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.
