Forum

What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

I need to create a business PayPal account as a sole proprietor (not for eBay). Are there any cheaper alternative to UPS for a cheap monthly fee?

Does the address, phone number need to be in the same area for business accounts?

For title does that mean I put "Mr"?

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

PO Boxes are the only alternative I know of but I don't know if that's going to fly with Paypal. Why do you need an accessible address? I don't have accessible addresses on any of my 3 business Paypals, and I DO very actively sell on Ebay.

Paypal isn't going to automatically check your address and phone number to make sure they're from the same area, so that's not a huge concern. One of my accounts has a phone number several hundred miles from the address attached to the account. It's never been a problem. I guess if you were ever limited and Paypal did a manual review of your account, it would probably be helpful for your address to be in close proximity of your phone number.

Your third paragraph needs a bit more context for an accurate answer. "Mr." would be an applicable answer if Paypal is asking for your personal title. If they are asking for the name of your business though, "Mr." is not going to be a good answer.

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

I use a local mom and pop mail store for my PO Box. I pay $10 a month (prepaying for a year I get 2 months free) and that gets me one box. Then I am able to add as many boxes after that which will be delivered to the main box for only $2.00 each month. I can use ANY name and different variations of the address that I want for each separate box. So I think that is a pretty good deal.

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

Yeah, I'm weary of P.O. Boxes. I'm thinking about going with a mail forwarding company from another state. I think having access to address would be best just to be on the safe side since this will be a business account. I'm hoping PP doesn't have a problem with that. I haven't used pp in 7+ years, so I'm relearning everything.

As a sole proprietor, I think my real name with first name variation should be fine for "title", mail forwarding as business address, new number, ip, email, and I'll be good to go. Will only log in on mobile device (not using app), new browser, along with regular checking account (cap one 360 should work if my name is real). Again, none of this will be used for eb. Now all I need is a VCC, and I'll be good to go.

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

Mail forwarding services are still usually not cheaper than the mom/pop po boxes

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

I'm seriously surprised they let you do that after reading that nonsense about the Patriot Act a few weeks ago. I guess they are slipping by because they are small.

Good luck BL. I wouldn't be surprised if P/P has a database of forwarding addresses since they are so frequently used for fraud. I ship to forwarding addresses daily so I know Paypal will allow users to add a forwarding address as their "confirmed" Paypal address, but I'm not sure how they'd feel about that being the primary address for a business.

In regards to your name, do what you think is best but you could get away with using your actual first and last name as long as you won't be attaching your SSN. Paypal links by SSN when they issue 1099s so you would be fine as long as you're using an EIN.

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

We don't have mom & pop boxes here :pout:

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

I bet you do just they are hard to find.

Oftentimes campgrounds, trailer parks and office buildings can offer a cheap address and box.

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

Alright, I'll stick with UPS, and will obtain EIN :dance:

As time goes on when I feel I am becoming too big I'll get an LLC.

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

Hmmm, I'll see if I can locate them, but don't know where to start.

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

I start at Google for locating anything. Local yellow pages might also help, but who knows.

I think changing to an LLC down the road would be a hassle. Sure it would shield you from being sued. But it would mean getting a new EIN, filing articles of incorporation, and trying to explain to Paypal why you want to change your EIN after however much time.

Personally I would just start with an LLC. :noidea:

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

The LLC process is 10x more complicated than obtaining an EIN as s sole proprietor. It mentions involving attorneys,etc.

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

It does not involve an attorney at all ever unless you are creating Trusts for asset protection or privacy.

It is super easy. Nothing complicated really.

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

Yeah it's really not hard. To file articles of incorporation in my state, I fill out an online form which takes ten minutes then at the end I'll have to print out and scan a signature page. Pay $110 then the next business day I officially have an LLC.

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

Question, while applying it's asking for my physical address, so should i put my home address, or UPS address I intend to use for business?

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

As a rule of thumb I NEVER give any BS info to the IRS. Just not worth the potential problems down the road IMO.

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

D*mn straight.

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

I didn't think the UPS address would be a problem :pout: I figured by physical address they wanted the address i'd be using for business and not home location. If home is needed i'll use that instead, good thing i exited the application before proceeding.

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

Check craigslist in your area

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

I use whatever address the business is registered in. So if I have a Nevada Corp, of course I use whatever my Nevada address is...

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

I used "UPS" as my physical address, but they didn't accept "#" so I replaced hashtag with "NUM".

I was hoping to open business checking today but I haven't received an email providing proof and it's been hours. Hopefully by the time I arrive home I'll see an update.

*impatient*

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

In order to open a business checking account you will have to register your business with the state and pay a filing fee. At least in all states I am aware of.
Oftentimes it takes weeks or even months for the state to update the database but some states offer an express option for a fee of course.

Maybe this is not accurate for a proprietor. Let us know what happens. :pop2:

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

Just tried to open a business checking account. I brought in my EIN certification letter, and everything was fine until she asked if I was doing business in "retail". I told her no, because the IRS didn't consider marketplaces retail, but she insisted that selling on auction sites is considered retail.

She asked if I collect taxes, and I said yes "sales tax" for my state (maybe I was suppose to have said no), so she said I need:

Now I have to bring in "Retail Merchant Tax Certification ". What in the world is this and where do I find it? This is so confusing.

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

Business license from state. This is what I was talking about. In order to pay sales taxes you must be a registered business.

In the future, to get around this, you market and dont sell anything. Just collect a fee. No sales taxes.

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

I thought we were suppose to collect sales tax :noidea:

So, maybe I can go to another bank and tell them that I'm not collecting sales tax, or I'll have to get a DBA which I assume is the same as a business license for my sole proprietorship

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

Ideally you would have to collect sales taxes in sales in your state to be perfectly legal.

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

$25 fee, not bad. I'll pay it, and get this taken care of. Sales tax and Use Tax is what I'll focus on, and I should be safe as time goes on I hope.

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

Nothing wrong with that! You live in a business friendly state! Cheap corporations too.

Re: What's the cheapest business address one can buy?
 

Update: I just opened up a business checking account as a sole proprietor, so it's def possible as an incorporated business similar to incorporated.