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.