Registering your business address

19 January 2022 | Published by Bryony Pearce

Whether you’re making a go of turning your hobby into additional income or starting a new business in a brand-spanking new office space, you’ll need to register your business address as part of the process of registering your company in the UK.

There’s a lot involved in starting a business from scratch and it can be both a super exciting and overwhelming time, but worry not, here at takepayments we’re on a mission to take the hassle out of business ownership, and in this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about registering your business address, including.

Why it’s important
What to do if you don’t have a dedicated office space
How to get registered, and
How to change your registered business address.

Why do I need to register my business address?

Having a registered address is a must for all private limited companies in the UK.

Your registered business address will become the official address that the likes of Companies House will send any information, documents, and other written communication, so it’s really important the address you register is somewhere you can have regular access to on an ongoing basis.

With this in mind, it’s also mission-critical you keep your registered address up to date so you don’t miss any important information or documents.

Remember: Missing something time-sensitive could land you and your business in hot water.

I don’t have dedicated office space, what do I do?

Not all start-up businesses have the need for standalone office space, and many new businesses aren’t in a financial position to fork out for such a luxury, so what can they do?

It’s stated on the government website that your registered office address must meet the following criteria:

1. Be a physical address in the United Kingdom, and

2. Be in the same country your business is registered in e.g. a business registered in Wales must have a registered business address in Wales.

Therefore you don’t need official business premises or designated office space to register your business and you can use your home address or a P.O. box, ensuring you give a full address including postcode.

Who’ll have access to my business address?

Once your business address is registered it will be made publicly available on the online register, meaning anyone and everyone can technically access it.

For this reason, it’s not always the best idea to use your home address and a P.O. box may be a preferable and easier option - although that’s entirely up to you.

Other potential options include:

Using the address of the person who’s responsible for your Corporation Tax, with their permission, of course.
Appointing an agent who’ll provide you with a registered address. Or
Making use of the registered address service offered by some accountants - speak to yours and find out if this is an option for you and how much it’s likely to set you back.

How do I register my business address?

You’ll register your business address alongside registering your business with Companies House.

Registering your business isn’t imperative for all businesses - you can learn all about who needs to do so and why it’s a good idea, including all the details you’ll need, what it’ll cost you and more here.

Can I change my registered business address?

In short, yes you can and it’s important you do if your business circumstances and location change. Whether you’re upsizing, downsizing, outsourcing or otherwise, be sure to let Companies House know pronto to the correspondence they send continues to reach you.

How do I do it?

You must let Companies House know about your move within 14 days of it happening.

You can inform them online by following this link and completing the ‘change your company’s registered office address online’ document or print and fill out a physical AD01 form and post it.

Just remember, relying on the postal service can take a little longer than hopping online, so always account for the additional time to avoid a potentially problematic situation.

Next steps

All that’s left for us to do is wish you well in your new business endeavour!

Here at takepayments we’re all about helping small businesses succeed, so be sure to check out our marketing leading payments systems - we don’t charge unnecessary fees and tailor each of payment plans to suit individual business’s needs.

And remember to make use of all the resources curated specifically with small businesses and startups in mind over on the jam-packed takepayments blog.

Bryony Pearce

Copywriter

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