Registered Office Address: What It Is and What Address You Can Use

Every UK limited company needs a registered office address. It's the company's official address and the place where Companies House, HMRC and other government bodies can send formal correspondence. You need to provide one when you register your company and, importantly, it will appear on the public Companies House register.

That last point makes choosing the right address particularly important if you're starting a business from home.

What is a registered office address?

A registered office is the official legal address of a limited company. It isn't necessarily where you actually work. You might run your company from home, a coworking space or entirely remotely while using a different address as your registered office.

The important thing is that the address meets Companies House requirements and official correspondence can reliably reach the company.

What are the registered office address requirements?

Your registered office must be:

• a physical address in the UK

• in the same UK jurisdiction in which your company is registered

• an “appropriate address” under Companies House rules

An appropriate address is one where documents sent to the company would normally be expected to come to the attention of someone acting on its behalf and where delivery can be acknowledged. Its important to note - A PO Box cannot be used on its own as the registered office.

How to Register a Limited Company in the UK

Is your registered office address public?

Yes. Your registered office address appears on the public Companies House register. Anyone can search for a company and see its registered office address. That's straightforward if you're happy using business premises, but it is worth thinking about before using your home address.

If privacy matters to you, make this decision before incorporation rather than after your home address has already appeared on the public record.

Can I use my home address as my registered office?

Yes, provided it meets Companies House requirements.

For many founders, it's the obvious option. If you're starting a company from your kitchen table, you might wonder why you need another address. The trade-off is privacy. Using your home as your registered office means putting that address on the public Companies House register.

If you're comfortable with that, you do not need to buy another address simply for the sake of having one.

If you'd rather keep your home address private, arrange an appropriate alternative before you incorporate.

FOUNDRS option: keep your home address private.

FOUNDRS offers a London registered office address for founders who don't want their home address displayed as their company's public registered office - as of September 2026 its priced at £60 for the first 6 months.

Official company mail sent to the address can be received and scanned digitally, giving you a clear separation between home and company correspondence without renting an office.

What can I use instead of my home address?

Common alternatives include an accountant's address, a solicitor's address, a registered office service or suitable business premises. A registered office provider lets you use its address as the company's official registered office. Depending on the service, official correspondence can then be forwarded or scanned to you.

Whatever you choose, make sure you have permission to use the address and that important correspondence will reliably reach you.

Is a registered office the same as a business address?

Not necessarily.

Your registered office is the company's official legal address recorded at Companies House. Your business or trading address is where you actually conduct business or receive ordinary business correspondence.

Is a registered office the same as a director's address?

No. Companies House asks directors for address information separately. A director's usual residential address is generally protected from the public register, subject to limited circumstances.

The registered office belongs to the company and is publicly visible.

Do I need a registered office before forming my company?

Yes. You'll need to provide the registered office address as part of your incorporation application. That means it is worth deciding whether you're comfortable using your home address before submitting your registration.

You'll also need to decide your company name, director, shareholders, share structure and SIC code.

Is Your Company Name Available? How to Check Before You Register Understanding Shareholders and Share Structure in a UK Limited Company How to Register a Limited Company in the UK

Find your SIC Code

Can I change my registered office later?

Yes. Companies can change their registered office and notify Companies House and you can do this through FOUNDRS.

The new address must remain within the relevant jurisdiction of registration. Remember, however, that changing your address later is not the same as ensuring a home address never appeared publicly in the first place.

What happens if Companies House can't contact me?

Don't treat your registered office as an address you can simply set and forget. Companies House requires companies to maintain an appropriate registered office. Whatever address you choose, make sure someone is actually monitoring the correspondence.

This is one reason digital mail handling can be useful: FOUNDRS can receive company mail at its registered office service and scan it into your account, rather than leaving official correspondence dependent on you checking a second physical location.

Choosing your registered office is one of the decisions involved in forming a limited company. FOUNDRS guides you through your company name, registered address, directors, shareholders, share structure and SIC code before filing your application with Companies House.