A virtual business address is a real street address at a mail center that your company uses to receive mail and packages, without working from that location. The mail center logs each item and you manage it online. It works well as a mailing address, but some official filings require a different type of address.
What is a virtual business address?
It is a private mailbox (PMB) at a mail center, used for your company. You get the mail center's street address plus "PMB" or "#" and your box number. The "virtual" part is the online account: you see each envelope or package and choose what happens next, such as open and scan, forwarding or pickup, depending on your plan.
In the United States, a mail center that receives mail for customers is registered with the United States Postal Service (USPS) as a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA). In Canada, the same service is offered by local mail centers and pack-and-ship stores.
YogoMailbox is a virtual mailbox platform that gives you a real street address at a local mail center in Canada or the United States, with mail scanning and forwarding.
How is it different from a PO box, a registered agent or a virtual office?
These four services are often confused. They answer different needs.
| Service | What you get | Receives packages from private carriers | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual business address | Street address at a mail center + PMB or # number, online mail management | Yes, it is a street address | Business mail, packages, a public mailing address |
| PO box | "PO Box" + number at a post office | Only where USPS offers Street Addressing | Letters |
| Registered agent | A person or company that accepts legal documents for your company in a given state | Not its purpose | Required for LLCs and corporations in states such as Delaware |
| Virtual office | A business address, often with meeting rooms, reception or phone services | Depends on the provider | A business that needs services on top of mail |
YogoMailbox offers virtual mailboxes. It does not act as a registered agent and does not sell virtual office services. For the full comparison with a Post Office box, see our guide to PO box alternatives.
Where can you use a virtual business address?
It is a mailing address, and it fits most places where a form asks where to send your mail:
- Your website, invoices and business cards, so you do not publish your home address.
- Mail from clients, suppliers and banks, which you can see from anywhere once it is scanned.
- Packages from UPS, FedEx, DHL or Amazon, since the mail center has a street address.
- A mailing address for tax forms. On IRS Form SS-4 (application for an Employer Identification Number), line 4a "Mailing address" accepts a suite number, a street address or a PO box. If you later change your business mailing address, the IRS uses Form 8822-B.
Where can a virtual address cause problems?
Some filings ask for more than a mailing address. Check each one before you write your virtual address on it.
Registered agent and registered office
In the United States, states such as Delaware require LLCs and corporations to keep a registered agent. Delaware states that the registered agent must have a physical street address in Delaware and be generally present there during normal business hours to accept service of process. A mailbox at a mail center does not meet that role. Rules vary by state, so read the guidance of the Secretary of State where you file.
In Canada, Corporations Canada states that the registered office address of a federal corporation cannot be a post office box. The registered office is where corporate records are kept and where official documents are served. Provincial registries have their own rules.
Street address fields on IRS forms
On Form SS-4, line 5a asks for a street address if it is different from the mailing address, and the form says not to enter a PO box there. Read each IRS form's instructions to know which line accepts which address.
Google Business Profile
Google's guidelines say that a business that rents a physical mailing address but does not operate out of that location, also called a virtual office, is not eligible for a Business Profile. PO boxes and mailboxes at remote locations are not accepted either. Read the full guidelines before you create a profile.
Bank accounts and licenses
Banks and local licensing offices set their own address rules. Ask them directly before you open an account or apply for a permit.
How do you get a virtual business address?
- Choose a location. Pick a mail center in the city or country where you need the address.
- Pick a plan. Compare included scans, forwards and recipients. Prices vary by mail center.
- Verify your identity. For a mailbox in the United States, USPS requires PS Form 1583 and two forms of ID, one with a photo. A mailbox in Canada does not need Form 1583, but the mail center still checks your identity.
- Add your business as a recipient. List the company name and the people allowed to receive mail at the box. Our help page explains how to add an authorized recipient.
- Write the address correctly. Use the street address, then "PMB" or "#" and your number. Our guide on how to write a PMB address shows the format.
FAQ
Is a virtual business address legal?
Yes, renting a mailbox at a mail center to receive business mail is legal. In the United States, the mail center must be a registered CMRA and you must file PS Form 1583. What matters is using the address only where a mailing address is accepted.
Can I use it as my registered agent address?
Usually not. A registered agent must be available at a physical address in the state to accept legal documents during business hours, as Delaware's rules show. A mailbox does not do that. Check the rules of your state.
Can several businesses share one mailbox?
That depends on the plan. Many plans let you add authorized recipients, such as a second company name or a family member. Each adult recipient of a US mailbox files their own PS Form 1583.
Does the address change if I move?
No. The address belongs to the mail center, not to your home. As long as you keep the mailbox, your business address stays the same.
Get a business address for your company
Compare mail centers and plans on the YogoMailbox pricing page, then sign up online.
Related guides
- What is a PMB address and how to write it
- What is a CMRA (Commercial Mail Receiving Agency)?
- PO Box alternatives: street address, PMB or virtual mailbox
- US address for Canadians: your options and how they work
Sources
- IRS: Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number (Rev. December 2025)
- IRS: About Form 8822-B, Change of Address or Responsible Party, Business
- Delaware Division of Corporations: FAQs regarding registered agents
- Corporations Canada: Instructions for completing Form 2, Initial Registered Office Address and First Board of Directors
- Google Business Profile Help: Guidelines for representing your business on Google
- USPS FAQ: Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA)
Last updated: 2/11/2026