What do you use as your business address?
We're going through the Stripe Atlas application now, and it looks like we need to enter in a business address. It says that it doesn't accept P.O. Boxes, virtual mailboxes, or mail forwarding addresses. I've seen a lot of services online that offer business addresses, but it seems like they're all virtual mailboxes under the hood.
Do people have a preferred service they use? Or do you just put your home address when asked for your business address? In that case, I'm wondering how hard it would be to change your business address when you move.
Thanks!
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We used our accountants address, though when starting out it was my home address (which I never felt comfortable with).
Why did you not feel comfortable with it?
Because it means people know where I live. As a woman in tech, or just someone who runs things online, it doesn't make me feel comfortable that anybody could use that info to their advantage.
Tip: For anyone worried to use their home address for their public-facing address...
FREE
Dont include your street number. Mail will reach you, share your business name with the Post Office.
VERY CHEAP
TLDR; Better aternative to paying UPS for their "mailing suite" address, use any shipping shack that delivers postage.
Use a Private mailbox (PMB), not a PO box. They will give you a box number and key, collect and deliver your mail, and a real address to use. You don't need to affix "PMB 1234" , just the the shipping shack's address will do, as they'll sort all mail by name or box number.
Stay safe! And don't listen to strangers advice if it isn't mine. :^)
Quite a few responses replied they wouldn't feel comfortable using their home address. Just of matter of interest why wouldn't you feel comfortable?
From looking into it myself, the biggest concern seems to be that it makes your address public, which people aren't comfortable with.
Yes, I responded (above) to the same issue. I've never had any issues, but as a woman in tech, I feel more vulnerable to these things. Plus as a founder for an (online) community, it gives many 'randoms' access to to my address.
Absolutely makes sense. When you went about changing your business address, do you remember if it was a difficult process? I'm having a hard time figuring out who we'd have to "tell" if we wanted to change it. Is it just filing a 8822-B form?
I'm UK based, so probably not relevant to you :)
I guess mostly it's updating it legally (dependent on each country), updating banks, updating online/website and email newsletters.
I use my home address, so far there have been no issues.
In the US you can also use UPS offices. They charge you a lot ($400/year), but they give you a 'real' street address which is their address with a suite number attached to it that corresponds to your box.
I ended up going this route because I couldn't use my PO Box and I live in an inlaw unit currently. Expensive, but works.
My friend - founder uses his home address. You could do the same
I'm always using my home address, but I'm just a one person company and work in my home office.
For communication with government agencies that is fine for me, but I don't really like to have my home address public in the imprint on my website.
However, I have a look at virtual addresses every few years, but never found a solution that I could use legally in the imprint of my website.
In some European countries (or maybe all) you need a real address in the imprint. Thus the only alternative to my home address would be to rent an office.