A post office box is essential when setting up a virtual home office, especially if you're alone most of the day. It provides security and privacy while assuring maximum benefit for the growth of your business. A post office box, whether it's at the USPS or with a commercial provider, adds legitimacy to your business address.

If you are able to obtain a USPS post office box, your address will be the assigned post office box number; i.e.,

P. O. Box 123
City, State ZIP

The USPS does not provide the option of a "street address" with its post office boxes.

One advantage of a commercial post office box is that it gives the appearance of a street address; i.e.

12345 Anywhere Street, #123
City, State ZIP

This provides a distinct presence for your business, in a commercial area (as opposed to residential). It's very easy for individuals researching you or your company to search maps. In addition to business credibility, privacy and security concerns are not an issue. When running a home-based business, it's best not to use your residential address.

A small business operating out of a residence can also give the impression of being more "professional" by using their phone company's voice mail options, or one of the commercially available voice mail systems that can be managed through a web site. Find someone with a good telephone voice to record your answering messages and voice mail options, rather than recording them yourself. Many of these services include screening, which requests the caller to record their name, which then plays back to you and gives the option of accepting the call, or sending it to voice mail. Home-based businesses should never allow family members (especially children!) to answer or make calls on the business phone line.

Make sure you have a professional-looking web site. It isn't expensive or especially difficult to put up a web site. Your web site is a reflection of you and your business and in the digital age, may be your most important marketing tool. Your should include your web site's URL on your business cards and stationery. Avoid auto-play audio (such as music). Evaluate the appropriateness of third-party advertising or sponsorships at your business web site. For some businesses, it's completely appropriate; i.e., directory listings, discussion forums, etc. However, if the purpose of your web site is to attract people to your business and your business services, ask yourself if it's worth detracting visitors from that purpose. Third-party advertising is a distraction; you need to focus visitors on what YOU are offering.

These readily available and low-cost solutions add credibility to your home-based business while providing you with security and privacy.

Have you checked your mail recently? More and more people stay connected with friends and business through the Internet. If somebody asks you this, your answer will be likely connected with your email. However, "snail mail" is still a fact of life and business is still booming for post offices and post office box rentals.

For businesses, not everything can be done electronically. Many contract documents require original signatures and therefore have to be sent by mail. A business post office box is convenient and secure and documents remain safe even if you aren't there to receive them. Check out the reasons to rent a post office box - it's an excellent option for any size business.

You don't have to have a business to find a post office box useful. People who travel frequently find them convenient for receiving and holding mail and packages during long periods of absence. Landlords use them to protect their privacy. People who frequently move like the convenience of an address they don't need to change.

In short, don't expect to see an end to postal service and post office boxes any time soon!

United States Postal Service (USPS) Post Office Box

The USPS rents out post office boxes at most of its stations. In some locations, demand is so high, there is a waiting list that stretches into years and many people take great care to pay their post office box rent so as not to lose a box rental in a high-demand location. In other locations, residents may qualify for a free USPS post office box.

Rental rates for a USPS post office box can range from $10 and up per month, depending on size and location. The USPS used to charge one rate for all boxes; however, due to high demand at some locations, they now have a tiered system. In addition to monthly rental, the USPS charges a deposit fee for keys and a fee for key replacement; these fees are minimal. There is also a charge to replace a box lock, which would be necessary if your keys are lost or stolen.

Inquire at your local post office station about post office box rental.

Commercial Post Office Box Rentals

Many businesses saw the need for additional post office box rentals and they serve it by offering customers box rentals that are very similar to the USPS post office boxes. Some business customers prefer the commercial service, as it provides them with an "address" for doing business. The location of the commercial service that provides the box rentals is the street address for the business and the post office box number gives the appearance of an office suite number. A business may select a commercial service that isn't even located near the physical business location in order to get a mailing address that is seen as having high value or cachet.

These locations also provide a variety of other services geared towards small businesses, such as photocopying, passport photos, notarizing documents, boxes, shipping supplies, as well as boxing and shipping services. Most of them allow box owners to have large packages dropped off, even if the package will not fit in the owner's box. For individuals, these services can include gift wrapping, gift cards and assistance with shipping. The holidays are one of the busiest times of the year for these commercial post office box locations.

Which is best?

The answer really depends on your needs. Obviously, the USPS is limited in the number of locations they have, and the number of boxes they can put into a location. The USPS may not have a box available at a location convenient to you. They do not generally provide the scope of services available at a commercial service; however, delivery is faster.

If you have questions about post office boxes and services, please don't hesitate to contact us and we'll make every attempt to provide the requested information.

The contact information for businesses and web sites frequently includes both the physical address and a post office box (PO Box) address. The latter is also known as the mailing address. Large businesses, such as insurance companies, frequently have several post office boxes and direct mail to them according to the type of mail. PO box is the common term for a post office box and is used interchangeably to refer to either a post office box at the actual USPS or a commercial post office box service.

A post office box located at the USPS station can be very convenient. It's easy to find, it's fast and the post office staff will hold packages and assist with problems. Once you rent a a post office box, you will have private, secure access to a box with a one-of-a-kind address. A PO Box address at the USPS consists of only the box number and the city, state and ZIP code where the post office station is located. It does not require a street address.

In addition to the advantages stated for a USPS post office box, a PO box located at a commercial post office box service can give a small business or a home office business the appearance of being a much larger business, with an actual street address. It's an excellent choice for home-based businesses, as it maintains privacy of the home location while providing a street address for the business. The post office box number is typically shown after the street address and gives the impression of a suite number.

Privacy and Security

These are probably the #1 and #2 reasons for renting a post office box. Many people are uncomfortable giving out their home address, for a variety of reasons - maybe they live alone, maybe they've had unpleasant experiences with strangers who get their address and come to their home. Whatever the reason, a post office box eliminates those problems by ensuring privacy.

In the U.S., you must fill out a form to rent a post office box and provide proof of identification as well as your physical address. However, only law enforcement personnel can be given access to this form.

Permanence

One other major reason for renting a post office box is that it provides a permanent address. This may be especially handy for individuals who move frequently or travel a lot. It can also facilitate pickup of mail by third parties, such as friends or secretaries. With a post office box, physical location is no longer important.

Whether supplied by the USPS or a commercial post office box service, post office boxes are rentals. Even large corporations only rent them from the post office. The rent of a post office box can be on a monthly or yearly basis.