Starting a business can be confusing, especially when navigating the various types of addresses involved, particularly for limited companies. In this blog, we’ll clarify what a trading address is, how it differs from other business addresses, and answer common questions about it. Let’s dive in.

The trading address explained

A trading address is essentially the location where a business carries out its trading activities.

While it can also serve as the address for receiving non-official correspondence from banks, clients, suppliers, and other business contacts, it is not required to be. The term “trading address” can be somewhat ambiguous, as there is no legal definition for it.

The trading address is not an official Companies House address

Companies House, the UK’s registrar of limited companies, does not use the term “trading address.”

In fact, none of the addresses required by Companies House when setting up or maintaining a limited company need to be the actual location where the business operates. Let’s explore the different types of addresses that Companies House does require.

Trading address vs registered office (and the other official Companies House addresses)

The trading address is the location where the principal business of a company is carried out.

The registered office address

The registered office is the official address of a UK limited company, where government bodies such as HMRC and Companies House send their correspondence.

It is not necessary for the company to trade from this address, nor does any representative need to be based there, as long as the company officers receive and review the official government mail delivered to it.

You can use your business location as the registered office address, provided it is a UK address and you have permission from the property’s landlord(s).

The registered office is listed on the Companies House public register, making it accessible to anyone using the Companies House search tool online.

If you use your trading address as the registered office, it will be publicly available. This can have several drawbacks, particularly if you are operating from a residential address:

• Increases the risk of unwanted visitors
• Opens you up to junk mail
• Heightens the risk of identity fraud
• May give the impression that your business is small or home-based

While the registered office address is publicly available, you don’t have to use it as your mailing address.

For more information, see the end of this post about our separate Registered Office Address and Business Address services, where you can use our prestigious London address for your company’s registered office and mailing needs.

The service address

When appointing a director, secretary, person with significant control (PSC), or shareholder to a company, you must provide a service address (also known as a correspondence address) for each individual.

This is the official address where HMRC and Companies House will send their correspondence.

The service address can be located anywhere in the world.

The company does not need to conduct any trading at the service address, nor does anyone from the company need to be based there, as long as the official correspondence sent to that address is reviewed by the relevant individual.

Similar to the registered office, the service address is listed on the public register. Therefore, while it is permissible to use the company’s trading address or a residential address as a service address, you might prefer to keep these details private.

For more information about our Service Address service, which allows you to use our prestigious London address as the service address for your company officers, see the end of this post.

The director and person with significant control’s residential address

In addition to providing a service address for your company officers, you must also provide the residential address for each director and person with significant control (PSC) in the company.

This address must be the actual residential address of the individual and can be located anywhere in the world.

The residential address is not listed on the public register. Companies House will only disclose it to credit agencies and government bodies if required.

If the trading address is also the residential address of a company officer, you must provide it as the residential address.

The SAIL (single alternative inspection location) address

A limited company is required to maintain and store various company records. Typically, these records are kept at the registered office address. However, if this is not convenient, the company can opt for a Single Alternative Inspection Location (SAIL) address.

The SAIL address must be located in the same country as the registered office address.

The SAIL address is listed on the Companies House public register. Therefore, if a trading or residential address is used as the SAIL address, it will also be publicly available.

Common questions about the trading address
Is the trading address on the Companies House public register?

An address will only appear on the Companies House public register if it is used as one of the following:

• Registered office address
• Service address for a director, secretary, person with significant control, or shareholder
• SAIL address

Can I have more than one trading address?

A business that operates from multiple locations will have several trading addresses. However, when required to provide a trading address, you will need to select just one.

Do I have to display my trading address anywhere?

There is no obligation to display, print, or publish the trading address unless you choose to use it as a mailing address. In that case, you will need to provide the address to your business contacts.

Can the trading address be a residential address?

Yes. If your primary place of business is a residential address, that is your trading address.

My bank is asking for a trading address. Can I use your address?

We’re afraid not. None of our address services allow you to use our address as your trading address.

Can I use your address as the HMRC ‘principal place of business’?

No, you must use the address of your place of business. 

Do you offer a trading address service?

No, but we do offer a Business Address Service whereby you can use our London address as your mailing address. See below for more information.

About our address services

We offer various address services that enable you to use our prestigious London address in different capacities:

• As your company’s registered office address
• As the service address for a company officer
• As your business address (mailing address)

These services are ideal for protecting your residential or other personal addresses from public view and enhancing your business’s professional image.