Virtual office companies provide a commercial presence that lenders want to see. A virtual office allows for an economical option without spending thousands in rent. This is an address that’s shared with other businesses. When you sign up, ask for your suite number. You’ll need it to set up for business services.
Warning: Once too many companies share the same address, banks tend to feel nervous about that address. It happens at the point that there are numerous failures in loan payments over several companies that used the same address. They flag the address and increase scrutiny of any business that shares that address. As a result, you’re better off with a virtual office in an affluent area.
If you’re on a tight budget, a virtual office makes your company look fabulous.
Virtual Office Services And The Building Of Business Credit For Your Shelf Company
TIP: The virtual office solutions in affluent areas are very similar price to the those in areas that aren’t affluent. For a little more, you’re able to create a fabulous image for your company with a virtual office address.
Virtual office companies provide a commercial mailing address. This works. This is our formula for choosing the best virtual office:
- Google “the most affluent zip codes” in your area, county, or state.
- Choose the top five zip codes in the results and add the search term “[Enter Zip Code] virtual office”
- Then exclude the lazy or high-risk virtual offices. Which ones are lazy and high-risk?
A good virtual office will require US Postal Form 1583 and a copy of your photo ID. This keeps scammers away.
The virtual offices to avoid are those run by lazy and irresponsible people don’t require USPS Form 1583 and photo ID. This attracts scammers who seek to use their address to do wrong. This increases the chances of that address being flagged with a high incidence of fraud and theft. Placing a flagged address on your company is detrimental to building business credit. Avoid connecting your company with those addresses.
You’re always better off using a virtual office who is careful with whom they do business.
- Avoid virtual office providers that place people in collections. There’s one that will sell you on their virtual office solution. They may ignore your request to cancel services and continue billing you, and then place you in collections.
For example, check out the online reviews about Regus.
Avoid Ups Stores And Mailbox Etc Addresses For Your Business, When Building Business Credit
Once too many companies share the same address, banks tend to feel nervous about that address. It happens at the point that there are numerous failures in loan payments over many companies that used the same address. They flag the address and increase scrutiny of any business that shares that address. This is the reason why UPS Stores and Mailbox Etc. locations are not a viable option when building business credit.
If I can’t use a virtual office address to apply for corporate credit, what am I to do?
Make a list of everyone with whom you do business. Consider your auto mechanic, dry cleaner, insurance agent, real estate agent, etc. Tell them that you’re starting a new business and you’re looking for a commercial address. Offer to pay them $50 a month to receive mail at their business address and that it’s no trouble for them. You’ll pick up the mail twice a week. Most people say “Yes.”
A home address won’t serve as well as a commercial address. Banks aren’t excited about lending money to a home based business; despite what the commercials present. The banks like a commercial address that’s not a virtual office.
That’s hit or miss. We don’t have a definitive answer.
What about the phone number? Can I use a virtual phone number I obtained through Skype or other service?
The key is whether the phone number is permitted to be verified as a physical line. Banks haven’t caught up to 2012. They remain committed to brick-and-mortar type models of business, and hesitant to lend money if the phone number is virtual. They prefer phone numbers that are registered with 411 information, and all of those lines are physical phone lines. A virtual phone line cannot be registered with 411, and not respected as a legitimate phone line. Whether a virtual line work, such as VOIP, is immaterial to the banks and DNB. They only respect what they can see and touch. If they can’t verify it, it doesn’t exist to them. As a result, I suggest you focus on obtaining a physical telephone line.
What about the convenience of a cell phone with a physical phone line?
This is not a problem. You are able to forward calls from a physical phone line to an answering service or your cell phone.
