When you set up a company in the UK, you’re required to provide a registered office address for your business. This address will be where all your official communications from HMRC will be sent, so it’s crucial to make sure you choose somewhere reliable.
Choosing the right company registered office address is also a really important step to getting your brand off the ground. A good company registered office address will help to make your business look professional, credible and trustworthy.
But what are the registered office address requirements you need to consider? Here’s your guide to choosing the perfect registered office address for a limited company in the UK.
What is a registered office address?
In the UK, a registered office address is the official address of a company that is registered with Companies House – the government agency responsible for maintaining the official register of companies. It’s a legal requirement for all new UK limited companies to register with Companies House, so make sure it’s top of your list when setting up your new business! And don’t forget that in the UK, your registered office address needs to be in the same jurisdiction as where the company is registered.
Your registered office address is where Companies House and other government authorities will send official communications and legal documents related to your company. So if you’re going to use a registered office address service, it’s really important that you choose a reliable provider! Go with somewhere that has great customer reviews, like Impact Brixton.
It’s also worth remembering that every registered office address is a matter of public record. That means that anyone can access this information through the Companies House website – so it’s not a great idea to use your home address as your registered office address. If you have used your home address, don’t worry. You can easily change your registered office address. Just follow the instructions outlined in the FAQ section below!
Because your registered office address is a matter of public record, it’s a good idea to use a virtual office. Each virtual office includes registered office services, which means that you can use your virtual office’s location as your registered office address. This is super useful, as it means that you can choose a location that will give your business a professional, reliable reputation. For example, if you signed up to Impact Brixton’s virtual office, you could register your company at 17a Electric Lane, London, SW9 8LA. This is right in the middle of Brixton Village, a renowned and vibrant hub for small businesses. So it gives a great first impression!
Looking for more tips on how to choose the best location for your business? Check out this blog post for the top things to consider.
What are the benefits of having a professional registered office address?
There are lots of benefits to having a professional registered office address. Here are the top five.
1. Give your business a professional image
Which business would you be more likely to trust – one with a residential address that starts “Flat 5A…”, or one with an address in the heart of London’s business district?
Signing up to a virtual office to get a professional registered address is the perfect way to give your business a credible reputation. First impressions matter, and using a professional registered address sends a strong message to clients, partners, and investors that your company is established and reliable. Your customers want to know that your business is trustworthy, so anything you can do to reassure them is likely to pay off!
2. Improve your privacy and security
You can absolutely use your home address as your registered company address. But it’s worth remembering that your registered office address is a matter of public record, which means that anyone can access it through Companies House. So you might not want to use your home address after all! Any registered office address cost is worth keeping your private information safe and secure – especially when you can sign up to a virtual office from as little as 0.41p per day.
3. Get fast and efficient mail handling
The great thing about using a registered office address service is that they’ll organise all of your mail for you. Most virtual offices give you the option to have your mail forwarded or scanned, or they’ll hold onto it for you to come and pick up at a convenient time. It’s a great way to make sure you never miss an important piece of mail!
4. Make huge savings on your overheads
Back in the day, if you wanted an office address in the business district of a renowned city, you’d have to pay sky-high rent and bills. But now, you can simply pay a small monthly fee for a virtual office, and you get all the same benefits! You can enjoy the prestige of having a UK registered office address in a reputable area without having any of the high costs associated with maintaining a physical office space in such areas. It’s a great way to give your brand a boost in the early days of your business, before you have the staff and the cashflow to necessitate a physical office space.
5. Enjoy flexible working with a hybrid office
There are tons of registered office address services out there, and each of them comes with a slightly different offering. If you’re just looking for the bare minimum, you can choose a provider that handles your mail and nothing else. But if you’re looking for a long-term solution that offers all the great benefits of mail handling alongside access to a physical workspace, you might be looking for something a bit more like Impact Brixton. They’ll take care of all your mail handling needs, and they have a coworking space with hot desks and meeting rooms you can book for days where you want to meet with your team in person – or network with other like-minded entrepreneurs!
If you’re reading this and thinking that a virtual office is what you need, check out our step-by-step guide on how to set up a virtual office!
What is the difference between a business address and a registered office address?
There are a few subtle but important differences between a business address and a registered office address. Here’s what you need to know.
A business address is the operational location of a business. That just means that it’s the physical location where a company conducts its day-to-day operations – so it’s where the company’s employees work, where customers can visit, and where business activities take place. It might be publicly known, and it could be the address that a business uses to get all of its mail and packages delivered. A company can have multiple business addresses if it operates from multiple locations, such as branch offices, retail outlets, or manufacturing facilities. For example, Marks and Spencer will have a different business address for every store.
A registered office address, however, is a legal requirement. It’s the sole address that a business uses to register with Companies House, and it’s where government authorities, tax agencies, and legal entities send official correspondence and documents. This address is a matter of public record, and it can be viewed by the public on the Companies House website. This doesn’t have to be the same address as the business address – although it can be, if it’s where business operations take place. Your registered office address is where you might want to consider using registered office address services such as a virtual office. Check out the benefits of using a professional registered office address above!
How do I get a registered office address for my business?
To get a registered office address for your business, you have a few options. If you have a suitable physical location that meets the legal requirements in your jurisdiction, you can use your home address. However, you may not want to use your home address as your registered office address. This is because your registered office address is public information easily accessible on the Companies House website.
The alternative to using your home address, is to use a company registered office address service such as a virtual office. A virtual office typically provides their address for your company’s use, which means that you can choose a location in a renowned business hub, boosting your brand with a professional image. They’ll also handle all your mail, and providers like Impact Brixton also provide a physical workspace that you can use to hot-desk and meet with your team. Need help choosing the best virtual office? Check out our handy guide on what to look for when considering your options!
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Can a company be registered at a residential address?
Yes, you can absolutely use a residential address as your UK registered office address. However, there are some privacy and security issues to consider. Your registered office address is public information easily accessible through the Companies House website. So if you want to avoid the general public being able to see your home address, you’re better off using a virtual office for their registered office address services. With a virtual office, you can choose to register your company at an address in a prestigious location, boosting your brand with a professional image. They’ll take care of all your mail, too!
How do I change my registered office address?
It’s absolutely possible to change your registered office address. There are just a few steps you typically need to follow.
First off, you need to check your legal requirements. Make sure you understand the regulations in your jurisdiction for changing a registered office address, and follow all the rules and regulations. In the UK, your registered office address needs to be in the same jurisdiction as where the company is registered. So double check you hit the requirements!
Next, you need to obtain the consent and approval of all of your company’s directors and shareholders. This typically happens through a resolution. Once you’ve done that, you’re set to notify the relevant government agencies, such as Companies House in the UK, by filing the necessary paperwork and paying any fees.
Now that you’ve changed your registered company address officially, you need to update your company’s internal records, including website and official documents, to reflect the new address. Lastly, inform your stakeholders – send your clients, supplies and other relevant parties a note to let them know that your address has changed. And that’s everything!
What address should I use for my limited company?
You have a few options when it comes to choosing a registered office address for your company. In the UK, it’s perfectly legal to use your home address. However, it’s worth remembering that the address you use will be publicly viewable on the Companies House website. So you might be better off signing up to a virtual office to use their address instead. Not only will this keep your personal information private, but it can also help to add a professional and reliable reputation to your brand – especially if you choose a virtual office with an address in a prestigious business district!
What qualifies as proof of registered office address in the UK?
After you’ve registered your company with Companies House, you’ll be sent a certificate of incorporation for your business. This document contains your company’s vital information, including the company’s full name, the company’s unique registration number, the date of incorporation and the Registrar’s seal, and it can be used as proof of registered office address in the UK. You can use this document to open a bank account, make an application for a loan, or if you’re selling your company.
Can you change the registered address for a limited company?
Yes! Here’s what you need to do.
First, make sure you follow all the rules and regulations in your jurisdiction for changing a registered office address. In the UK, your registered office address needs to be in the same jurisdiction as where the company is registered.
Next, you need to obtain the consent and approval of all of your company’s directors and shareholders. This typically happens through a resolution. You then need to notify the relevant government agencies, such as Companies House in the UK, by filing the necessary paperwork and paying any fees required to change your registered address.
Don’t forget to update your company’s internal records, including website and official documents, with your new address. And lastly, make sure you notify your stakeholders – send your clients, supplies and other relevant parties a note to let them know that your address has changed. And that’s everything – you’re good to go!
Does a UK company need a UK registered office?
Yes, a UK company is required to have a UK registered office – it must be situated in the same jurisdiction where the company is registered, such as England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland. This is a legal requirement to make sure that the company can be easily contacted, and to check that it complies with the relevant laws and regulations of the UK.
And that’s it! Now you have all the information you need to select the perfect registered office address for your limited company in the UK. Remember to check the requirements for your jurisdiction, and don’t forget that your registered office address will be publicly viewable on the Companies House website. If you’d like to use a virtual office to register your company at a prestigious address for just 0.41p per day, check out Impact Brixton!
