Physical Address vs. Post Office Box for Home-Based Businesses

Get a non-USPS box and call it a suite. No one cares in my opinion. Many large businesses use a PO Box as their address.

Some time ago (maybe 5-10 years), the Post Office decided that too many scammers were using Mail Boxes Etc. (at the time) to pretend they were a large company.

I was actually standing in a MBE while a scammed person was insisting the MBE clerk give up the information on who the scammer really was. She refused, of course, because keeping customer information confidential is part of the contract.

The Post Office now has a policy that anyone using a UPS Store (or any non-Post Office mail distributior) must use "PMB" for Private Mail Box instead of "Suite."

By the way, a gazillion years ago (yes, I AM that old!), I worked at a direct mail concern and learned how to address a piece of mail:
Tamera Nelson
PMB 123
456 Main St
Moore, OK 73170

The Post Office reads addresses from the bottom up and, especially in this case, they surely don't care about the "PMB."

Check with your local post office to confirm. I tried the search box on usps.com and decided not to wade through their twenty thousand pages.

I've used a PO Box for my business address for most of the past 30 years with no negative impact on my business. About 80% of my business is done in other cities throughout the U.S., or in foreign countries, so a street address is of little importance to my clientele.

I've used the PO Box for two major reasons: 1.) I don't want sales and marketing people, or potential vendors, showing up at my home-based studio at all hours of the day/evening; 2.) I also don't want clients feeling as if they can just show up on my doorstep at all hours.

My sister used a non-USPS mailing address for her business mail - and a ridiculous number of people would show up at the street address expecting to meet with her without an appointment/unannounced.

In the past I've designed quite a few business cards without a mailing address at all. A phone number and email address is sufficient contact information for many people. Once a business relationship is established, a mailing address may be shared if needed - on stationery, an invoice or elsewhere.

I do think the issue of personal safety plays into the decision as well. I always recommend that individuals who work alone from home not put a home address on any marketing/promotion tools.

Jeff Fisher | Jeff Fisher LogoMotives | Tweet! Tweet!

Tamera... I've used a P.O. Box for years because it can remain forever while my business (and home) address periodically changes.

BTW: In a few of my past businesses I have used private mail boxes PMB (ie. mailboxes etc.) and when I discontinued using them, the US Postal Service refused to accept mail forwarding. It appears they will only give you the service of mail forwarding from a USPO box or physical mail box.

People may want to consider this when they choose between USPO and PMB.

...Howard

Howard, you are absolutely right!

I've had PMBs in five locations but it's pretty simple to keep two, in my case, MBE/UPS stores for a few months. AND, if the UPS store you're moving TO is owned by the franchisee you're moving FROM, they will drive your mail from the old to the new.

OK, it's probably not a special trip but your mail does get moved.

Something else I neglected to mention: the Post Office won't accept deliveries from FedEx or UPS. Your local UPS or other private third party accepts deliveries from any delivery service.

Oh, the irony: I"m pushing a private entity and Howard is pushing a government-like entity.

Suzanne... LOL with a big smile.

It is ironic isn't it. I never thought it about when I commented but it is great to have a choice isn't it?

...Howard

I use a small company that gives me a private mail box for about @140.00 per year. I've had no negative response from my customers because of it. I believe its just better than putting my home address on everything. I meet a lot of people and you just don't know who you are meeting all of the time. Art T.

Hi Tamera, I'm definitely in the PO Box camp as well with my preference being go with the regular PO if possible.

The only negative is that I think there is a touch more credibility to having a physical address listed on your Website.

However, I'm willing to lose that in order to keep people from showing up at my home office unannounced. And there are plenty of other ways to build credibility on your site (including a phone number, email address, headshot, testimonials, etc.).

Best of luck! Stacy

I'd like to use a mailbox but it will be a hassle to drive to the closest office, so I have been using my real home address. There has been no strangers showing up so far, except that new family of raccoons.

Other things to consider: delivery or email marketing, you will need to have a real address.

Best, Jack

Just a thought.. but there are ways around both of these. I know of a place here in Richmond called PostalPal that serves as a mailbox center just like the post office but instead of a PO Box, they give you a number so it looks like a suite number. With that you can always receive packages.

It's like the best of both worlds.. :)