What are the different addresses your business needs?

When you form a UK limited company, you are asked for several addresses. They have different jobs, and some of them are public. Getting them right from the start saves you time and protects your privacy.

1. Registered office address

This is your company's official address. Companies House and HMRC send official letters here, and it appears on the public register.

The rules:

• It must be an "appropriate address". That means post sent there should reach someone acting for the company, and delivery can be acknowledged.
• It cannot be a PO box.
• It must be in the same UK nation where the company is registered: England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland. A Scottish company needs a Scottish registered office.
• It does not have to be where you work.

If Companies House finds the address is not appropriate, it can move the company to a default address and the company must fix it.

Many owners use a provider's address so their home address is not published. See our Registered Office Address service.

2. Registered email address

Since March 2024, every company must give Companies House a registered email address. It is not shown on the public register. Companies House uses it to contact the company. It must be an address where emails will reach someone acting for the company. It can be a director's email or an agent's email.

3. Director's service address

Every director must give a service address. This is where official documents can be sent to them personally, and it is public.

Directors also give their usual residential address, but that is kept private. If you use your home as your service address, your home address becomes public. A Director Service Address avoids this.

The same applies to people with significant control (PSCs), who also give a service address.

4. Trading address

This is where you actually do business, or the address you show customers on your website, invoices and marketing. It can be the same as the registered office, but it does not have to be.

Options include:

• Your shop, workshop or office.
• A virtual office, which gives you a professional address and often mail handling. See our London Virtual Office and Edinburgh Virtual Office.
• Your home, if you are happy for customers to see it.

5. Correspondence and forwarding address

If you use a provider's address, you will need somewhere to receive forwarded post. This can be anywhere in the world. Our Mail Handling and Forwarding service scans or forwards your letters.

Quick comparison

• Registered office - required, public, must be in the right UK nation, no PO boxes.
• Registered email - required, private.
• Service address - required for each director and PSC, public.
• Residential address - required for each director, private.
• Trading address - optional, your choice.

Common mistakes

• Using a home address "just for now". Once it is on the public register, older filings can still show it, and removing it later takes extra steps.
• Using a PO box as a registered office. This is not allowed.
• Choosing an address in the wrong nation, such as a London address for a Scottish company.
• Forgetting to update Companies House when you move. Changes must be filed.

How Form My Company can help

Get every address sorted in one order. Our Privacy Package includes a registered office in London or Edinburgh and a director service address for the first year, plus a virtual trading address. You can also buy each address on its own. We make sure the addresses on your application meet the Companies House rules.

Frequently asked questions