- Hey guys.
Welcome back to "All Up In Yo' Business."
I'm Attorney Aiden Durham with 180 Law Co. in Colorado,
and today,
we're gonna have a little fun
because we're gonna go through your comments
and answer your business address questions.
That's right.
Interestingly enough,
I've done some videos here and there
talking about business addresses and stuff
and they bring up a lot of questions,
so we're gonna go throw 'em
and answer some of those questions.
Before we get into all of that fun stuff though,
make sure you subscribe to my channel
if you haven't done so already
and click that little notification bell so
you get notified when I post a new video.
Check the description for some links
to additional information and resources.
It's kind of the end of the day around here,
behind the scenes of "All Up In Yo' Business"
and 180 Law Co.
So, you know, and it's been a long day,
so while I'm doing the rest of this,
I'm gonna just pour myself a quick cocktail real quick.
Don't mind me.
I've got a nice little glass of potato juice here.
Oh, that's an old term.
Some of grandpa's old cough syrup.
And I just found these at the good old Traders Joe.
The lemon elder flower soda.
I'm gonna mix that in and I can
bet you it's gonna be delicious.
I haven't had it before.
Okay, so legal disclaimer.
I'm a lawyer.
Ooh!
Ooh, boy.
I put a lot of potato juice in there.
Okay, I'm a lawyer, but I'm not your lawyer.
The stuff that I talk about in any
of my videos isn't a substitute for actual legal advice.
If you need legal help,
consult with a lawyer who's licensed your state.
Don't rely on free info you get from YouTube, okay?
Yeah, that's strong.
Maybe a little more.
Okay.
I've also gotta give a big thank you to
our friends over at Alliance Virtual Offices
for partnering up with us for this episode.
Alliance is gonna give you everything you need to start
and run your business flexibly.
We're talking about business addresses here,
so when it comes to the business address,
Alliance, of course,
is gonna get you covered with their
virtual office address services,
so you can have a private and professional
and credible business address for your business.
But they're not gonna stop just there.
They've also got you covered with their
live receptionist service.
If you're tired of picking up your own phone,
maybe you're tired of wasting that time talking
to customers when you could be working on your clients,
or maybe even worse,
you don't have the time to pick up
the phone and you're missing calls
from potential customers, potential clients,
you have to do a lot of back and forth
with scheduling meetings.
You know, let's just get rid of all that nonsense
and have some friendly,
professional folks over at Alliance
actually answering your phone for you
so you don't have to worry about it.
You can just focus on your business.
I've got a really special offer for you guys today as well.
You can use my promo code GO180LAWCO at checkout
with Alliance Virtual Offices
and you're gonna save 50% on their setup fee
for a new virtual office service.
You can use the link in the description, and again,
don't forget to use that promo code.
GO180LAWCO at checkout to save 50% on
the setup fee for your virtual office service with Alliance.
Thank you Alliance and cheers to you.
Okay, let's do it, you guys.
Let's get into your business address questions.
"Hi, great video,
but I still need clarification on the registered agent.
You say I need two addresses when setting up an LLC.
The virtual office cannot be the registered agent?"
That is primarily going to depend
on the virtual office that you go with.
You don't need two different addresses, but the documents,
the articles of organization,
are gonna require at least two address spots.
They can be the same address.
They're gonna need the LLC, the principal office address,
and you're gonna need the registered agent address.
If you're going through a service like Alliance
for your virtual office address,
you'll need to check with them,
whatever virtual office service you're using,
check with them and see if they're okay
with you using that virtual office address
also for the registered agent address.
Many of them don't want you to do this.
I don't wanna speak for Alliance
because I don't work for them.
They're just a trusted brand partner of mine,
but last I spoke with them,
I believe that they don't allow people
to use their address as the registered agent address.
It takes on a whole host of additional responsibilities
and kind of liability and risk to be the registered agent,
so I don't believe Alliance wants you to do that.
There might be some virtual office services
out there that also offer registered agent services.
Ultimately, it's going to depend.
You need to check with your virtual office and see
if they permit you to use your address as both.
"I'm trying to get my business license in my city,
but my landlord doesn't allow it.
How do I get around it?
All I need is a business license number."
So this comes up every once in awhile.
If you are renting,
your landlord may not permit you to operate
a business out of the property
or they may prohibit you from using
that address as a business address.
If they're not gonna permit you to operate
the business from your rental,
then there's not a whole lot of way around that
aside from convincing your landlord to permit it.
But if it's just the address issue,
if the landlord just doesn't want the address
as like the LLC address,
then this is a perfect option for using something
like a virtual office through
Alliance Virtual Offices, of course.
that lets you do it.
You can still, assuming your landlord doesn't mind,
you can still operate, run the thing out of your house,
but you're not using that address as your LLC's address.
You can use your virtual office address instead.
"Does iPostal1 offer registered agent services
or just like a UPS physical address store?"
I'm not super familiar with iPostal or iPostal1.
Again, each company, each, you know,
UPS or a registered agent or a virtual office,
each company will have different rules
on how you can use their services.
I'm assuming iPostal or iPostal1 is just
a mailing address similar to the UPS physical address store.
I would assume they don't want you to use their address
as the registered agent because they don't want to act
as the registered agent and there's nobody there
from your company to act
as the registered agent at that address.
So again, it's going to depend.
I would assume though that iPostal is the same idea
as getting a private mailbox through UPS.
"How can I change the address for my LLC?"
Typically, we can do this relatively easy
by just filing a form with the Secretary of State's office
in the state where your LLC is registered.
The name of the form is gonna depend on the state.
In Colorado, we would file a Statement of Change,
changing the principal office address for the entity.
There might be an amendment form to amend the address
or some other kind of change document.
You might also be able to update this when
you are filing maybe your annual report
or your periodic report if your state has one of those due.
And typically, you can kind update the business address
when you're filing that form.
So it's gonna depend on your state,
but there should be some form available
that you can file online, typically, to update the address.
"Is this similar to what USPS offers
if you fill out the 1583-A or is that completely different?"
I think it's the same idea,
USPS private mailbox or a PO Box or something
and same thing with UPS private mailbox.
Anytime someone's accepting mail
on behalf of a third party,
they almost always have to fill out this form, the 1583-A.
I haven't verified if that's the correct form,
so don't take my word on that.
Let's take this commenter's word on it
that that's the correct form.
But yeah, you have to fill out a form
to let the post office know
that they can deliver your mail there
and to make it all, you know, legit and cool.
That is slightly different than what you'll get
from an actual virtual office, though, like with Alliance.
They're not solely accepting mail on your behalf.
That's what the UPS is, the USPS, these mailboxes.
They're just taking mail on your behalf,
maybe scanning it to you, forwarding it to you,
something like that.
Of course, a virtual office, like with Alliance,
they're gonna do that as well,
but they're gonna have a lot
of other services available to you.
They have an actual physical office location that
if you wanted to meet with clients or meet
with business partners there,
depending on your plan or your service,
you may have an opportunity to book
a private conference room or a meeting space.
Often, they'll have copiers available and other resources.
So the virtual office access usually gives you a lot more
than just we're just taking your mail and then giving it
to you when you need it.
"I'm a truck driver and I stay on the road year round.
Can you use a virtual address for my CDL license as well
instead of me paying my friend for a room at his house
I really don't use?"
Again, it's gonna depend.
It's gonna depend.
I don't know.
I don't know if states will allow you to
use a virtual office address as like
your address on your license,
whether it's a commercial or a normal license.
I don't know.
I do know I have a close family member
who put up a fight to have his PO Box
be the address on his driver's license.
I believe it wasn't easy, but he was able to get it done.
I think especially now in our current world
where people are much more mobile,
people are, you know,
living in their vans and living on their boats
and traveling around, digital nomads,
it's becoming increasingly common to not have
a real physical address that you live at.
So I'm guessing there might be ways that you can.
If the state or, you know,
whatever agency is issuing your driver's license,
if the state doesn't have a problem with it, then yeah,
you can use your virtual office address
on your driver's license.
I don't see why not.
If they give you some pushback,
you might need to, I don't know, pull some strings,
try to convince them one way or the other.
But again, ultimately,
it depends on the laws and I don't know
all of the laws of all of the states,
so I can't tell you for sure.
Sorry.
"Can I still take a home office deduction
on tax filings if I register a virtual office address
on my legal paperwork?"
Usually, yeah.
If you're still actually working from home,
you're running the business from home,
but you also have this virtual office address,
you can still take the home office deductions.
Having that virtual office address isn't going to
negate your ability to take those home office deductions
or anything like that.
If anything, it's just an additional deduction
that you get to take for your business,
that cost for the virtual office address.
"Can I use Alliance Virtual Office's address
to register my business as well?"
I am not sure.
If you're asking can you use that address
that you get through Alliance on your LLC paperwork
to register your paper or to register your business,
then yeah, that's the purpose of it,
is to be your business address.
If you're asking can Alliance actually
register the business for you, no.
They're a virtual office service.
They don't do, as far as I know,
they don't do LLC formation services.
I could be wrong, but I'm almost certain they don't.
So no, you would need to go through another company
or an attorney or take care of
that part on your own separately somehow.
I'm a big fan of Tailor Brands and their LLC formation tool.
It's super easy.
You can check them out and I'll give a little discount code
for some of their other plans.
You can see all those details in the description.
Okay, more address questions.
I'm kind of surprised.
I mean, I guess I shouldn't be surprised,
but I'm kind of surprised that so many questions
come up about addresses.
I mean, I love it.
It means you guys are are watching my videos,
so the more questions, the better.
Anyway.
"Do you need a virtual office
or do you need a virtual address for
a sole proprietorship, DBA?
I know with LLC, it's best,
but is sole proprietor protected due to its level
of business structure or is it best to still get one?"
You don't need a virtual address for anything.
You don't need it for anything.
It's an option,
a good option if you wanna keep like your home address
off of any paperwork.
With an LLC, the address,
the LLC address is right there on the forms.
You're required to provide some kind of an address.
Not all DBA registrations require
that we give an address, I believe.
So if you're registering your sole proprietorship,
the DBA for your sole proprietorship,
and it asks for an address on that form,
if you don't wanna use your home address or something,
then yeah, a virtual office address is a great alternative
just the same way as it is for an LLC.
The idea is if you don't wanna use your home address
or whatever address you've already got,
if you don't wanna use that for your business
regardless of the entity type or lack thereof,
then a virtual office is a great option.
But it's never going to be required.
You can use your home address.
That's perfectly fine.
"If you use Alliance for virtual
and another address for agent address,
which address do you use for building credit,
like with DUNS?"
I think that's what that's asking.
So your virtual office address,
the purpose of it is that it's your business address.
This is the address we're using to tell people
where our business is located
or where they can send mail or money for our business to.
The registered agent address is not that.
The registered agent address
is the registered agent's address.
It's not the business address.
They can sometimes, depending on the circumstances,
they can be the same address,
but they're two completely different purposes.
If you're trying to build credit,
if you're setting up your DUNS account or anything,
anything else,
you would use the business address for those things
because the registered agent's address is just
the registered agent's address.
Use the business address.
If it's a virtual office address, then use that one.
"I used a virtual PO Box to register my LLC business
and the bank will not let me open a business bank account
without having proof of like a water bill or electric bill.
What do you suggest?"
I suggest talking to another bank or another banker usually.
I had experienced the same,
similar kind of issue when I was opening up
a new account a few years ago
because I had a virtual office address at the time as well
and my bank, I used Chase for most of my business banking,
they wanted my actual address.
They wanted to know like where am I actually gonna be.
All they needed was my home address.
I gave it to 'em.
It's not like, you know,
they're not publicizing my address anywhere.
I don't care if the bankers know my home address.
So talk to the bank that you've been working with.
Say, "Well I can give you my home address or something,"
if they want that,
but the mailing address,
like the primary address on the account,
what shows up on checks,
that should be your virtual office address.
If the bank has a problem with that, again,
try a different bank.
Plenty of banks won't give you that issue.
"Can you use an out-of-state address for an LLC
in a different state when starting it,
but working in the state you started LLC,
if that makes sense?
Can you use an out-of-state address
for an LLC in a different state when starting it,
but working in the state you started the LLC?"
I don't exactly get what you're asking, but,
"Can you use an out-of-state address for an LLC?"
Usually, sometimes it depends on the state.
Many states don't require, if you're gonna form,
let's take Colorado, for example.
Colorado, you can form an LLC there
without having a physical LLC address there.
I can use an address in Utah
as my principal office address to form an LLC in Colorado.
I still need a registered agent
who's physically located in Colorado,
but my principal office address can be anywhere.
Some states though, I believe California's one of them,
they require, if you're gonna register there,
you need an address that's actually in California.
So, sometimes you can, sometimes you can't.
You also might still have to deal
with foreign entity authorization
or filing in that second state.
But to answer your question, it depends on the state.
Sometimes you can use an out-of-state address
when setting up the LLC, sometimes you can't.
"How important is a different phone number
or should you use your regular phone number
when completing the application for an EIN?"
So, okay, this isn't an address question,
but it's a phone number question.
Specifically on the EIN application,
the tax ID number application through the IRS,
doesn't matter.
Use whatever phone number you want to.
If you only have one, if it's your cellphone,
like lots of us, that's our only phone number, use that.
Only the IRS is gonna have it.
I've never had the IRS call me and I've filed
for a lot of EINs and never once had them call me.
I guess my phone number doesn't appear.
Well, no, it does.
Whatever.
The IRS probably isn't going to call you.
If you get calls from the IRS, it's probably a scam.
So as far as that goes,
you can use whatever address you want.
Any other instances, or phone number you want,
and any other instances,
it's kind of a personal choice when you're
running your business if you wanna use
your cellphone number or if you have a home phone.
If you wanna use that phone number
for your business, you can.
It's not great though because. you know,
your name might show up on caller ID when you're calling
or maybe you just don't want all your customers
and clients to have your cellphone number.
So, you know, it's better in some instance to
get a dedicated business phone number.
You know, Google Voice is a popular option.
It's free, you can get a fake number and just still
use your cellphone.
Alliance Virtual Offices, of course,
can also help you with getting
a dedicated business phone number
and a live receptionist to answer that phone number.
So ultimately, for the EIN, it doesn't matter.
Everywhere else, personal decision, but overall,
I don't suggest using your cellphone number
'cause it's just gonna get messy after awhile.
All right, and that brings us to the end
of our address questions.
Great round of questions this time, you guys.
If you've got more address, virtual office address,
more questions about how that all works
with your business, you know, go ahead and comment them.
Maybe I'll address them in the next one.
And don't forget,
if you are looking to set up a virtual office
or if you need a business phone number
or a live, professional, friendly receptionist to
answer that business phone number,
Alliance Virtual Offices is going to have you covered
in all respects and you'll be able to save 50%
on the setup fee for a new virtual office service
if you use my promo code GO180LAWCO.
And you can check Alliance out
using the link in the description.
There's a lot of intersection here with office, LLC address,
and registered agent address.
This may have brought up more questions for you about, wait,
what's the registered agent do then
if it's not like for my business address?
I've got more videos talking specifically
about what a registered agent does.
You can check one out right here.
I'll meet you over there.
Thank you so much for watching.
I'm Aiden Durham and I'll see you next time.
Cheers.
Woo!
Clank, clank.
All right, goodbye.
Nailed it.
She nailed it out of park.
Business flexibly.
My God, I almost tipped over my drink.
In case we need to do that one again.