefront, then you might not want to risk potential customers showing up out of the blue to do business with you in person. Or disgruntled customers which could get uncomfortable. Personally, I don't like my address out there for many of these reasons. Plus, I get an endless stream of unwanted business credit card offers that I'd prefer nobody steal out of my mailbox.
How can I keep my home address private?
Basically, you need an alternative address and there are several options available. Just note that not all address types are treated the same and different types may be accepted for different purposes. For example, an address that works for receiving physical mail might not meet the requirements for registering a business or opening a bank account. Since requirements vary by individual location and situation, I recommend verifying that an address will meet your needs before signing up for a service.
Let's go through the options.
P.O. Boxes
This is probably what first comes to mind for an alternative address. It's what I first chose for my email list, although I eventually got rid of it. More on that in a moment.
P.O. Boxes can be set up at your local post office. They come in a range of sizes and are priced accordingly. If you are only using this address for something that generates very little mail (such as in the footer of your emails), then the smallest size is probably just fine.
I began with the smallest size, 3"x5.5" and it originally cost me $40 every 6 months (2014 I think). Over the years, this expense increased substantially and I cancelled it when it went up to $108 for 6 months.
Note that in most situations you cannot register your business with a P.O. Box address but it is perfectly acceptable at the time of this writing to use it in your email footers, customer mailings, and invoices. Again, this could vary by area so always check to be certain.
Virtual Mailboxes
A virtual mailbox receives mail for you at a real address. You can view your mail online and decide what to do with it from your dashboard. Options often include forwarding to your home address, shredding, discarding, or in-person pickup. Some of these options may be at an additional expense.
Virtual mailboxes are my preferred solution for a few reasons. The main reason I switched was because it was more affordable than my P.O. Box. I also like that I can view what I have without having to pick it up. And if I do want to pick up in person, I don't have to go too far because I was able to select a location for my mailbox that was nearby.
I personally use iPostal 1 but there are many options out there. My recommendation would be to narrow down your options by seeing what locations are available for each virtual mailbox company. When comparing by price, check which services might have additional fees (like shredding or mail forwarding) and consider that in your final cost comparison.
UPS Store Business Mailbox Services
I only recently learned about UPS Mailbox Services and it seems like a pretty good option. They give you a real street address, notifications of received mail, and 24 hour access which is convenient. Like virtual mailboxes, they also offer mail forwarding which might have an additional expense associated with it. I can't speak to the cost, it depends on location, but overall it seems like a great option.
Virtual Offices
Virtual offices can be a bit on the pricier side (near my location is $2-$3 per day) but they could be a smart choice depending on your needs and the services your virtual office offers. For example some also offer call handling or access to physical office use. These services are usually priced separately so it seems to me that if you needed those things, you could still purchase them and have your mail handled elsewhere.
And of course, as a web strategist and designer, I need to mention domain privacy.
Domain privacy is, as the name implies, only for your website domain. You can get it through your domain registrar and it keeps the personal information (including mailing address) associated with your website's domain private and out of the WHOIS directory, which can be viewed by the public.
You can't use it to receive mail, register your business, etc. but I do think it's an important add-on when purchasing or renewing your website domain, whether the domain is for business or personal use.
Take control of your privacy
Just because you're running a business out of your home doesn't mean your home address needs to be recorded on every form that asks for it. P.O. Boxes, virtual mailboxes, UPS store mailbox services, and even virtual offices offer solutions to a variety of address privacy concerns.
The best choice for you will depend on your budget, location, and how you are planning to use the address. Before making a decision and signing up for one of these services, be sure to confirm that your chosen option will be valid for anything your business needs it for.
If keeping your home address private is important to you, it's likely that one of these options will fit your needs. I have my favorite solution but I would encourage you to explore all of your options and make the right choice for your small business.
