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As a work-from-home business, are you struggling to build credibility with customers and suppliers in Texas? Do you need to keep your personal address off official company paperwork for privacy concerns?
A virtual address can build your credibility and keep your identity safe. Here, we'll uncover all the advantages of getting a virtual address for your Texas LLC and show you how to get started.
Does Texas Allow a Virtual Business Address?
Yes, Texas does allow you to use a virtual business address as your legal business address.
A virtual address is a real, physical street address where you can receive business-related mail and small packages. Any business entity, including sole proprietorships, corporations, S Corps, and Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), can use a virtual business address.
In Texas, a virtual address can be used for the following purposes:
- Completing formation paperwork such as Articles of Organization and Articles of Incorporation
- Opening a bank account
- Securing an EIN (Employer Identification Number)
- Filing tax and compliance documents such as a Texas Franchise Tax Report and an annual report
- Signing legal contracts
- Acquiring a business domain name
- Creating and updating business listings like Google My Business and Yelp
Let’s find out more about how a virtual business address can benefit your Texas business — no matter where you are in your small business journey.
Why Choose a Virtual Business Address for a Texas LLC?
Whether you’re starting a new business or running an established one, here are a few reasons you might choose to use a virtual address in the Lone Star state:
- You’re about to incorporate your business and are concerned about privacy. You don’t want your home address listed on official records where it’s easily accessible to anyone who wishes to contact your business.
- You have a home-based or e-commerce business and want a “physical address” to list on bank forms, contracts, and license paperwork.
- You’re relocating your business within Texas and don’t want to miss out on any correspondence.
- You wish to build a physical presence in Texas without investing in an expensive office space or hiring employees.
- You want to form an anonymous LLC in Texas.
Benefits of a Texas Virtual Address and Mailbox
A physical street address is crucial for any business in Texas. A virtual address is an affordable solution suited for all business types.
Let’s dig deeper into the advantages of having a Texas virtual address for your LLC or Corporation:
Builds a Professional Company Image
Customers and vendors want to engage and work with professional and reputed businesses with traceable addresses. Despite the rise of online and home-based businesses, many are wary of businesses that “exist” only on the web or via a P.O. Box because they might disappear without a way to reach them.
A virtual address gives you a real, fixed street address that shows potential customers, vendors, and business partners that your business is legitimate.
With Incfile's Virtual Address service, your commercial virtual address will appear in the following format:
My Texas Small Business
4660 Street #100
City, TX 00000
Create a more polished business image by including your virtual address on the following materials:
- Business letterheads and visiting cards
- CAN-SPAM compliance email campaigns
- Marketing collateral and packaging
- Business listings
Provides Convenience of a Fixed, Physical Address
You will need a fixed address to open a business bank account or secure a Texas business license. A virtual address gives you the convenience of a physical address without breaking the bank on a brick-and-mortar location.
During the course of running your business, your address might change. State authorities must be notified of each and every address change, and most states charge a processing fee whenever you update your records. These expenses can quickly add up and topple your operating expenses. With a virtual address, you can change your business location without having to worry about updating local authorities, missing important communication, or draining your budget.
Strengthens Online Visibility
Search engines help customers find local businesses by referencing address details from websites and business listings. If you don’t have an address, customers may not be able to find your Texas business. With a virtual address, you can establish your presence as a Texas business without shelling out thousands on rent and utilities.
Gain Flexibility to Manage Mail From Anywhere in the World
A Virtual Address service such as Incfile's typically offers mailbox services, making it a breeze to manage your business mail.
All incoming correspondence is scanned and uploaded to a centralized and secure dashboard you can access from any location in the world, any time you want. No special software skills are required, and you don’t have to wait for certain hours to access mail as you would with a P.O. Box.
You'll receive an instant email notification when new mail is available so you don’t miss out on a thing. Plus, a virtual mailbox gives you the power and flexibility to manage your business while on the go.
Maintains Privacy
Using your home address for your business sacrifices privacy. Protect your home and family members from junk mail, unwelcome visitors, and potential phishing scams by using a virtual address. A professional Virtual Address and Mailbox service provides a strong distinction between your home life and your business.
Helps Overcome Legal Restrictions
Some local governments, housing associations, or zoning laws restrict residents from using their homes for business purposes. For instance, your landlord might prohibit you from running an e-commerce business from your apartment. The steady stream of business-related communication arriving at your doorstep could also result in disgruntled neighbors and potential mail theft.
When you employ a Virtual Address service, you don't need to use your home or rental address as your business’s legal address. This also prevents your home mailbox from being flooded with business-related correspondence.
Protects from Mail Theft
Mail theft is on the rise, and your business’s physical mailbox holds some of the most sensitive information, such as your Certificate of Good Standing, business bank statements and checks, license paperwork, and more. You could land yourself in trouble if any of these documents end up in the wrong hands.
Prevent the threat of mail theft by using a service that protects your sensitive documents by using encryption and scanning for digital vulnerabilities.
Reduces Paperwork and Clutter
The digital mailbox minimizes unwanted piles of clutter and improves your paper efficiency. Not only will you save the time it takes to collect, open, and store through the mail, but you'll also save space. With digital and searchable copies of every piece of mail you receive, you can say goodbye to searching through mountains of paper to find that one critical document.
How to Set Up a Virtual Business Address in Texas
Follow these four steps to get a virtual address for your Texas business:
Step 1: Get a Virtual Mailing Address Service
A simple Google search will give you a list of Virtual Address service providers in Texas. However, remember to compare different providers to make sure they meet all your business's requirements.
Incfile's Virtual Address and Mailbox service includes the following accommodations:
- A physical street address
- Unlimited mail volume
- Automatic email notifications
- Access to an encrypted virtual mailbox
- Scanning and storage of all mail (large, boxed packages are not accepted)
- Physical mail forwarding of authority cards, bank checks, and credit and debit cards
Step 2: Decide if This Will Be Your Primary Business Address
After you've found your Virtual Address service provider, you need to decide whether this address will be used for all official paperwork or if you'll only use it for vendor contracts or other special cases.
If you decide to use your virtual address as your primary business address, make sure it's listed on the Articles of Organization you submit to the Texas Secretary of State.
All businesses, including remote businesses, need to apply for a user permit and collect sales tax for taxable items. Use your virtual address to register on the State Comptroller website if your business is subject to state-based sales or franchise tax.
Step 3: Separate Your Registered Agent Address From Your Virtual Address
Any business that wishes to register in Texas must assign a Registered Agent. Texas requires your Registered Agent to have a physical address in the state, and P.O. Boxes and virtual addresses aren’t accepted.
Here’s why: The Registered Agent needs to be present during regular business hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Monday through Friday, to receive and sign for all government communication and notices. This makes using a virtual address unsuitable for Registered Agent purposes as there is nobody physically present at the virtual address to accept this paperwork.
Need to hire a Registered Agent in Texas to manage all government notifications? Incfile provides this service for free for the first year if you incorporate your business with us.
Step 4: Voilà! Start Using Your Texas Virtual Address
Once the paperwork is filed and processed, you can start using your virtual address for all business-related communication, including website, social media, and business listings. A consistent address across all channels will help your brand identity, and it will develop trust with your customers and vendors.
Top Texas Virtual Address Questions, Answered
Can I Use a P.O. Box as My Business Address in Texas?
Yes, Texas does allow you to use a P.O. Box as a business address for initial filing purposes. However, as we mentioned earlier, this option compromises your privacy and restricts the amount of mail you can receive. It also takes away your ability to access mail from anywhere in the world.
Can I Use a Virtual Address for My DBA?
Yes, you can use a virtual address for a Texas DBA “doing business as” certificate. Simply complete the Texas Assumed Name form using your virtual address and pay the $25 fee by credit card or check to the Texas Secretary of State.
Did you know that a DBA can be beneficial for your business as it can help you create a Texas location-based brand and even launch a new product or service? Incfile can file a DBA for your business in no time.
How Do I Change My Texas Virtual Address?
It’s easy to change your virtual address. Sign up with a virtual address provider like Incfile and update the Texas Secretary of State about your change in business address.
To formally change the business address of your Texas LLC, fill out the Texas Certificate of Amendment, and then mail your completed form and payment of $150 to:
Secretary of State
P.O. Box 13697
Austin, TX 78711-3697
Acceptable payment forms include checks, money orders, and debit or credit cards.
To change the virtual address of your Texas LLC online, follow these steps:
- Log in to SOSDirect.
- Find your entity using a business name or filing number.
- Select your entity and click on the “Initiate change” icon.
- Complete the required information, make the payment, and hit submit.
Once the Secretary of State has processed and accepted the change in business address, make sure to update your website, social media channels, and business listings.
If taxes apply to your business, you'll need to update the state Comptroller's website with your new address. Keep your EIN, Comptroller file number, and Texas Secretary of State filing number handy to complete the process.
Create Flexibility and Efficiency with a Virtual Address
Perhaps you're starting a home-based business, an online business, or an anonymous LLC, or maybe you're a seasoned e-commerce small business owner. No matter your current situation, a virtual address for your Texas LLC will display a professional image and maintain your privacy and security. For just $29, Incfile can provide a virtual address and mailbox for your Texas LLC plus a free Registered Agent for your first year.
Swara Ahluwalia
Swara Ahluwalia is a freelance content writer with experience in the technical, B2B and SaaS domain. She also has curated content for various lifestyle brands. In her downtime, you will most likely find Swara training for her next marathon or spending time with her two daughters.
