London Registered Office Address Guide: 8 Reasons to Choose a London Registered Office Address over Other UK Cities

Ryan Patrick

• 9 min read
What is a London Registered Office Address? 8 Reasons to Choose London Registered Office Address Above Other UK Cities

During company formation, you provide several addresses, including a service address, business address, and registered office address. It’s a legal requirement for Limited Company owners, and it’s recorded at Companies House on the public register.

All three addresses serve different purposes, and business owners must adhere to rules concerning the use, location, and disclosure of some addresses.

Having your registered office address in the city centre is a welcome idea, even for small companies.

Why A London Based Registered Office Address is Ideal?

Because a registered office in a big city like London makes your business credible, you don’t have to worry if you’re operating from home or abroad, since you can get a Virtual Registered office Address to serve the same purpose.

But why is a registered office address necessary? A registered office address is required as a legal requirement under the Companies Act 2006, section 26, for all companies incorporated in the United Kingdom.

It’s a company’s official address used by government bodies for correspondence. For this reason, this post will help you understand why a London registered address is necessary. Thus, you can’t afford to miss out on this information if you’re looking forward to starting a business in the UK.

Why Limited Companies Need a Registered Office Address

Although a business address differs from a registered one, they’re easily interchanged.

Any government mail related to a Limited company is sent to a registered office address, which must be an operational physical location. The registered address must remain the same as long as the business exists.

A registered office address is where government bodies like Companies House and HMRC deliver statutory communications and legal notices.

A registered address is also where companies keep their statutory registers for the public to access for inspection. They can also use an alternate location like a Single Alternative Inspection Location (SAIL) or a virtual registered address.

Whatever registered address you use must be within a UK jurisdiction; the company is registered in England and Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. However, a business can trade in a different location from the registered address. Here are more reasons why companies need a registered address:

  • It’s a legal provision under the Companies Act 2006
  • The official address where official mail is delivered
  • Having an official address promotes openness and corporate transparency in the UK
  • All statutory company registers are kept here for the public to access and inspect

Why Use a London Registered Office Address?

London is a fabulous city, and there are many reasons why having your registered office address is beneficial for your business. Here are some reasons why you should register your business in London.

1. London is a Global City (Networking Opportunities)

London is an international city with a fantastic mix of different cultures and nationalities. The city appeals to millions of young European workers looking for greener pastures only found in London.

The EuroZone crisis has aided migration in the near past. Today, there’s no typical Londoner since the people who speak more than 300 languages and over 14 faiths are practised. Hence, London is a city of diversity and doing business or being associated with your company is a significant development.

2. A Great Hub for All Businesses

London has offices that provide a working environment for all businesses, both small and large teams. Whether you’re a sole trader or a team, you can choose to have a registered office address service, private offices, hot desks, or co-working spaces.

A startup business will function well in London as there are many investment opportunities. The environment allows for a favourable environment to breed and get up faster than other parts of Europe. London offers a wide range of flexible workspaces designed for startups.

London is renowned the world over for accessible and quick transportation.

The underground transport system is fast, and it connects the entire city. So, getting there is quick if you have a meeting in a different part of the town.

Besides, there are also many buses and underground trains, which add to the plethora of transportation links connecting the city. Going out of the capital to a different part of the country leaves you with various options to get there.

4. Rich Diverse Culture

London is awash with diverse culture and leisure, widespread across the capital.

The city has everything you need, whether you want to see a musical or visit a museum. If you’re the sporting kind, London offers you a world-class sports hub home to premier league giants: Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and other football clubs across the city.

Besides football, London also hosts the most famous cricket grounds in the world (The Oval, Twickenham, and Lords).

Don’t feel left out if you’re a night person since the nightlife is also vibrant, and there’s always something happening in towns like Shoreditch, Camden Town, and the West End. So, you can’t go wrong if you want to do business related to any of these activities or have a registered office address in London.

5. Global Finance Centre

London is a financial juggernaut, which explains why you’ll find all the financial powerhouses here: Barclays, Citibank, and HSBC. Besides these London financial powers, the city is now a renowned home to Fintech companies like Transferwise, Market Invoice, and GoCardless.

As a result, London’s Fintech collection is thriving and supporting entrepreneurs, technologies, and new business models. With these opportunities, London is where the money is.

6. Project a Professional Image

Regardless of your business, projecting the right image to potential customers is crucial. Having a registered office address in London will match your professionalism and persona. If you’re running a business from home, a registered office address in London exudes a business image, and no one will judge you.

7. Prevent Unwanted Visitors and Privacy Breach

Working from home is a dream for many. But how can I work from home and have a registered London office address? It’s possible to operate a business in another city while registering your company in the thriving city of London.

Why not use my home address instead? Well, that’s a viable option. However, are you ready to receive uninvited guests at your doorstep all the time?

But why would they come to my home? Unexpected guests will show up at your doorstep because a registered office address is published in the public register for anyone to access.

Using a professional registered office address for official mail eliminates this problem, and your home will remain private. Some London agencies offer registered office address services at a fee, and you can look them up online.

8. A Wide Range of Staff Perks

London is a central city and commuting to work is easy. Employees won’t have to rush home after work since there are many joints to eat, drink, and entertain.

Anytime you have to arrange for memorable team events, there’s a myriad of unique activities in the city, like golf or darts, to promote bonding.

An Overview of Company Address

When incorporating a Limited company, Companies House requires the business owner to provide three addresses:

  • A registered office address
  • Service address
  • Business address (optional)

Mostly, there’s confusion between a registered office address and a business address where people interchange the terms.

A registered office address is a physical location where all official mail is delivered, while a business address is where a business is trading or operating.

Here’s an in-depth description of the three addresses:

Registered Office Address

All government bodies will deliver notices, official communication and correspondence to this legal address.

Companies House, the incorporating body, will disclose this address to the public register for anyone to scrutinise.

Although a company doesn’t have to operate from this location, it must be in the same country or legal jurisdiction the company is registered.

In the UK, it’s a legal requirement for all limited companies to provide and maintain a registered office address under the Companies Act 2006. It includes companies that operate exclusively online or abroad.

A registered address must be in the same country in which a company is incorporated:

  • England and Wales
  • Wales only
  • Northern Ireland
  • Scotland

Viable Options for a Registered Office Address

A registered office address doesn’t have to be where the business is trading. You can use any of the following addresses if they qualify as registered addresses:

  • Your home address
  • A solicitor’s or accountant’s office
  • Non-residential or commercial premises from where your business trades, like a shop, office, factory, or bar.
  • A registered office service provider from a company formation agent, business centre, or secretarial firm.
  • A residential or non-residential address that you’re permitted to use as a registered office
  • A PO Box, but it’s only possible if:
  • The address has a postcode of the building where the PO Box is located.
  • The address can be verified by Royal Mail’s Postcode and Address Finder.
  • Mail can be accepted on behalf of the company when presented to someone.

Companies House publishes registered addresses on the public register to promote corporate transparency. The move helps limit false information and also tackle fraudulent activities.

Using a home address is, however, discouraged due to privacy issues. Also, a home address will not give your company a prestigious corporate and professional front as a non-residential commercial address.

A company can change a registered office address anytime, but the original address remains in the public records. Further, the company must notify Companies House whenever a change is made. Here’s where your registered address will appear:

  • Letterheads
  • Bills
  • Emails
  • Publications
  • Order forms
  • Faxes
  • Invoices
  • Cheques
  • Receipts
  • Websites
  • Money orders

Service Address

Company directors, LLP members, shareholders, People with Significant Control (PSC) or secretaries must provide a correspondence address. The service address is where official government communication by Companies House and HMRC will relay messages. It’s put on the public record, and the service address can be anywhere worldwide.

Unlike a registered office address, a service address doesn’t have to be in the same jurisdiction where a company is registered. It can be anywhere in the world, at a home or non-residential address, at the individual’s convenience.

Service addresses are also disclosed on public records to promote openness and transparency alongside other company information accessible to the public. They’re also included in company-relevant registers stored at the registered office or SAIL address. However, a service address must not be displayed on company stationery or websites.

You can change a service address anytime, but ensure you notify Companies House as soon as possible to ensure they update the company’s information.

Business Address

A business address is where a company receives NON-STATUTORY MAIL from clients, suppliers, contractors, banks or other parties working with the business.

You don’t have to provide this address to Companies House; even if you do, it will not be disclosed to the public. However, anyone worldwide can access it if it doubles up as your registered address.

Alternatively, a single address can serve as a registered office, business address, and service address or choose to use different addresses for each.

Since a business address isn’t published on the public record, no rules dictate the location. However, for people to find the business, the details of a business address must appear on company websites and stationery.

The Differences Between a Registered Office and a Business Address

A registered address is where the official company mail will be delivered, while a business address is used for correspondence by:

  • Clients or customers
  • Suppliers
  • Utility providers
  • Any other third parties dealing with the company

Companies with multiple businesses in various UK locations or overseas have different business addresses for each location. As a result, each business establishes a local presence in every area.

The law doesn’t require a business address to match a registered office. Hence, having a London-registered office operating elsewhere benefits your business.

Virtual Office Address

You may have encountered a small business with an address of a big city. What comes to mind? They must be paying a fortune to have such an office. It doesn’t have to be so. They might be strangers to the city. But how do they have such an address? The answer is a VIRTUAL office address.

A virtual office address can be located in the heart of London City, yet the business operates remotely. You don’t have to occupy the physical space. Hence, the service is an affordable alternative to renting a vibrant city like London.

As a financial business hub, London has a culture suitable for any business to thrive. The availability of technology makes a virtual office a viable option for businesses to succeed by making them credible.

A virtual office in London exposes a business to diversity without bearing the cost of leasing a

traditional office space. So, how do you choose the right virtual office provider?

  • Get a provider who understands your kind of business
  • Filter through multiple service providers
  • Do due diligence on the company’s reputation
  • Prices and service terms
  • Reliable customer service

Virtual offices are convenient since a business owner can use the service while on the go. Here are several ways to remain connected:

  • Mail forwarding service to any address at a location you provide
  • Virtual receptionists will receive any calls on the company’s behalf to ensure you don’t miss anything
  • A dedicated telephone number (Local or national) to make your business professional and convenient

Form Your Company with Incorpuk Today

At Incorpuk, we will help you through the company formation process and file your confirmation statements to help your business stay compliant. Whether you're a UK resident or a non-UK resident, our team is ready to provide guidance and help you establish your company today. Contact us here today.

Conclusion

A London registered office address creates an invaluable image for a company while protecting the privacy of your home if you work remotely. Government agencies like Companies House and HMRC will deliver statutory mail to a registered address. The address must be in a physical location that’s reachable and operational. For this reason, any official mail sent to this address is assumed to have been received by the company.

They’ll charge a fee if you use a formations company to get a registered address, service or business address services. However, you should find a reputable service provider so that you don’t miss any communication or notices from Companies House, HMRC and other government bodies. Do you have any questions about London registered office address? Kindly contact one of our Incopuk experts here.