There are a whole bunch of challenges you will face when setting up your own business – it’s just inevitable.
From idea to growth, you are likely to ride the roller coaster of ups and downs multiple times.
You have a lot of factors to take into consideration in order to survive your first year in business and level up your startup – especially if you want to come across as a serious competitor.
And let’s be honest – you do. Otherwise, you wouldn’t even bother to start a journey of many perils and obstacles.
To be able to do that, you need to build a trustworthy and legitimate presence – even if you’re operating from home on a shoestring budget. And that is only achievable with a professional mailing address.
Technically, you can register your business with ASIC using your home address, but it’s something you don’t want to do if you are serious about your business and plan to grow it in the future.
Let’s get into more detail.
Table of contents:
- 5 reasons against using your home address to register your business
- How to get a physical mailing address for your business
1. 5 Reasons Against Using Your Home Address to Register Your Business
It is quite typical of startup owners to use their home address as a business address to cut overhead costs.
However, it is important to note that using your home address to register your business poses several risks.
Even if you operate as a sole trader and have no employees, you may want to establish a business address from the start.
Sure, it may seem easier when you start your entrepreneurial journey to list your home address as some type of professional business address.
But this is simply not the way you should go about it, trust me.
So, why shouldn’t you use your home address as a business address?
- Privacy
By listing your home address as a business address, it means your personal home address is public.
This is because ASIC’s public records allow anyone to know where you live, which could jeopardise your family’s security.
You would also need to list your address on Google My Business, marketing materials, emails, online directories, and more – again, jeopardising your privacy.
At the same time, hiding your business address on the Internet adds a level of suspicion and presents your company in a negative light.
- Uninvited guests
Are you prepared for uninvited guests to just show up at your house? Is this something you really want to subject yourself and your family to?
Probably not – especially if a disgruntled customer turns up unexpectedly.
Not to mention that your home address may also be used for other annoying situations, such as marketing and sales calls.
In addition, there is the risk of creating an unpleasant first impression on prospects and customers.
- Credibility
I cannot stress enough the importance of building trust in today’s competitive business environment.
Using your home address as a business address may just jeopardise your credibility.
When clients and customers see you’re using your personal address, they believe your company looks amateurish and you are not operating with a level of professionalism and dedication to quality.
And let’s be honest here – there’s nothing more important than a strong first impression to build credibility, develop customer relationships, and make sales.
- Client meetings
If your office is also your house, don’t bring clients there.
Nothing says unprofessional quite like cooking smells, a sink full of plates, or noisy children playing.
Trust me, the environment plays a huge role in setting the tone for a meeting.
That’s why a separate business address is mandatory to encourage a high level of participation and hold successful meetings.
- Mail mishaps
Having all of your personal and business mail delivered to the same address can get confusing.
Think of the number of letters and parcels you receive on a regular basis (including the letters and parcels your family members receive).
When using your personal home address for business, you should expect that number to double or even triple – making it challenging to keep your personal mail separate from your business mail.
2. How to Get a Physical Mailing Address for Your Business
If you’re a startup that has enough funds to rent a traditional brick-and-mortar office and commit to a long-term lease agreement, well then, good for you, enjoy!
However, that is not the case for many small businesses that are operating on a tight budget.
And when funds are tight, there’s no justification for leasing expensive office space – especially when more affordable options are available.
Sure, when you don’t have an office and understand the risks of using your home address for business, the first option you’d think of is a P.O. Box.
I previously wrote a post and explained why using a post office box is bad for your business (click here to read it).
Truth is, the most affordable and beneficial mailing address for your small business is the real physical address that comes with renting a virtual office.
When we’re talking about virtual offices, we’re proud to say that some of the best services of the kind in Melbourne can be found at B2B HQ.
With B2B HQ, you will get a professional business address that comes with all the benefits of a traditional office – but without having to move from the comfort of your own home.
Here’s what you get with a B2B HQ business address:
- A real mailbox accessible 24/7
- Permanent, unique address to register your business with ASIC
- Advertise address (for your business website, social media, online directories, etc.)
- Email notification when your post arrives
- Fully equipped, rentable meeting rooms and boardrooms
- Credit for office services (printing, scanning, and photocopying)
- Mail handling services
- Free setup of your business address
- Complimentary refreshments
The best part? Convenience. B2B HQ can provide your business with an instant presence without locking you into a long-term contract.
With no lock-in contracts, your resources and operations can adapt to changes over time so you can quickly scale up with no massive investment or downtime.
And that’s not all! Our offices are located on the fringe of Melbourne’s CBD in one of the city’s best-known suburbs – that is, Carlton.
You’ll get an office address in a prime location that’s only a short walk from the famous Lygon Street restaurants, stellar hotels and prestigious education faculties including the University of Melbourne and the CBD campus of RMIT.
Having your business listed in a prestigious location is much more appealing to prospects and customers – and adds a level of credibility to your small business, making it look bigger than it really is.
Conclusion: For many small businesses, operating from home offers a number of benefits, from reduced overhead costs to increased productivity, and beyond.
But just because you’re doing business from the comfort of your home doesn’t necessarily mean you need to use your home address to register your business.
Luckily, a virtual office can solve all of the problems that can arise when running your business from home, such as privacy concerns, lack of dedicated meeting space, and more.
With a professional mailing address, you can present a perfectly polished appearance to your clients and customers without the need to sign a long-term commercial lease and pay expensive overhead.
The best part? While your customers believe you operate from a traditional brick-and-mortar office, most of the work can still be done from the comfort and convenience of your own home.
So while it is perfectly legal to use your home address to register your business, it makes a lot of sense to choose a professional mailing address to keep your home and business separate.
Want to start your business on the right foot? Get your virtual office in Melbourne for just over $2 a day and see for yourself the benefits of keeping your personal address off public record. To find out more about B2B HQ’s business address service, contact us on 1800 861 761 or info@b2bhq.com.au.
