UK
UK Business Experts
Private UK Business Advisory

Companies House and Compliance

Registered Office, Director Service Address and Virtual Business Address Explained

Three addresses, three purposes. What they do, when to use each, and how they combine into a coherent UK operating footprint.

A modern London advisory office reception with correspondence being sorted at a wooden desk

UK Business Experts Editorial Team · Published 2026-07-23 · Last reviewed 2026-07-23 · 6 min read

Executive summary

A UK company can hold three distinct addresses, each with a specific purpose. Confusing them creates avoidable exposure on the public register. Using them properly gives a coherent, discreet operating footprint.

Key takeaways

  • Registered Office is for statutory correspondence.
  • Director Service Address keeps directors' residential addresses off the public register.
  • Virtual Business Address is for operational correspondence and external presentation.
  • The three combine — they are not interchangeable.

Registered Office Address

The Registered Office is the address to which Companies House and HMRC send statutory correspondence. It must be a physical UK address where documents can be received. It appears on the public register.

Director Service Address

Each director may nominate a Service Address that appears on the public register in place of their residential address. Residential addresses remain on record with Companies House but are not published — provided the Service Address is used.

Virtual Business Address

A Virtual Business Address is used for day-to-day business correspondence, invoices, courier deliveries and external presentation. It is not the statutory address. Used well, it gives the business a consistent UK trading address that matches invoices, contracts and web presence.

Using them together

All three combine cleanly. Registered Office receives Companies House and HMRC letters; Director Service Address protects directors' privacy on the register; Virtual Business Address handles commercial correspondence. Consistency across the three shapes how third parties perceive the company.

Related services

Related countries

Arrange a private consultation

Arrange a Private Consultation