How to Get a Virtual Business Address (and Why You Should)

What is a virtual business address?

A virtual business address is a secure way to digitize mail that would normally be sent to your traditional mailbox. 

It provides a physical street address (apart from where you live and/or do business) that you can use to manage physical mail for your business. Instead of receiving business mail at home or a P.O. box, it is all directed to a secured physical office staffed with technicians who sort, scan, and (if requested) forward your mail to you. 

How virtual addresses work

So how does a virtual address work exactly? Here's the gist:

• Choose and sign up for a virtual mailbox service plan.
• Choose a mailing address from the list your plan offers.
• Use that address for all your business mail and packages.
• Check your mail through your online portal.
• Decide what you want to keep, forward, or discard. 

The best part is you can do it all without leaving your house (or your vacation resort). You can access your mail from anywhere you have access to the internet.   

What are the advantages of a virtual business address?

A virtual office address allows you to keep your work and personal mail separate without having to remember to check a P.O. box. But there are other advantages as well.

Professionalism

A P.O. box or residential address can look unprofessional on a business card or website. Potential customers may side-eye your credibility as a legitimate business and choose another company instead. A virtual business address gives you a real street address, so if customers look it up, they can find your business in a physical office on the map. This establishes trust with your potential customers and clients.

Privacy

If you run a business out of your home, you may not want your personal address accessible to customers (especially if there are any disgruntled ones). A virtual office address not only enhances your professional image but also protects your privacy at home.

Mail management

Unlike a P.O. box, where your mail sits and waits for you, a virtual mailbox service receives and digitizes your postal mail so you can check it anytime, anywhere, without getting a paper cut. The technicians open, scan, and send you a digital copy of all of your mail. They offer mail forwarding for the mail you need and shredding for the mail you don't. So instead of shuffling through a pile of mail every day, you can focus on business operations and growth. 

What kinds of businesses should use a virtual address?

A virtual business address is helpful for anyone who wants to better manage business mail and improve their business presence, but it may be especially helpful for:

• Home-based businesses that don't want to receive business mail at their personal address
• Home-based businesses that need a registered agent address
• Online businesses that need a physical address to receive mail and packages
• Businesses that use a co-working space or other shared office space and need a private, secure space to receive mail
• Businesses that require a lot of travel and need to be able to access postal mail remotely
• Businesses that want to establish a strong presence in multiple locations

Virtual address services will make it easier for all of these businesses to manage mail and build a rapport with their customers. 

How to get a virtual address for your business today

LegalZoom offers convenient, reliable virtual mail services for businesses of all sizes starting at $29/month. Our services include mail forwarding, filtering, shredding, and more. Simply choose a plan that meets your business needs, choose a business address, and set up your virtual mailbox account. If you have a few minutes to spare, you can get it done today. 

Once your account is set up, we will receive your mail, digitize it, and send it to your inbox as a high-resolution PDF, which you can easily share with your team. It’s never been easier to manage your incoming mail. 

Virtual business address FAQs 

How much does it cost to get a virtual business address? 

At LegalZoom, you can get a virtual business address for as low as $29 a month. That includes mail forwarding, mail scanning, mail storage, local pickup, check deposits, and more.

How do virtual mailboxes work?

Virtual mailboxes allow you to send all of your business mail to a secured facility with a real street address. Your mail is opened, scanned, and uploaded to your virtual mailbox, which you can access at any time from any device. Once you've reviewed your mail, you can choose to have it stored, forwarded, or shredded.

Are virtual mailboxes safe?

Virtual mailboxes receive mail at a mail center staffed by a team of professionals who are trained to respect and protect your privacy. LegalZoom’s staff abide by strict data protection regulations, and your secure cloud space is password protected, so you can rest assured your mail is safe with us. Having a virtual business address also cloaks your home address and can help keep packages safe from porch pirates.

Can I use a virtual business address for my LLC?

Yes, you can use a virtual business address for your LLC. A virtual address gives your business a real street address where trained staff receive your mail and packages during regular business hours. As such, it can be used as your registered agent address.

Can I have multiple virtual business addresses?

Yes, having multiple virtual business addresses is a great way to establish a business presence in multiple areas. If you are trying to scale your business across cities, states, or even countries, a virtual business address can help you do that.