Can I Use My Home Address for My Business Address?

There are many benefits to operating a home-based business, including tax write-offs, low overhead and an attractive commute. However, the informal workspace can leave you wondering, Is this professional enough? Can I use my home address for my business address?

In many cases, you can use your home address as your business address, although depending on where you live, your homeowner association, landlord or local zoning laws may make this a bit tricky.

Before registering your home address as your business address, take some time to carefully consider if this is the right decision for you. For all the benefits, there are drawbacks to weigh as well, including a potential lack of privacy for your family, the inherent risk of publishing your private address and potentially losing business credibility with prospects.

Ask yourself these questions:

● Is it important for your business to be viewed professionally?

● Could prospects think less of you if they knew you had a home-based business?

● Would you feel comfortable having in-person client meetings at your home office?

● Is there a chance your prospects could lose trust with you if they knew your office was in your home?

● Would your personal security be put at risk if your private address was made public?

Can I use my home address for my business address?

If you're just getting your business off the ground, or it's a side hustle, you may not feel ready to use anything other than your home address. And that's just fine. If you're at all unsure whether you'll stick with your business or not, then you'll want to make that decision first before you determine what you'll use for a business address.

Small business owners who deal with customers and suppliers, or want to hire local staff one day, may want to get a physical business address sooner rather than later. However, for service-based entrepreneurs, operating a business out of their own home has far more benefits than drawbacks.

Even if you run a home-based business, you can still choose not to use your personal address for your business. Here are two alternatives to consider.

Use a PO Box for your business address

Many people use PO Box addresses to receive mail at a private and secure location when working from home. They are located inside the post office and are accessed through a lock and key.

The benefits include:

● Gives your business a permanent address

● Keeps personal and business mail separate

● Maintains confidentiality

● Safe and secure way to receive mail

● Affordable

● Often accessible 24/7

There are a few drawbacks:

● To register as an LLC or a corporation, you need a physical or street address, not a PO Box

● PO Box addresses are only allowed in specific locations, so there may be limitations depending on where you live

● A PO Box may not provide you with the credibility your business needs

Using a PO Box as a business address is a simple, affordable solution. However, for those who need a little bit more, there is another option.

Use a virtual business address for your company

This is a professional business address you can use without having an actual physical location. In many cases, virtual business addresses are a simple solution for your home-based business. 

The benefits include:

● Helps you present a professional image

● You can use a virtual address to register as an LLC or a corporation

● Keeps your personal information private

● Saves on fees

● Ensures your mail is managed professionally

● Paper mail can be collected for you, forwarded to you and even scanned and uploaded to a secure online portal

● Many virtual offices also offer the option to rent meeting rooms and office spaces

There are a few drawbacks:

● You'll often pay à la carte fees, rather than all-inclusive fees

● This can be an additional cost some business owners may not feel is worth it

● More traditional clients may not view virtual addresses as legitimate

There are many reasons to work from home, but using your home address for your business address is not a decision to make lightly. The best way forward is to consider your business goals, what your prospects will respond the best to and what's right for you and your family.

About Robyn Roste

Robyn Roste is a professional writer living and working in Abbotsford BC Canada. Her personal blog about freelance writing(http://robynroste.com) is listed in The 100 Best Websites for Writers in 2020 by The Write Life.