Understanding Different Business Addresses

Principal, registered, and mailing addresses each serve different purposes when forming a new business, and you’ll often be asked to list one of each when submitting any documents to a state or federal entity. While the concept of a personal address is straightforward, new business owners might find themselves puzzled by the various addresses requested on these official documents.

Below, we’ll break down the differences between a business’s principal address and registered address, some other terms that might be used for them, and solutions for sourcing addresses if you need them.

What address do I use for my company?

Different addresses are requested by state agencies and the federal government to define things like your business’s physical location or to provide a dependable location to send important legal documents. You’ll sometimes even be asked to provide personal addresses for owners or managers of the company to keep on file, such as the Beneficial Ownership Information Report.

These addresses might not always match, and listing them can become a guessing game when you’re first being introduced to the terms that describe them. Here are some of the most common types of addresses requested on official filings:

Principal address

Your principal address is where normal business activities occur, like products being sold or shipped or services being rendered. This address could also be the location where primary management functions happen, though that’s not always the case. Sometimes called a business or primary address, the term for this address varies by state.

Certain states, like Alabama and West Virginia, will publicize your principal address while others will only make the registered address publicly visible. If your business has a storefront, like a thrift store or a mechanic shop, you likely won’t have a problem with making that address public.

Registered address

If you’re learning how to start your business, you’ve likely seen the term registered agent mentioned. The registered address goes hand-in-hand with the registered agent, and it needs to be a physical location where the state can direct official mail, legal letters, and sometimes your regular compliance notices. You may see this called a registered office address on some forms. It is unique because the state will assign more accountability to your registered address, almost always requiring it to be within state lines where you’re operating.

Typically required when filing formation or incorporation documents, this address is almost always publicized.

Mailing address

While the registered address is used for official and legal mail, the state will often give you the option of listing a separate mailing address for less crucial mail. Really, this is just an opportunity to specify where regular mail goes (yes, including junk, sorry). The option to list a mailing address comes in handy for larger organizations who require a team to process incoming mail.

You typically have the option to use the same address you did for your principal or registered address as your mailing address. Keep in mind, this address is sometimes publicized so it’s a good idea to research who you’re filing to and consider alternatives before listing your home address.

Is there a way to keep my address private?

Virtual offices, comprehensive registered agent services, and even PO boxes can help when you can’t or don’t want to list your address publicly, such as with:

• Companies without a physical storefront, like online businesses ran from the owner’s home.
• Mobile businesses that can have various operating locations
• Businesses which operate during atypical hours

If you’re not in a position to list an address with the state, here are some options:

Virtual offices

Virtual offices can be a great choice for your business and mailing address if you don’t have an office to rely on. Depending on the service you use, virtual offices provide an address associated with a physical location and sometimes even meeting spaces for face to face collaboration.

Northwest’s virtual office service is affordable and reliable, and available in 12 states and counting. By providing unique addresses and digitally forwarding paper mail at no additional cost, we’re already helping thousands of business owners stay in touch with all the correspondence coming their way.

Post office boxes and mail forwarding

While these aren’t going to fly as a registered or business address, post office (PO) boxes and mail forwarding services can be affordable and convenient if you just need somewhere for paper mail to go. Private mail boxes, like those offered by UPS, also fit in this category as a great alternative to listing a personal address for normal mail. Depending on the service and how frequently you’re expecting to receive correspondence, this could even be a long-term solution for larger packages.

Most states will allow either private mail boxes or PO boxes as the mailing address for your business. You should still make sure to check with the company providing this service as well as with the state to ensure you’re complying with everyone’s requirements and rights of use.

Registered agents

Registered agents can be a great solution for businesses that want to keep their private mailing address off public databases. Like mentioned above, registered agents receive legal mail for your business. Some registered agents, like Northwest, will allow you to use their address as your principal and mailing address, but it all depends on the state your business is formed in.

For example, according to Del. Code tit. 8 § 502, Delaware no longer allows you to list your registered agent address as your principal address on your annual franchise tax report unless your corporation is acting as it’s own agent and is located within state lines. You should ensure the state you’re forming in doesn’t have a similar restriction before committing to a game plan for your business address.

An address by any other name

Understanding different business addresses is crucial for business owners new and tenured. Each address serves a different purpose and can have differing requirements, from establishing your business identity to ensuring you receive important documents on time. By managing these addresses well, you’ll be enhancing your business’s professionalism, protecting your privacy, and keeping compliant with the state.

If you need help with hiring a registered agent, give us a call or shoot us an email today. Our LLC and corporation formation services are comprehensive and easy to use, our online presence service can help bring your company into the digital age, and our compliance filing services will make sure you’re maintaining a healthy business.