Virtual/returns address

A question about : Virtual/returns address

I'm looking to get a registered office and returns address for an online retail business.

The address would be displayed on my site and would also be the address to which customers would send returns (items of clothing so all small parcel sized)

I don't currently have a warehouse, all stock is stored at home.

I've been pricing up these types of services and have found that on a 6 monthly basis:

A PO Box is Ј23.82 per month
A Mailboxes etc address is Ј34 per month plus Ј35 per year to use as registered address
A registered business address is Ј29.99 per year (London or Manchester) - Ј2.49 a month

I'm not keen on just having JUST a PO box as an address although I think these are fine for returns. My current thinking is to have two addresses, a PO Box address for returns and a registered business address - both of these work out at less than the mailboxes etc box and is a little less blatantly hiding my address.

Is there anything I haven't thought of? Is there a way of doing it cheaper? Mail forwarding is cheaper but they don't accept parcels larger than a small jiffy bag.

Best answers:

• https://www.cityaddress.co.uk/mailbox...orwarding.html
  This is also another option as it is Ј12.50 per month and then I just pay for fowarding. ie. if I don't get any, or just 1 or 2 returns a month then it is much cheaper than the PO box idea. If I am trading well and getting returns that mean that the forwarding is going to cost a lot of money, then I can review my business needs then and probably get a storage unit which will sign for customer returns (been quoted Ј60 per month for a 25sq ft unit) - I'm looking to get a unit anyway once it becomes cost effective
• You only need a registered business address if you have a Limited Company. If you aren't limited, why do you need a registered business address?
• To look professional and to avoid giving my home address
  I'm hoping this business takes off, and then I'll need one anyway
  I know consumers feel secure when ordering from a website that displays a legitimate bricks and mortar address. I am sure that by law they must display this anyway?
• grocott, please read the Forum Rules as advertising your own services is against them.
• If you setup a limited company you will need to provide a registered office address for the company and a service address for each of the directors, i.e. at least you.
  If you do not want your home address to be publicly and easily available in relation to the company you need to provide alternative addresses for both these requirements.
  The Mailbox, Etc. service (for example) that you mention let you use their virtual address for 4-5 names (don't remember exactly).
  So for the price you get an address for your company and for up to 3-4 directors.
  It's probably a good idea to discuss your requirements with any provider first. In your case you will probably receive packets on a regular basis, and perhaps sent signed for, so you'd want the provider to confirm that they could effectively and happily handle this at the volume you expect.
  Note also that RoyalMail discloses the actual address behind a PO Box on demand.
• i thought you had to provide an actual address if it was physical goods to be returned? as per sale of goods act or distance selling regs possibly?
• Seeing as my old thread has been resurrected....
  I have signed up with a local independent business centre for their virtual office service - this is the 'contact us' address, it looks professional and is not identifiable as a virtual office as it is in this format:
  Business Name
  XXX XXXX Business Centre
  XXXX Court
  Anytown
  Postcode
  Returns go to a separate physical address (eg. mine)
  Thanks for all your concerns but the issue is now resolved as I found the services I needed
• Oh and the service I am paying for is half the price of Mailboxes etc.