A professional business address, registered office and mail handling in the city of your choice, without renting a desk. Compare plans from operators across the UK.
A virtual office gives your business a physical address in a staffed building without renting any space. Post is received there and either scanned, forwarded or held for collection, and you can usually add call answering, a local phone number and pay-as-you-go access to meeting rooms and desks.
It suits remote teams, home-based businesses that want to keep their home address private, and companies that want a presence in a new city before committing to an office.
Your registered office is the official address on the public Companies House register, where statutory letters and legal documents are sent. Since March 2024 it must be an "appropriate address": somewhere documents will come to the attention of someone acting for the company and where delivery can be acknowledged, so a PO box alone no longer qualifies. Many virtual office plans meet this requirement.
A business or trading address is the one you show to customers on your website, invoices and Google Business Profile. It can be the same as your registered office or different. Directors can also use a service address so their home address is not published. Check that the plan you choose covers each address you need, and whether the operator allows its use for Google Business Profile verification. [Check current Companies House guidance before launch.]
Plans usually offer three ways to deal with post. Scanning means letters are opened and emailed to you, usually the same day they arrive. Forwarding sends the originals to an address you choose, weekly or on request. Collection means your post is held at reception for you to pick up.
Check how statutory letters from Companies House and HMRC are handled, since these are usually included on registered office plans, and what parcels cost. Some plans charge per item scanned or forwarded above a monthly allowance, so compare the total for the amount of post you expect.
Choose the city and plan, then complete the operator’s identity checks. Businesses that provide registered office addresses are covered by the UK money laundering regulations, so they must verify who you are and who owns the company before you can use the address. Set-up is often same day once checks are done.
Then update your address everywhere it is used. A new registered office is filed with Companies House (form AD01, or online), and you should also update HMRC, your bank, your website, invoices and any directory listings. Check the operator’s policy before listing the address on Google Business Profile.
Typical monthly prices by plan. Many operators discount annual plans, and set-up fees vary.
| Location | Address only | Address + mail | Address + calls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central London | £[—] | £[—] | £[—] |
| Manchester | £[—] | £[—] | £[—] |
| Birmingham | £[—] | £[—] | £[—] |
| Leeds | £[—] | £[—] | £[—] |
| Other UK cities | £[—] | £[—] | £[—] |
[Fill from your tracked figures.] Prices exclude VAT and postage. Full UK price guide →
Hire a room by the hour at your virtual office address to meet clients.
Find a meeting room →When you are ready for a full-time base, move into a private office in the same building.
Serviced offices explained →Yes, if the plan includes it. Since March 2024 a registered office must be an appropriate address where documents can be received and acknowledged, which a staffed virtual office can provide.
Yes. Using a third-party address for your business is legal, provided the address meets Companies House rules for any registered office use.
Google restricts virtual office addresses unless the location is staffed during business hours, and verification can be refused. Check the operator’s policy first.
Depending on the plan, post is scanned and emailed, forwarded to you, or held for collection. Parcels may cost extra.
Most operators let you book meeting rooms in the building, usually at member rates.
Usually photo ID and proof of address for each director and significant shareholder, plus your company details. The operator will tell you exactly what they need.
Yes. Some businesses use addresses in several cities to show a local presence. Each is usually a separate plan.
Often the same or next working day, once identity checks are complete. Operators must carry out anti-money-laundering checks.
Tell us which city and what you need, and we will send the best-value plans from operators we trust.