Setting up a business
How can I protect my residential address when setting up a business?
- A number of addresses appear on the public register when setting up a business
- When setting up a business, the Registered Office, Service Address and Shareholder Address can be found by anyone
- Our ‘Privacy’ company formation package is ideal for anyone wanting to protect their home address and keep it off the public register
- It’s important to know what is and isn’t on the public register when setting up a business
If you decide that forming a limited company is the right way for you to go when setting up a business, it’s extremely important that you are aware of what address information is and isn’t on the public register. By not having a residential on the public register, you will:
- Put an end to business junk mail
- Stop customers (and other business contacts) turning up at your house
- Add prestige to your business (if you use a professional address as your company’s Registered Office)
Here are the addresses that do appear on the public register when setting up a business:
Registered Office
This is the limited company’s official address with Companies House and where Companies House and HMRC will send all official mail for your company. This address can be any UK address that you have permission to use - residential addresses included. Your business does not have to conduct any business activity here.
Service Address
Similar to the Registered Office, this is the official address for the company directors. This can be any address, anywhere in the world, that you have permission to use, and once again - it can be a residential address. When setting up a business you are required to enter a service address for each director.
Shareholder Address
As the name would suggest, this is the address given when appointing Shareholders. It can be any address, anywhere in the world, that you have permission to use, and once again - it can be a residential address. When setting up a business with us, you are required to enter an address for each shareholder. The one address that does not appear on the public register after setting up a business is the director’s Residential Address. However, if you choose to use the residential address as either the Registered Office, Service Address or Shareholder address - it will appear on the public register.
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