Are you looking to create an official non-PO Box business address that is separate from your home address. Need access to your mail regardless of what state or country you may have travelled to? Need an address to start an LLC, open a bank account, or to put as contact information on a public webpage or in email? A virtual business address is exactly what you are looking for.
What is a Virtual Business Address?
A virtual address is a mailing address for your company at another physical location that is managed by a virtual address provider. Providers offer services such as receiving, signing, scanning, check deposits, forwarding, recycling and shredding of items that arrive at the address. Additionally many provide proof of address leases, utility bills, telephone and fax numbers and even secretarial services.
You are given the ability to manage your mail through software that can display the contents of your mail, assign actions such as discard, shred, recycle or make available for pickup from the location. Check out the top US virtual address providers.
How Does a Virtual Address Work?
Once you acquire a virtual business address, the providers will provide you with a physical address in a particular location. Many providers offer you the option of choosing the city or state for your mailing address. These addresses are not P.O. Boxes but rather, they are actual street addresses. The provider supplies you with a mailbox number or sometimes referred to as Suite Number for a more professional appearance.
Virtual Address Features
Virtual address providers offer a majority of the following features. Check out out review of virtual Address providers to see which one is best for you and who we recommend.
- Online web and mobile app access to your mailbox.
- Notifications via mobile app, SMS, email when new mail arrives.
- Receiving, pick-up, signing, scanning, forwarding, archiving, recycling, discarding and shredding.
- Check deposits.
- Consolidation of items to save on shipping.
- Mail and package management software.
Many of these services come with an additional fee, consult your provider to see the pricing and packages that they offer. Check out the best virtual address providers on the market for a detailed comparison.
Need a free virtual address for 12 months? Join our monthly raffle for a chance to win.
Why should I use a virtual address for my business?
Virtual Addresses are perfect for business because they:
- Offer a permanent address regardless of your personal location
- Provides a professional appearance for remote or home based offices
- Allows you to receive mail at any time of day or night
- Provides a permanent US address for non-residents
- Protects your privacy
- Reduces paper clutter
- Makes it easier to find your office if you move
Can I use a virtual address when registering a new business?
Yes, a virtual address works great for new or existing businesses. Whether you are just starting your business or you want to register a new address for your existing business. Whether you are starting an LLC or a corporation, a virtual address is the right choice.
Your virtual address does not need to be in the same state that your business is registered in, choose the state that fits your business needs.
What if I don't want to use my address for my business?
A virtual address is not restricted to business purposes. Many individuals use virtual addresses for personal mail. If your job or situation causes you to move frequently, a virtual address is the consistent home for all you mail and packages.
You can have your packages forwarded to your new address once you move. You also get to reduce the clutter and spam in yourhome mailbox by filtering it out before it gets to you.
What is difference between a physical and a virtual address
Even though they are referred to as virtual addresses, they are really physical addresses that are managed virtually. There is no significant difference between a physical and a virtual address on paper. You cannot determine if a business has a virtual address by looking at the address of the business.
What are Examples of Virtual Addresses?
A virtual address does not look any different from business address in an office building. Below are examples of virtual business addresses used by diffrent providers.
Your Name Or Company
99 Wall Street #0000
New York, NY 10005
Your Name Or Company
201 Bonita Avenue South
Suite C - 7521
San Francisco
California 94080-2202
Your Name
Your Company Name
32218- Panama City Beach Pkwy
Panama City Beach, FL 32413
Can I open a business bank account with a virtual address
Yes, you can open a business bank account even as a non resident using a virtual address. The only requirement is that the business name must match the name on the account. For example, if you opened a business checking account under the name "My Business" then your virtual address would be "My Business".
If you do not know what your business name will be until after opening the account, you can still use a virtual address. Simply enter the name of your business into the online banking application. Once the account is created, you can change the name of the account to reflect the actual name of your business.
How do I create a virtual business address
To create a virtual address, go To any one of our recommended providers and create an account and enter the information requested.
How long does it take to set up a virtual address?
It takes about 5 minutes to setup a virtual address. It's easy! Just follow these steps:
1) Choose one of the top virtual address providers
2) Register a new account and Enter your information
3) Verify your email address
4) Receive confirmation email
5) Your virtual address is ready to go.
Can two companies be registered at the same address
Yes! Two or more companies canoeist under one virtual address. The only risk is that the volume of mail both companies receive may push you into a more expensive tier at your virtual address provider or you may be charged extra for exceeding the amount of mail you purchased for the month.
Does the IRS require a physical address for business registration?
No. The IRS requires that businesses register their business name and address with the state. This is called registering your business name with the Secretary of State. However, there is no requirement that you provide a physical address when registering your business name.
In any case, a virtual address cannot be differentiated from a physical address because there is no difference in the format
How much does it cost for a virtual address
Virtual addresses are available from as little as $8 per month from some providers. The lowest price provides very basic features and is only useful if you are expecting little to no mail. You can get chance to win a free virtual address if you enter our monthly giveaway.
Conclusion
Virtual business addresses are great because they allow you the privacy of keeping your personal mailing address hidden while allowing you to receive mail at a location other than your residence. They are also convenient because they eliminate the need to update your mailing address every time you move.
You are provided with software tools to help you manage your virtual address such as forwarding services, junk mail filters, and viewing images of the mail or packages you received.
There are some risks associated with having a virtual address such as being charged extra for receiving too much mail or the additional costs to forward packages to your home.
FAQ
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How can I start a business without a physical address
A virtual address is perfect for starting your business. it provides the privacy, flexibility and convenience that you may need for your business. Separate work mail from personal mail, operate in your preferred US state
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Is Virtual Office address legal
Using a virtual office for your company or your bank is account is legal and even recommended. Especially for persons who live overseas and do not have a permanent address for their business or bank account.
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Can you use a virtual address for Google My Business
Google does not recommend using a virtual address for their location services in Google My Business. However, you can get virtual office services that provide physical space for rent such as conference rooms and storage. If you utilise one of these services where your customer can visit in-person, it would qualify.
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What is the best address for virtual business
It depends of your needs, We have reviewed the top virtual address companies so you can choose what is right for you. We made quick recommendations to make it easier for you to choose.
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Can you run a business from a private address
Yes you can, however, using a private address for your business comes with certain disadvantages. Some services require that you publicly display your business address on their website. Certain email providers require your address on all your email signatures. You may get a lot of extra junk mail at home.
To maintain your privacy, we recommend choosing a Virtual Address provider from among the best.
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Can I Get a Virtual Mailbox Near Me?
You probably can. If you live in or near to a major city, there is probably a virtual address provider near you. Check out our list of providers to see if there is one close by.
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Can I get a virtual address for free?
Yes, we have a monthly raffle where we give away a year's subscription at a popular virtual address provider. Check out how you can enter here.