- In the post-pandemic era, leasing office space to start a business is often unnecessary. Putting a month-to-month coworking office space or hot desk on a credit card also runs upward of $400 a month!
- It’s safer, scrappier, and financially savvier to create a virtual office using a virtual mailbox that already includes a virtual business address! For about $30 a month combined, this means a virtual mailbox and a business phone number. Be frugal at the beginning and expand as your business grows.
- A virtual mailbox comes with a virtual business address. You can use it to register your business and it adds credibility to your venture, website, business cards, and collateral. It’s also handy for invoicing clients and vendors and establishing a business mailing address separate from your home address.
- A virtual mailbox is in a staffed location–either a mailbox pack and ship store or a coworking space. It’s like having a virtual assistant handle your postal mail and packages.
- The location you select is authorized to receive postal mail and packages on your behalf, store them securely, and fulfill your requests on mail items and packages. Requests range from open & scan, forwarding packages, or shredding sensitive postal mail. You can conveniently make these requests via an app on your phone or laptop.
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Select Your Virtual Business Address Location
Go to anytimemailbox.com and select a location that works for you. Typically, people choose a location that’s within their local area. But remember, you won’t drive to that location often because you’ll be managing your mail from your phone. Selecting a virtual business address in a business-centric area, like a coworking location, helps because it adds credibility to your address.
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Pick a Plan and Sign Up
Depending on services, plans range from around $10 to as much as $20 or more. Generally, people receive 30 mail items a month. Don’t get stuck on this detail if you’re not sure. You can always upgrade or downgrade your plan. Just get started. Some providers offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, so it’s no risk if you change your mind.
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Complete the USPS Form 1583 and Get your IDs Verified
Most people don’t know that after signing up, there’s a second step to activating a virtual mailbox: completing and notarizing the USPS Form 1583. Your selected location needs this to receive postal mail and packages on your behalf. It’s mandated by the United States Postal Service and is not unique to virtual mailboxes; it had to be done for old-school P.O. Boxes, too. Every provider requires it.
- Register your business with the Secretary of State of your state first, and then
- Register with the IRS to get your Employer identification Number (EIN)