Whether you are a small business owner or a freelancer, having a professional mailing address can bring numerous advantages to your business. In today's digital age, having a physical mailbox may seem like a thing of the past, but it can make a significant impact on your company's reputation, security, and organisation. In this blog, we'll explore why having a business mailbox is essential and how it can benefit your business in the long run.

So, let's dive in!

Reasons not to register your business at your home address.

If you are a new business owner, just starting up from home, or an existing business that has moved to home working, you may be thinking of using your own home address as your registered business address.

Many businesses take this route, but it’s not the best idea; it might look like an easy way to save money, but there can be some serious problems as a result, and it's important to understand these and your other options.

• You compromise your Privacy. When you register your business address, the information is made available to the general public via Companies House.
• You will also need to publish your contact details on your website, and on any marketing material.  
• You wouldn’t give someone your personal phone number so why give them your home address?
• You may receive unwanted post, or even worse cold callers or uninvited guests coming to your home. Do you really want that?
  

Security is an important concern for you, your family, your home, and your business.

Deliveries coming for your business, may include valuable items, payments from your customers, returned deliveries, or important letters all of which may need to be signed for.  

You will want to ensure any deliveries are received and stored securely, even if you are not around.   You need that flexibility.

You really don’t want deliveries being left on your home doorstep as this can also attract undesirable attention from opportunistic passers-by.

Presenting a professional image

You might be choosing to work from home, but you still want to project a professional image and promote your brand. 

Customers and other businesses will look up your address and a non-residential address can help boost your image, making you more credible, and with greater impact than a home address. 

Customers also tell us that a professional address can make a business seem more trustworthy.

Alternatives

So, what are the alternatives to using your home address as your registered business address?

1. Use another address that’s not your home.

However, this needs to be somewhere secure, with a staffed reception as deliveries need to be signed for, and be non-residential if you are going to boost your professional image.  Not particularly straight forward to sort out.

2. Set up a PO Box

The costs for this are relatively low but it isn’t an option for a limited company as the registered address must be a real bricks/mortar building. 

Similarly, a PO Box won’t accept all forms of mail or deliveries, e.g., signed-for items, or bulky deliveries.

Finally, your customers will know your address is not real, it is a PO Box, which may impact your professional image as much if not more than by using your own home address

3. Lease a business mailbox from Signal - our recommendation!

Our business mailbox service:

• Gives you a professional business address.
• Ensures your deliveries are looked after securely, including items that need to be signed for.
• Will even let you know when you have something to collect.
• Is in a very convenient location.
• Is very affordable! 

Contact us today on 01420 556 335 to discuss how we can help you or click HERE to get a quote.