When you register a company, ASIC will ask for a registered office address and a principal place of business. These addresses do not need to be the same and have slightly different requirements, which will affect whether they can be a virtual address.
What is a Registered Office Address?
A registered office address is where your company will be registered with ASIC.
Requirements for a registered office address:
- Must be in Australia and cannot be a PO Box
- Must be able to receive communications and notices from ASIC
- Written consent from the occupier is needed if you do not occupy the address yourself
This means that a virtual address will be suitable for your registered office address with ASIC.
What is a Principal Place of Business?
A principal place of business is the address where your company conducts the majority of its business (i.e. a warehouse, office or home).
Requirements for a principal place of business address:
- Must be where your company mainly conducts its business
- Cannot be a PO Box
Due to the need for a principal business address to be where a company mainly conducts business, a virtual address is unlikely to be appropriate.
Conclusion
A virtual address is a great option for a registered office address with ASIC. However, for a principal place of business address you will need to supply the address where you primarily conduct your business.
If you have a registered office address and principal place of business, you can register a company.
