{"id":6440,"date":"2019-08-18T20:49:22","date_gmt":"2019-08-18T19:49:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qualitycompanyformations.co.uk\/blog\/?p=6440"},"modified":"2024-10-11T10:04:02","modified_gmt":"2024-10-11T09:04:02","slug":"registered-office-service-address-and-business-address-whats-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qualitycompanyformations.co.uk\/blog\/registered-office-service-address-and-business-address-whats-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Registered office, service address, and business address \u2013 what\u2019s the difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n Last updated: 11 Oct 2024<\/strong>\n <\/div>\n \n

If you\u2019re setting up a UK limited company for the first time, it is important to understand the differences between the various addresses you’ll be asked to provide, including a registered office, service address, and business address. Each address serves a different purpose, and you must adhere to strict company address rules<\/a> regarding the location, use, and disclosure of some of these addresses.<\/p>\n

Brief overview of company addresses<\/h3>\n

A registered office and a service address are both legal requirements of company formation, whereas a \u2018business address\u2019 is optional. Confusion mainly arises with the term \u2018business address\u2019, because many people use it interchangeably with the term \u2018registered office\u2019. However, this is technically inaccurate since they can have completely different meanings in different contexts.<\/p>\n

Registered office address<\/h4>\n

This is the legal correspondence address of your company. It is required by Companies House and disclosed on the public register of companies. Official government mail will be received there. It must be in the same UK country (legal jurisdiction) where your company is registered. You may or may not base your business at this address.<\/p>\n

Service address<\/h4>\n

A service address is the legal correspondence address of certain key persons in a company, such as directors and people with significant control (PSCs).<\/p>\n

Official government mail for the individual will be received there. It is required by Companies House and disclosed on public record. A service address can be located anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n

Business address<\/h4>\n

This is usually where a company is based and\/or where the business chooses to receive non-statutory mail from clients or customers, suppliers, banks, etc. It does not have to be provided to Companies House and will not be disclosed on the public record unless it is also the registered office or service address. It can be anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n Enhance your corporate image with a Covent Garden business address<\/span><\/a>\n \n

A company may choose to use a single address as its registered office, service address, and business address. Alternatively, a company may wish or need to use different addresses for each purpose.<\/p>\n

What is a registered office address?<\/h3>\n

A registered office address<\/a> serves as a company\u2019s official, legal correspondence address. This is the location where all statutory letters and legal notices will be delivered from government agencies and institutions, including:<\/p>\n