As someone who runs an online business, there are many benefits you can take advantage of that are not available to someone who is tied to a physical location. You get to take advantage of the flexibility that a remote work environment offers. No matter where you are in the world, you can still manage your business. And, maybe best of all, you don’t have to pay ridiculous high rent for a physical building.

On the other hand, the physical address that comes with a brick and mortar business is helpful when it comes to your business image, dealing with legal and compliance processes, and professional purposes.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could have a physical address without having to pay the excessive rent costs that come with a physical building? Well, guess what? You can! Virtual mailboxes can provide you with that.

What is a Virtual Mailbox

To simplify it, a virtual mailbox is a service that allows you to access and read your mail online, no matter where you are in the world, similar to email.

All you need is a device and internet connection. Virtual mailboxes were made for you, as an owner of an online business.

Your mail is scanned and you’ll get real-time notification of the mail piece, so you are up to date on important notifications and correspondence that you receive.

In addition, other features include ultimate mail security, check depositing for ease of running your business, and saved time because you won't have to manually track or open mail again.

Why You Need a Virtual Mailbox as an Online Business

Are you running your online business from home? A virtual mailbox can help give you a more prestigious business image with a physical address located in a big city. There’s nothing wrong with running an online business from the comfort of your home. In fact, many do. However, when your customers look up your business (in a Google search), you will want to avoid putting your home address as your business address.

First, it is more professional for your business to have an address tied to an office building, as opposed to an apartment building or PO box. A professional business address will give your potential customers the impression that you are a legitimate business and increase the trust they have in your brand.

Second, no one wants to have their own private home address out for the world to see. FYI - you’ll be using your address in many places, so that’s even more exposure to your home address. It’s a breach of your own privacy and safety. If you post your home address for anyone online to see, who knows what kind of funny business or danger could come knocking on your door? An angry customer or random stranger could easily approach your place of residence and play pranks or worse on you. No one likes a ding-dong ditcher or undesirable surprises showing up on their doorstep.

Lucky for you, virtual mailbox services can solve these problems in the blink of an eye. Virtual mailboxes provide you with a physical address at which you can receive mail and packages, which can then be digitally scanned and sent to you or forwarded to you by the service. You can also use this address for your business purposes, registering your company and functioning as your business address that can be presented to the public. With a legitimate physical address like that, your customers will be reassured that you’re a trustworthy business, and you can be reassured that your private home address is not accessible for anyone to see (or visit).

Virtual Mailbox Comparison For Online Businesses

Different virtual mailbox services offer different features. Some are more advanced than others. There’s usually a base price with additional fees depending on which extras you want (like check depositing) or how much mail you receive. Some virtual mailboxes offer a PO box address, while others offer a real physical street address — which is often required for official government correspondence. Be sure to address your list of needs first.

Now comes the fun part! It’s time to go shopping. This article has made this process a little easier for you by providing you with information, including pros and cons, about the best virtual mailbox services for your online business.

VirtualPostMail

VirtualPostMail (VPM) was thinking of people exactly like you - the entrepreneur who runs online businesses. VPM provides its clients with a physical street address to which mail and packages can be sent. This business address can serve many purposes, including registered agent services to form your LLC, as well as a physical street address that you can use for your online business (instead of your home address) and other government-related documents that require a permanent address.

With this business address, you can convey the appearance of having a physical office in a prestigious location and present a professional business image to your customers, all while ensuring your privacy and security. The reason VPM has professional addresses is that all of VPM’s locations are attached to commercial offices, not a mom or pop shop, PO box, or UPS store. So, your customers will see these professional offices rather than any of the options listed above.

As the only virtual mailbox service to own all of its addresses, VPM reduces the risk of lost mail and delays. You can expect your mail to be processed much faster because everything comes to one of VPM’s own locations rather than through multiple stops and third parties. Because VPM owns all locations, you'll get a long term address.

Pros of VirtualPostMail

  • Free mail and package storage for 60 days
  • Free mail scanning, forwarding, and shredding services
  • Unlimited cloud storage
  • Receive mail and packages from all couriers, including FedEx, UPS, and USPS
  • Top-rated customer service support
  • Free registered agent services are offered at all locations owned by VPM
  • No cancellation fee
  • No setup fee
  • Receive items within 1 business day for time-sensitive deliveries

Cons of VirtualPostMail

  • Lack of a mobile app, so you can’t manage your mail on your Android or iOS device
  • Limited selection of 3 locations to choose from
  • No fax or phone available if you’re looking for a full “virtual office”

Anytime Mailbox

Anytime Mailbox is only a software platform that allows mailbox operators to offer a “virtual mailbox” service to their current customers. Locations are a mix of physical addresses and third parties, such as that mom-and-pop store down the road that offers mailing services. Because mailbox owners independently decide service plan details, there is no set pricing or service plan. You should do your research as you won’t get the same features and prices based on the location you pick so be careful with what you choose.

Pros of Anytime Mailbox

  • Free mail storage for 30 days
  • Unlimited cloud storage
  • No cancellation fees
  • Check depositing

Cons of Anytime Mailbox

  • No registered agent services offered
  • No consistent quality in scans as mailbox operators do the execution versus trained staff
  • Varied prices and virtual mailbox services because each location operator decides what you get as a customer
  • Limited customer support based on location

Traveling Mailbox

Traveling Mailbox is a virtual mailbox that will receive, scan, and forward your mail based on your discretion. It also provides a physical address and software integrations that allow you to use Evernote and a mobile app for easy access to their services. Traveling Mailbox offers three plan options, all of which offer basic mail scans, filtering, shredding, and unlimited cloud storage.

Pros of Traveling Mailbox

  • Free mail storage for up to 30 days
  • Check depositing
  • Unlimited cloud storage
  • Live support is available
  • Software integrations with Evernote, Bill.com, Google Drive, and Dropbox
  • Mobile app

Cons of Traveling Mailbox

  • They only offer registered agent services at their location in North Carolina

PostScan Mail

PostScan Mail offers services such as mail receiving, scanning, forwarding, and package forwarding. This virtual mailbox is a cloud-based platform that can be used for both personal and business use. Their network of locations (150+) includes a mixture of PO boxes and physical addresses at mail centers or office buildings. You can add multiple users to one mail account and each individual can access their mail with their own secure password.

Pros of PostScan Mail

  • Free mail storage for 30 days
  • Unlimited cloud storage
  • Local mail and package pickup
  • Mobile app for Android and IOS devices

Cons of PostScan Mail

  • Packages stored for more than a week will accumulate fees
  • Registered agent services are not available
  • No check depositing

Conclusion

Virtual mailboxes were made for online business owners like you. One of the biggest things you miss out on as an online business is a physical address and the benefits it can provide. With a virtual mailbox, all of your problems are solved! Using the physical address provided to you by the virtual mailbox for mail and package receiving, you can also register your business, take care of governance and compliance requirements, establish a reputable business image, and protect your personal privacy from unwanted prying eyes. So, are you ready to find the virtual mailbox service fit for your business?

Ready For a Virtual Mailbox With VPM?

VPM owns and operates all of its locations, which means faster deliveries and no risk of changes in address for you. Let VPM’s virtual mailbox service help you run your online business, and check out VPM’s virtual mailboxes today!