PO box alternatives for UK small businesses

There are a lot of big decisions you’ll need to make when starting a business. The more obvious considerations include your business name, your business structure and how you’ll fund your business plans. But another key decision to make is how you’ll protect your privacy when starting a business. To avoid registering a business at their home address, many entrepreneurs opt for using a PO box to receive business correspondence. 

But there are several PO box alternatives in the UK that are worth thinking about, especially if you’re looking for a cost-effective solution to manage your business mail.

Looking for an alternative to a PO box in the UK? A virtual office address may suit you. Below, we’ll weigh up the pros and cons of using a PO box, and why a virtual office address may be the best option for your new venture. 

The benefits of using a PO box

The PO box (Post Office Box) is a key part of the UK’s postal system, allowing you to maintain your privacy by having your mail sent to a secure, lockable box usually found in a post office. 

Below are some of the key benefits of using a PO box as a small business.

Secure and private option

If you register your business to your home address, your customers or clients will know where you live. A PO box allows you to have a separate postal address so you can keep your personal and business life separate and retain your privacy.

Mail handling

Should you go on holiday or be away on business, you’ll have the peace of mind that your business mail will be sorted and secure while you’re away. Unlike using your residential address for your business, with a PO box you avoid issues such as lost or misdelivered mail, as you won’t need to be there to receive it. 

More flexibility in case you move

Should you expand or relocate your business and move to a different city or even country, you can keep the same mailing address to avoid confusing your customers.

The cons of using a PO box

While there are numerous perks to using a PO box for your business correspondence, there are several cons to consider which could be alleviated by using an alternative option such as a virtual office address. 

Here are some potential disadvantages to keep in mind:

The cost

Chances are you’ll want to save as much money as possible as a new business. After all, you’ll have plenty to pay for to get things up and running. While convenient, PO boxes aren’t cheap, costing just under £300 a year for the most basic, manual collection option. For PO Box Deliver, where Royal Mail can deliver your PO box mail to your home address, you’ll be paying over £400 a year. Opting for a virtual office address could be more affordable, costing as little as £99.99 per year. You can even test the waters before committing to a virtual office with our one-month free trial period.

Reduced access

PO boxes are locked 24/7 but this doesn't mean they’re always accessible. Not all post offices are open 24/7, which means you’ll need to collect your business mail within their opening hours. Mail will also need to be collected by the business owner too, meaning you can’t trust an employee to collect it on your behalf, which may be limiting, especially if you work remotely or travel regularly for work. 

Service limitations

PO boxes often lack the additional services that you may require as a business owner. You’ll miss out on features like digital mail forwarding, post mail forwarding, a pick-up service and integration with digital platforms that you’d receive with a virtual office address.

Restrictive PO box sizes

You can get PO boxes in various sizes, but the bigger your PO box, the more you’ll need to pay for it. You may find PO boxes restrictive if you regularly receive larger packages, as the largest PO box is only likely to fit a handful of parcels at a time.

The benefits of using a PO box alternative

Not sure whether a PO box meets all your business needs? You’ll be pleased to know that there are PO box alternatives in the UK that offer you the same range of benefits as a PO box for a fraction of the cost. 

If you’re in need of a business address but want to save the cost of renting a physical office space, a virtual office address may be the ideal solution for you. You’ll get your business’ name on the map without needing to use your home address, so you can retain your privacy while still establishing your professional image. 

Here are some of the key benefits of opting for a PO box alternative like a virtual office. 

A virtual office address is cheaper

A virtual office is a more cost-effective option for numerous reasons. Rather than paying to rent a physical office space to benefit from a business address, you can use a virtual office address and work from anywhere you choose. You won’t need to pay for office rent, maintenance or furnishing costs either. Should you need to get together with your team or clients, our Premium package offers 30-minute use of our meeting room each month for you to collaborate in person.

Then there’s the cost of a virtual office itself, which is significantly cheaper than paying for a PO box. Our Basic package is just £9.99 a month and you can even try before you buy with our one-month free trial period. While you can pay monthly for a PO box, there is a minimum term of 3 months you’ll need to commit to. If you’d prefer to pay annually, our Basic package is just £99.99 a year and our Professional package is £189.99 a year - significantly less than the annual cost of a PO box being just under £300 a year, and over £400 for PO Box Deliver. 

Provides a professional business address

Your virtual office address isn’t just for receiving business mail. You’ll gain a professional business address that can represent your business across your various marketing platforms, website, company letterhead and email footer. Having a professional business address can also boost your image. Rather than using your home address, you’ll have a business address that can make your new company appear well-established and successful. By opting for our Premium package, you’ll also be able to use your virtual office address as your official trading address for all your business transactions. Talk about convenience. 

Efficient and convenient mail handling

With a virtual office address, you’ll gain more than just an address to send mail to. You’ll also benefit from mail handling services to keep your mail organised and accessible wherever you are. Once your mail reaches us here at SUAZ, we’ll scan it and send the copies directly to your inbox so you can keep up to date with your business correspondence wherever you are. 

Additional services like meeting room access

Alternatives to PO boxes such as virtual offices supply other benefits for your business too, such as meeting room access. Being able to use a meeting room could benefit your business, especially if you otherwise operate from home. You’ll have an office space you can use to brainstorm business ideas, collaborate with employees and meet with clients, without needing to pay any rental costs. You’ll benefit from the convenience of having an office space rather than needing to find and pay for a co-working space, and you’ll appear professional to your clients. For just £39.99 a month, you’ll get to use our meeting room for 30 minutes each month as part of our Premium package. 

Flexible contracts

As we mentioned earlier, while you can pay monthly for a PO box, there is a three-month minimum term meaning you’ll need to commit to three months’ of payments to decide if it’s the right option for you. Whereas, with a virtual office, you’ll access a flexible, cost-effective solution. You even get a one-month free trial period to see whether virtual office suits you before committing to it financially. This flexibility reduces financial risk for your new business, as you won’t have the burden of a lengthy contractual agreement.  

Here at SUAZ, we offer a range of virtual office packages to suit different types of businesses. As your business grows, you can always change your package depending on whether you need more or fewer features so you’re only paying for services you actually use and benefit from. What’s more, you can choose between paying monthly or annually depending on your unique, financial circumstances. This level of flexibility can significantly benefit startups looking to manage their budgets while looking to develop their professional image. 

Try an alternative to a UK PO box

If you’ve been asking ‘Do I need a PO box?’, chances are you’re looking for a solution for your business’ mail. If you’re looking for a convenient and flexible way to manage your business’ mail, a virtual office address may suit you best. Not only will you benefit from mail scanning and forwarding services, but you’ll also have a business address you can use to get your name on the map. It sounds like a no-brainer to us.

Looking for an alternative to a PO box in the UK? SUAZ’s virtual office solution can tick all the boxes, helping you manage your mail and boosting your professional image too. Take a look at our virtual office packages to get started.