Virtual Office

[RCoombes]

Hi,

I've started up a new LLP and we are not in a position to yet have a brick and mortar address.

I need to know if its possible to have a Virtual Address that can be used with companies house and also forward all customer service/government mail onto our residential address?

I'm looking around the forum and things and its just causing further confusion for me.

While we are not yet in a position be need the virtual office yet as we still have a bit of work to do before trading, I'd like to know if this is possible or if anyone here can provide this service!

I'd appreciate your help!

Thanks

 

[Jeremiah@RHJ Accountants]

Hi Congrats on the start of your business

Every company must have a registered address where official documents such as letters from HMRC, Companies House and other legal authorities can be delivered.

The registered office must be a physical location so this means you cannot use a mail box number (i.e. PO Box). Apart from that you can use any address as the registered office, assuming you have relevant permission to do so e.g. if you are in rented accommodation many leases will prohibit use of that address as a registered office. The registered office can be anywhere in England and Wales. Companies registered in Scotland must have the registered office in Scotland.

If you have an accountant then ask them if they offer this service. As we do this for our clients.

I am sure some formation companies will be along to offer there services too

So yes a company offering a virtual office as described above will be ok.

 

[HazelC]

Yes, you can do that with a virtual office and many business owners do exactly that - then mail can be forwarded to you or you can collect the mail from the office. And yes, some accountants will do this for you too.

 

[HazelC]

Yes, you can do that with a virtual office and many business owners do exactly that - then mail can be forwarded to you or you can collect the mail from the office. And yes, some accountants will do this for you too.

 

[LowPrices.uk]

Yes, it's possible.

 

[fisicx]

But is it good practice?

I check the address of people and avoid those with a virtual office. My wife who is in finance does the same and they don't like trading to companies with a virtual address.

 

[Mark T Jones]

But is it good practice?

I check the address of people and avoid those with a virtual office. My wife who is in finance does the same and they don't like trading to companies with a virtual address.

I guess that depends on how/what you are selling

In the cynical world of lending we have absolutely no problem with virtual addresses, though we do rely on other information for substance

How are you reaching your customers?

 

[Alan]

I'm not sure what rational there is for deciding that someone with a virtual office is to be avoided.

After all, most limited companies have had their registered office at their accountants for years.

Virtual offices are just a feature of the modern worlds with virtualisation in general, as people start to and can work from anywhere. In many cases it just makes sense to have a static mail address and facility to answer the phone.

Having a virtual office is no different to say working from home. As many people don't own their home outright, many rental agreements frown up 'running a business' so if you work on mobile devices, in you car, in your bedroom, in a cafe, then a virtual office (or a drop in shared office) makes sense. Millions are like this.

Discriminating against businesses just because they use a virtual office makes no sense to me, there are so many other factors to consider.

 

[fisicx]

The problem is not so much the virtual office, it's the fact that when you call the number on the website you get a receptionist who sole function in life seems to be to transfer the phone call. And there are number of addresses which have been assocated with some very dodgy companies. So I don't discrimiate becaiuse they have a virtual office. I discriminate when there is no reason to have a virtiual office. If you work from home then use that address, crims aren't going to target you because your office is in a shed and having a 'real' address adds a lot of trust.

If you are a builder who is out all day then a call answering service is sensible as is getting all the invoices semnt to the accountant but there is no need to have a virtual office.

 

[TODonnell]

It depends on the niche you are dealing with.

If you are investing a lot of money with a firm that is representing itself as long-standing, solid and 'blue chip' and you find the only address they publish is a virtual one, you might want to think twice.

If they're too small to rent their own office space and yet they want a £10k deposit from you, walk on.

If it's a solo web designer who doesn't want to put his home address on his business cards, that fits the profile. '23 Acacia Avenue' doesn't look good and his landlord might take issue if he sees the address online. So he uses a virtual address for his Google Adsense card and not much else.

 

[antp__]

If you work from home then use that address, crims aren't going to target you because your office is in a shed and having a 'real' address adds a lot of trust.

Genuine question (for me personally), not getting at the statement. Would you still do this when just starting out selling high value goods? For example, if the garage is being converted to store stock to begin with, as the items aren't that big it warrants a storage unit?