Registered Office & Business Address: What's The Difference?

What is a registered office address?

The registered office address is the official location for a business that is recorded with Companies House and HMRC. Your business can be based at another location, but the registered office address is a required physical address in the UK where you can receive government correspondence.

What is a business address?

A business address is the location where your company works every day. This address is typically included on business cards, websites, headed paper, and email signatures.

Your business address doesn’t need to be registered with Companies House, unlike your registered office address.

What are the differences?

Can I use my home as a registered address?

Yes. However, it's important to note that it will be listed publicly on Companies House.

Whilst this may be acceptable for small businesses, we find that most clients have privacy concerns regarding the use of their home address. In such cases, a serviced workspace or virtual office may be a better option.

Can a virtual office legally be used as a registered address?

Yes. A virtual office can be used as a registered office address if the provider has physical office space in the UK and is authorised to receive official correspondence.

Many serviced offices in London offer virtual office packages, which allow companies to legally register their businesses.

Pros & Cons of Using Serviced Offices for Your Registered or Business Address

In our experience, serviced offices provide an excellent solution for companies that need either a registered address, a business address, or both.

Pros

•    Enhances Professional Image – Addresses in Central London are some of the most sought-after in the country. This is a benefit for both registered office addresses, as they offer a prestigious legal identity and business addresses, which in turn provide credibility for client-facing businesses.

•    Offers Mail Handling – Serviced offices often provide mail handling as standard, which is great for official correspondence (a registered address) and day-to-day operations (a business address).

•    Protects Privacy – When using a serviced office as a registered address, those working from home can keep their residential address private.

•    Provides Flexibility – Most serviced office providers offer virtual office packages. This allows companies to rent a virtual office for a registered address and then scale up to renting physical office space for their business address.

•    Access to Shared Amenities – Using a serviced office for your business address allows you daily access to meeting rooms, breakout spaces and printing facilities.

Cons

•    Costly – Renting a serviced office can be expensive, particularly in areas such as Mayfair or Knightsbridge. This applies to both registered addresses and business addresses, especially when cost efficiency is a priority.

•    Not All Serviced Office Providers Are Suitable – Some serviced office providers may not allow you to register an office address with them. It is essential to verify that the provider meets the requirements listed on Companies House.

•    May Not Cater to All Businesses – Serviced offices are typically best suited for administrative work. For companies looking for a business address for warehousing or storage purposes, flexible office space may not be the best option.

 
Can I have multiple business addresses?

Yes, you can have multiple business addresses. Many large companies often have one registered address and multiple business addresses to cater to regional markets.

We regularly get clients looking for serviced offices across London and the UK who require additional business addresses due to expansion.

When should I use different addresses?

If you’re looking to protect your privacy, boost your business image or operate in multiple locations, you should use a separate registered address and business address.

A few of these scenarios have been mentioned in the above section, but they also provide good examples of when to use a separate registered and business address.

•    Privacy Protection – If you work from home and don’t want your address made public, consider renting a serviced or virtual office to use as your registered office address.

•    Boosts Your Company’s Image – As mentioned, renting an office in Central London for your business address can make your company appear more prestigious to clients visiting you.

•    Establishing a Regional Presence – If your company is expanding, you can have a registered office address in one location and business addresses in others.

•    Remote Teams – If you have a remote team, having a separate business address provides a dedicated space for face-to-face meetings.

Tips For Managing Registered Offices and Business Addresses

•    Ensure your registered office address is up to date on Companies House.

•    Make sure your business address is the same across all marketing materials, email signatures, social media and online platforms.

•    Choose a serviced office provider with a good reputation. Ensure their mail handling facilities are prompt and efficient.

•    If you’re using a serviced office as your business address, check their reviews and services, especially if you’re looking for additional amenities such as meeting rooms.

•    Use separate addresses strategically. Keep one address for legal purposes and another for business visibility, especially if you work remotely.

•    Consider your future business growth. Opt for a serviced office provider that allows you to scale up from a virtual office to a physical workspace as needed.

How to Change Your Registered or Business Address

To change your registered office address, you must notify Companies House.

For business addresses, there is no formal process, just ensure your clients, staff and all relevant documents are updated.

We always recommend that you plan ahead to make sure your addresses are updated consistently across all channels.

When running a business, understanding the distinction between a registered office and a business address is crucial. Not only is it a legal requirement, but it can help you to boost your brand and enhance privacy.

We’ve seen firsthand how companies have benefited from serviced offices to meet their needs. So, whether you’re just starting your business or expanding into new markets, choosing the right address can have a significant impact.