Registered agent vs virtual address vs P.O. box
| Address type | Used for | Public? | Notes | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered agent address | Receiving lawsuits and official state mail | Yes — on state records | Required in most states; not a mailing or business address by itself | $0 (yourself) or ~$99–$159/yr |
| Virtual mailbox / business address | Business mail, website, invoices, Google profile (rules vary) | You choose where to show it | Real street address; mail scanned and forwarded; USPS Form 1583 required | From ~$10/month |
| P.O. box | Receiving letters | Yes | Not accepted as a registered agent or principal address in most cases | Varies |
| Home address | Everything | Yes — if used on filings | Free, but your home becomes public record | $0 |
Where you can (and can’t) use a virtual address
- Usually OK: mailing address on state filings where the state allows it, website and invoices, client contracts.
- Not OK: registered agent address — it must be a physical street address where papers can be served in person (rules by state).
- Check first: banks (some reject virtual or registered agent addresses as the principal address), payment processors and online listings.
Virtual address providers
Anytime Mailbox
From $9.99/mo
- Real street addresses in 2,500+ locations
- Plans from $9.99 a month
- Mail scanning and forwarding
Watch out: Its own FAQ advises against using it as your official business address in some states
LegalZoom Virtual Mail
From $39/mo
- 53 real street addresses in 44 states
- Multiple recipients per address
- Check deposit service
Watch out: Starter includes only 5 scanned items a month
Registered agent services such as Northwest handle legal mail; see our comparison for what each includes.
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Verified October 18, 2026. We may earn a commission if you sign up through our links, at no cost to you. How we’re funded.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a virtual address for my LLC?
Often, as the LLC’s mailing or principal business address — but not as its registered agent address, which must be a physical location where someone accepts legal papers during business hours. Rules vary by state, and banks may reject some virtual addresses (Mercury, for example, doesn’t accept registered agent or P.O. box addresses as the principal address).
Is a virtual address the same as a registered agent?
No. A registered agent receives service of process and state notices. A virtual mailbox receives and scans your general business mail. Some registered agent services include a business address — compare what each includes.
How much does a virtual business address cost?
Anytime Mailbox advertises plans from $9.99 a month (some locations from $4.99). LegalZoom Virtual Mail (formerly Earth Class Mail) starts at $39 a month with real addresses in 44 states.
Why get a virtual address?
Privacy (keep your home address off invoices, your website and some public records), a professional address in another city, and mail scanning when you travel or live abroad.
What is USPS Form 1583?
A form that authorizes a commercial mail receiving agency to receive mail on your behalf. Virtual mailbox providers require it, usually with two forms of ID.
Your LLC setup checklist
- Get a free EINFrom the IRS, in minutes online.
- Open a business bank accountKeep LLC money apart from yours to protect the liability shield.
- Sign an operating agreementSettle who owns and decides what before it matters.
- Get business insuranceCover what the LLC itself doesn’t protect.
- Plan your taxesKnow your tax status and federal due dates.
- Track state deadlinesFree reminders before each filing.
Everything in one list: printable LLC compliance checklist · live deadline calendar.