An individual’s private residence is not an appropriate location for a business. Your address will be broadcast for all to see. It can cause problems in your private life and compromise your privacy. Rules from the Landlord’s Association, Homeowner’s Association, and Zoning Regulations may also apply.
Working from home has many potential benefits for small businesses, including significant financial savings due to the lack of a commercial lease and the opportunity to increase efficiency and productivity. Even if you’re operating a home-based business, you don’t have to list your private address as the company’s official one.
You can get a virtual business address with just the basics, like a real street address where you can send and receive mail and packages in private, or you can get a full suite of services, like access to a physical location and secretarial help, from the same company.
Here are some cases where it would be inappropriate to use your private residence as the company’s mailing address.
Professionalism
A new company needs to make a good first impression and set itself apart from the competition. A home address instead of a commercially registered one for your business could send the wrong message to potential customers.
The way your company is initially perceived can have a significant impact on its early success. A specific address business for your company is essential if you want people to take you seriously and establish professionalism.
Privacy and Security
Your circumstances, such as whether or not you have a spouse and children, may influence your decision to list your home address as your company’s mailing address. Some people choose not to use their home addresses because of security concerns.
Using a non-public address poses less of a threat if you are a single person living alone. However, you should consider someone more if they already have a spouse and children. The reason is that disclosing your home address can have unintended consequences. A wider audience will have access to your home address, including potential solicitors and nuisance callers. They will probably add your contact information to their database of potential customers.
Terms of Lease
Whether or not you use your home address for business depends heavily on your situation and where you live. Not all apartment and condo buildings allow residents to run businesses out of their dwellings. Condominium owners should double-check with their homeowner association and all necessary applications and processes.
It suggests that tenants review their lease agreements before making major changes to their living arrangements. If your operations don’t bother the locals, you shouldn’t have any trouble. Your landlord may permit you to conduct business from your residence.
Get a Virtual Office
A virtual office in Calgary, complete with a real address, has many advantages over operating out of your home. Click here to learn more.
In addition to a physical mailing address, many virtual office providers provide access to professional meeting rooms with a live receptionist to greet your clients. You may be able to book a meeting space as part of your virtual office package or as an additional service for a nominal fee.
