Amazon.com, Inc. is a huge success story of a single business owner who started from the ground up. Amazon started right out of the garage of Jeff Bezos’s personal home. Amazon began when the internet was fresh and information security was not as sensitive as it is today.
Many business owners like you who do not have a traditional office space run their operations out of their homes. This often means registering your business with your home address as the business address. While this is a very common practice, it can pose risks to you. Let’s walk through what those risks are and what they could mean for you and your business.
Zoning Restrictions
Running a business is tricky with the variety of tax laws, permits and registration requirements you must obtain. Some cities and zones restrict the type of business that you can run in a residential zone. Beyond that, some homeowner associations have restrictions on having home-based businesses. You will be exposed to these restrictions if you register your business using your personal address.
Privacy
Business ownership and registration information is usually available for the public to see, so even if you are running a business that does not require in-person interactions with clients and consumers, you give millions of eyes access to your personal address. The physical location of your operation can be found through simple searches online. That’s bad news should you get a disgruntled customer or any other malicious responses.
Even with non-malicious issues, your clients and consumers could assume you have regular office hours and visit your physical address for your business and not be aware that your home environment does not accept visits.
The other part of privacy is your ability to present a professional face at all times. If you’re using your home address as your business address, even though your operations are truly happening out of your home, there will be hours where you are not operating. In those moments, you will not be presentable to interact with anyone that visits your home because of your registered business address.
A Personal Address Can Break the Corporate Veil
The corporate veil is the separation of a business owner and the business he or she owns. If you have a limited liability company or a similar designation, it will be difficult to prove your business is separate from your personal life. A separate business address demonstrates the independence of your business and that you are not operating as a sole proprietor.
Other Benefits of a Virtual Business Address
Having a virtual business address that is not your home address gives you many other benefits that help to support the overall image of your business. Consider these benefits below:
Professional Reputation
Get a professional business address at an office-share building. This gives your organization the appearance of traditional office space, one that your clients can trust. This also gives your business an image of authority and stability which is important for small business owners.
A strong brand is important for your business. A professional business address increases your brand’s strength. When clients see that your business address is not an apartment or a house, they can feel confident in doing business with you.
Mail and Package Service
When you have a professional business address through a virtual office, you get additional perks with your virtual office such as mail and package service. The office building managing your virtual office contract will receive business correspondence and packages that are sent to you. Sometimes, they will scan images of the mail and email you notifications of what has been received.
Move Your Business Address to a Virtual Office
A virtual office is a safer alternative for shielding you and your family from risk. Your business information is always public. If you plan to use your home address as your registered business address, get a virtual office and have your business address be an actual office building. Contact us, and we will help you get one set up.
