Starting a new business & running from home

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alexandersmith1992

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Mar 22, 2011
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  • #1
    Hi guys, I'm currently in the process of setting up a new internet based business, and the business is going to be run from home until such a time that I can afford to get an office premises.

    My question is - By law I have to display my address on the website, but I obviously don't want to be using my home address - I've looked at services such as regus but they are around £40 a month, which is a little out of my starting a new business budget!

    Any thoughts/suggestions on this matter?

    Thanks a lot in advance,

    Alex
     
    A

    Alan

    Free Member
    • Aug 16, 2011
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  • #5
    alexandersmith1992 said:
    but I obviously don't want to be using my home address
    Click to expand...

    From companies house FAQ.

    Every company (except dormant companies) must display its registered name at its registered office and inspection place.

    The company’s name is also required at any place at which it carries on business. But if that place is primarily used for living accommodation (like for example the director’s address) the company will be exempt.

    Your business correspondence and documents (including documents in hard copy, electronic or any other form) must also disclose the company’s name. It must also be displayed on the company’s websites.
    Click to expand...

    You have to display your company name, not address on your website.

    Also why is it obvious you want to hide your business (aka home address)? Many businesses operate from domestic addresses, home offices are very common.
     
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    A

    alexandersmith1992

    Free Member
    Mar 22, 2011
    22
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  • #6
    hi there ,thanks a lot for your reply, your help is much appreciated.

    It's interesting to know by law you don't have to display your company address on the website, this is something i have been told numerous times is a legal requirement.

    In terms of not wanting to put my home address as the business address - the nature of the business i am going into is recruitment, and the site focuses on a niche within the recruitment market. I don't think it gives a great impression if the job board employers are going to be paying to post their jobs on is seen to be a business running from someones home!

    Thanks a lot for your help and advice,

    Alex
     
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    HFE Signs

    HFE Signs

    Business Member
    • Business Listing
    Feb 17, 2011
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    www.hfe-signs.co.uk
  • #13
    Can I ask why don't you want to put your home address on there? If your business is honest and legitimate, there is nothing wrong with starting off at home.. customers won't mind that and will probably support you more..
     
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    SpuddedDragon

  • #15
    I avoid putting my home address on public documents and my website because
    I don't want to draw attention to where I live with my children.

    It's not the customers opinions that I worry about it's potential burglars who think I have a few quid!
     
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    TODonnell

    TODonnell

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    Sep 23, 2011
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  • #16
    We offer virtual addresses for companies and sole traders. See below.

    Personally, I'd always use one. Your customers don't really need to know where you live. One needs to put a barrier between oneself and litigation. And nuisance callers. And oddballs. And bailiffs, if the going gets tough.

    You don't want strangers call around your house, especially if you have a family.

    We do London addresses ...
     
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    billybob99

  • #17
    Talay said:
    Get a registered office service. Around £50 a year.

    I use http://www.companiesmadesimple.com/company-services-registered-office.html but there are lots around the country. A quick Google will bring up what you need for your area.
    Click to expand...

    You can't go wrong with this, for £50 a year, been using it for a 3rd year for a business, especially in recruitment having a decent address will give you the best impression, if your going to start a business set yourself up to go big.

    "Caan started his own recruitment company in the early 1980s. His first office was in Pall Mall but was so small that the door could not be fully opened as it was blocked by his desk. He purposely chose the prestigious address to convey an image that the company was bigger than it actually was to attract clients. As he had no meeting rooms, client meetings would often take place in coffee shops, and he would tell them that they were so busy that all the rooms were full."
     
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    estwig

    estwig

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    Sep 29, 2006
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    in the cloud
  • #18
    I been trading from my home address for over 20 years, my address is all over the internet.

    Not once have I ever had a problem and not once have I ever lost work because of it. In fact a lot of people like the fact you work from home and they know where you live.

    A crappy looking business address is not good, makes you like a fly-by-night cowboy!
     
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    billybob99

  • #19
    adamchy said:
    We offer virtual addresses for companies and sole traders. See below.

    Personally, I'd always use one. Your customers don't really need to know where you live. One needs to put a barrier between oneself and litigation. And nuisance callers. And oddballs. And bailiffs, if the going gets tough.

    You don't want strangers call around your house, especially if you have a family.

    We do London addresses ...
    Click to expand...

    Exactly. Why would you want to mix personal family space with business space when you can get a professional looking address for £50 a year, all post from HRMC etc.. is forwarded you to free of charge. Beats me why you'd want your personal address plastered all over the internet, if you move, it changing address time for everything, whereas with a virtual address, you can move all you want and your address never changes, giving you a consistent image.
     
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    Alan

    Free Member
    • Aug 16, 2011
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  • #21
    kickstartbtm said:
    E-commerce regs - you have to display an addresss.
    Click to expand...
    E-Commerce regs require you to display your trading address - not just any address -, and the guidence from OFT states that if trading from home then you must display you home address
    • the full name of your business
    • the geographic address at which your business is established,
      which means your home address if you are trading from home
    • your contact details, including an email address, to enable rapid,
    • direct and effective communication with you
    Click to expand...

    I was assuming the OP wasn't setting up an e-commerce business as it makes no sense to use a virtual office, unless you can find one that handles return goods.

    But then I shouldn't assume, and your point is very valid, if you are an e-commerce business you must have your trading address on your website to comply with the ECRs.

    Just for the benefit of people that stumble on this thread and want to know what they have to comply with in the UK, in terms of the Distance Selling Regs (DSRs)and E-Commerce Regs (ECRs) here is the OFT guidance http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/general/oft698.pdf
     
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    Alan

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    • Aug 16, 2011
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  • #22
    SpuddedDragon said:
    I avoid putting my home address on public documents and my website because
    I don't want to draw attention to where I live with my children.

    It's not the customers opinions that I worry about it's potential burglars who think I have a few quid!
    Click to expand...

    Just had a look at your site: your contact page states a registered office at one place, your footer states a registered office at another place and neither are the registered office address at companies house. Not withstanding the ECR that require your trading address, I think you need to sort out your address cause it looks like they have changed over time but your site hasn't kept up.

    Just offering friendly advice, don't want to get into a debate about technicalities.
     
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    capitalvirtual

    capitalvirtual

    Free Member
    Oct 23, 2014
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    London
  • #23
    Using your home address as your trading address isn't always the best option. It does depend on the type of industry you are operating in. If you offer professional services, such as an accountant it would be advisable if you are working from home, to use a service such as a business mail forwarding address. This has benefits of helping to keep your residential address away from public view and can give a good first impression to any customers who may be using a service such as google street view to check you out.
     
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    Pish_Pash

    Pish_Pash

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    Feb 1, 2013
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  • #24
    estwig said:
    I been trading from my home address for over 20 years, my address is all over the internet.

    Not once have I ever had a problem and not once have I ever lost work because of it. In fact a lot of people like the fact you work from home and they know where you live.

    A crappy looking business address is not good, makes you like a fly-by-night cowboy!
    Click to expand...

    Totally agree with the above. I started off just under 2 years ago, due to wanting to keep a low cost base, I used my home address as a registered office (I was worried if buyers would go on google streetview, only to see that I was a residential property!), but in the end....I reckon a proper 'normal' address is 100% necessary to convince people that you have a physical location.
     
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