Telephone number and registered address

[ThinkingAhead]

Hi all

In anticipation of launching a new website, I'm looking to buy contact details to put on my website that isn't my home address and mobile number. Probably want the address to be the registered office address as well, and I would like the phone number that I get to forward all calls to my mobile initially, with option at a later date to go to a telephone answering/secretarial type service.

Can anyone recommend a good service (not too expensive please - startup!) and advise of anything I need to look out for?

 

[cjd]

Hi all

In anticipation of launching a new website, I'm looking to buy contact details to put on my website that isn't my home address and mobile number. Probably want the address to be the registered office address as well, and I would like the phone number that I get to forward all calls to my mobile initially, with option at a later date to go to a telephone answering/secretarial type service.

Can anyone recommend a good service (not too expensive please - startup!) and advise of anything I need to look out for?

Sure we can do the number and call forwarding - £2 per month for the number. Info:

http://www.voipfone.co.uk/Call_Forwarding_And_Divert.php

We also have a very cost effective call answering service that you can use the number with and switch on and off as you need to. Info

http://www.voipfone.co.uk/virtual_pa.php

 

[ThinkingAhead]

Sure we can do the number and call forwarding

What would the number look like? 0870? non-geographical or can you do geographical numbers too?

 

[cjd]

What would the number look like? 0870? non-geographical or can you do geographical numbers too?

We can do any and all numbers - 08, 04, 03, 01, 02. But I'd never advise using 0870. Generally a normal geographic 01 or 02 number is what a business should use.

 

[JordanW]

I'd like to vote for Voipfone. It has everything you need on a bolt-on basis so you only need to pay for what you use/need.

I'm pretty sure the first month is free, so you can add as much as you like to trial it and then if you decide to ditch any particular feature, remove it before the next billing period.

I'm wasn't overly impressed with their number selection but I had an awesome number with Skype which I ported over relatively cheaply and efficiently.

I'm paying about £9pm for the service plus hold music plus an extra extension. Which if you compared to Skype's £12pm, which has no features and not even voicemail; it's a steal!

 

[ThinkingAhead]

Thanks all for your input, and @cjd I will have a look into that and your service.

Still looking for recommendations of how to handle the registered address dilemma - anyone?

 

[Chris Ashdown]

This has been covered many times, unless you are doing something dodgy then the chances of anyone turning up at your home are zilch, zero, none

The whole point of the contact details is to prove to doubting potential customers that it is not a scam and you can get in contact if needed

It takes one minute on Google to look up the address and see if its residential of a business premises so why hide the fact, it's perfectly ok to run a company from home I and many thousands of others started that way

Just get a landline number for your town maybe by using the above posts and leave your home address as the companies

People hate liers and think the worse of your motives so just be straight with them from the start

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

Why not just use your accountant's address (speak to them first obviously!).

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

.

 

[ThinkingAhead]

leave your home address as the companies

Nothing dodgy, and its not about people being able to turn up at my house - I just know already that I'm moving house again in March and will be moving again soon after that so if I have a separate address then I don't need the hassle of changing it.

Why not just use your accountant's address

Not a bad idea - I might look into that, but then if I change accountants at any point, I would need to change my address...as above, I want to avoid that..

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Gee it takes at least 5 min to change a address on a web site

 

[ThinkingAhead]

Gee it takes at least 5 min to change a address on a web site

I take your point - its not a big deal. However I moved house just in May this year, and every time there's another thing to add to the list for address changes! I'm just trying to avoid more of that. 5 minutes to change an address on a website is nothing, but when you have to do it for 100 different services and subscriptions...that time really adds up.
I have seen your argument for honesty and putting up a real address on the forums before, and I do see what you mean, however I think there is an extra level of professionalism in having an address that isn't a home address. Wouldn't you agree? While I agree that there's no chance anyone is ever going to show up at your house, I do think there are other reasons to have a business address outside of avoiding that.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Customers trust is hard enough to get on any website especially new ones, so if you give them the information truthfully in the first place it helps, they can live with a phone number being diverted but any other hiding of information may mean doubt and they can find a site selling the same thing maybe 5% higher priced in seconds

Your site will have no history to back up first impressions and working from home is not a non professional thing but something many will admire you for in starting up

 

[ThinkingAhead]

Your site will have no history to back up first impressions and working from home is not a non professional thing but something many will admire you for in starting up

I see what you're saying. I will have another think about that part...

 

[Tbozz]

Why not try a virtual office address?
Check round your local area, there might be one or two around.
I'm part of the school of thought that virtual address is better than home address.
I started off with one and ended up taking an office space in the building

 

[Kev2017]

I used utilities warehouse to setup our 0800 number, I divert it to my mobile but it has to be set to a landline. I've used them now for about 7 years, no reason to complain and when my wife had an issue with her phone, it was an easy way for her to contact me.

 

[Liquid11]

Hi @ThinkingAhead,

Sorry for the late reply. For a phone number, you can also try SwitchboardFREE. It offers all major number types. And if you want a telephone answering service, consider Pocket Receptionist.

Good luck

 

[billmccallum1957]

Hi @ThinkingAhead,

Sorry for the late reply. For a phone number, you can also try SwitchboardFREE. It offers all major number types. And if you want a telephone answering service, consider Pocket Receptionist.

Good luck

You might want to mention its your business, not a recommendation but a sales pitch.

 

[webgeek]

Most everyone I've spoken to uses their virtual office address for mailing and their accountant's office for registered office. It's a fairly standard practice.