Is this address a dead giveaway that I am using a PO Box for my business?

[hbdolphin]

Hi,

I am starting a new business and do not want others to know my business address is really just a PO Box. I want it to appear as a physical office location. The local UPS store will allow me to write "Suite #" instead of "Box #" or "PMB #". And this is helpful. However, the UPS store address is Suite "F" and they require all private box holders to place the "F" in front of their suite #. So, assuming my box is #205, my physical address would appear as follows:

123 Main Street Suite F205

I think the "F" is a dead giveaway that I am using a UPS Store or some other private box service. I would like your opinion. Do you agree or disagree?

This type of formatting is often required by UPS Stores or other private box services. I believe businesses with actual offices rarely have a suite number consisting of a letter followed by numbers.

The UPS store will not allow me to drop the "F" from the address. And they will now allow me to do Building F, Suite 205 either. Nor will they allow similar variations.

I appreciate your input.

(PS Please let's not debate the merits of whether someone knowing my office location is a UPS store is "good" or "bad". That's another topic for another post).

[vangogh]

I wouldn't worry about it. The only people who might know what the F is for are other people who've tried to use a PO Box as a street address. Your other options are to use your home address or to play for a physical space you can use. Don't overthink it. The majority of people won't know. If it helps, I use a similar address and it's never been an issue.

[David Hunter]

I doubt anyone is going to know. The only way they'll know if it's a UPS box is if they look up the address on Google and it points to the UPS store.

[Bobjob]

I didn't know from reading it.

[Harold Mansfield]

Plenty of businesses use P.O. Boxes. It's not a big deal. Some mail order products advertised on T.V. still direct people to send money to a P.O. box. Money.
There's really no stigma to it at all.

[tallen]

I don't think it matters whether it is Suite F205, Suite 205, or Suite FGHI.... As a reader, I would just interpret the F205 as something unique about the organization/labeling of the building complex where your office is located.

[Harold Mansfield]

The UPS store will not allow me to drop the "F" from the address. And they will now allow me to do Building F, Suite 205 either. Nor will they allow similar variations.


It's not the UPS store. In the U.S. addresses are given/created by the USPS and are in concrete. The UPS store can't just change it for you. If you want to actually get your mail, you need to use the format as it was issued and that's in the location database. The system is international and it works.

Trust us when we say that if you're running a legitimate business that no one will care.

[billbenson]

Don't use the F or the word suite. You will still get your mail. That's the mailman’s job. Or you could just get a real po box. Its better than someone googling your home.

Most large companies use PO Boxes.