Using a Virtual Business Address for Your LLC!

If you’re starting an LLC, you’ll need to have a mailing address to file your business’s formation paperwork (e.g., articles of organization) and receive important mail (e.g., legal documents, tax forms, etc.).

If you’re choosing an official mailing address for your LLC and don’t have commercial office space, you can opt for either a PO box or simply use a home address. However, some states may not let you use a PO box for your official business address, and you may not want to release your home address to the public. Plus, depending on where you live, there may also be a zoning restriction prohibiting you from using your home as your LLC’s official place of business. Entrepreneurs can solve this issue by using a virtual address for LLC.

What is a Virtual Business Address?

A virtual business address is a real street address that your business can use as its virtual mailbox. This can be especially helpful for small business owners that don’t have commercial office space. Not only will the virtual address service receive all your business mail and packages on your behalf, but it’ll also protect your privacy.

Using a virtual business address can give your business a more professional image to its customers and clients. Most virtual business addresses are located at mail centers in well-known commercial areas. So, customers will see your business address as a prestigious office building downtown even if you just have a small online business startup.

This also will help protect the privacy of your home-based business. If you don’t use a virtual business address service, you would have to use your home address when filing a new business with the state. That means your private information would become a public record. With a virtual business address, your personal address can remain completely confidential even if you have a home business.

How to Get a Virtual Business Address for your LLC in 5 Easy Steps

Getting a virtual business mailing address is simple. Follow this step-by-step guide to ensure you don’t forget anything.

Step 1: Choose a Virtual Address Service

There are several services you can choose from to get this started. Just do a quick Google search to find service providers in the area you want your business to be in to begin the process. Each address provider will have different pricing depending on how much mail your business receives, so you can choose a package that fits your business needs.

For example, some services can provide mail forwarding services which will send any mail received on your behalf directly to you. Others may only provide you with notifications that mail has been received. At SBN Virtual Office, we bridge the gap for business owners. No matter what your budget is, you can operate like a bigger business as soon as you enter the marketplace.

Step 2: Choose an Address

Once you’ve decided on the service you want, you’ll get to choose the virtual address you want for your LLC. In most cases, you’ll want an address that is nearby so you can easily pick up any mail sent there. You can also get mailbox service at multiple different addresses to create a broader market presence.

Step 3: File Form 1583

If you choose a virtual business address in the U.S., you’ll have to file Form 1583 with the United States Postal Service. This form authorizes the service provider you’ve chosen to receive mail on your behalf by ensuring a responsible party is linked to the mailbox. To successfully submit this form you’ll need to provide two forms of identification.

Step 4: Redirect Mail

If you’ve already been using a different address for your business, you’ll want to redirect all the mail going there to your LLC virtual mailbox.

You can do this by filing a “Change of Address” form with your local post office, or you can do it online through the USPS website. You may also want to alert business contacts that may be sending you important postal mail in the meantime.

Step 5: Update Official Business Documents

In most states, you’re allowed to use your virtual office address as your official legal address. The only time you’ll run into a problem is if your state requires a physical street address and you chose a PO box to be your virtual office address. However, most service providers will allow you to choose whether your virtual address is a physical location or merely a PO box.

If you do decide to use a virtual address as your official LLC address, you’ll need to update your business entity documents with the appropriate state office — usually the secretary of state. This can be done by submitting an amendment form on your secretary of state’s website.

There are many advantages to using a virtual business address rather than using your own address. Most importantly, SBN virtual address allows you to keep your home address private. Without one, you’d put your residential address on the LLC’s articles of organization which become public record and then anyone can find out where you live. You’d also have to use your home address when sending and receiving any business mail and packages. This means clients, customers and suppliers will know where you live. Using a virtual address will avoid any privacy concerns.

The second biggest advantage to using SBN virtual address is that it can give your business credibility in the eyes of the customer. For example, say your company wants to include a business address on marketing materials such as your website, business cards, or official letterhead. Rather than using your home address, you can use SBN virtual address located in a reputable office building to create a more professional appearance.