Starting a business is an exciting milestone — but there’s one seemingly small decision that could have big consequences: using your home address as your business address.
If you’re registering a business with ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission), it might seem easy to list your home as your official business location. But here’s the truth: that address becomes public.
In this article, we’ll explore:
- Why using your home address for your business could backfire
- The risks to your privacy and credibility
- Alternatives that offer both professionalism and protection
- How to update your ASIC record with a better address
Whether you’re a freelancer, sole trader, startup founder, or small business owner in Brisbane, this guide will help you make a smart decision.
Why Does ASIC Require an Address?
When registering a business in Australia, you’ll be asked to provide one or more of the following:
- Registered office address (required for companies)
- Principal place of business
- Address for service of documents (for business names)
Each of these must generally be a physical Australian address (not a PO Box), and in most cases, this address is published on ASIC’s public registers — which anyone can search and view.
That means if you enter your home address, it becomes visible to anyone.
Reason 1: Your Home Address Becomes Public
One of the biggest misconceptions people have is assuming their home address stays private. But once you submit your ASIC registration, your address becomes searchable through:
- ASIC’s Business Name Register
- ABN Lookup
- Company search tools (company extract reports)
Anyone — clients, competitors, marketers, even strangers — can access this information with a quick search.
Real-world consequences include:
- Receiving unsolicited mail or cold calls
- People showing up at your front door
- Scammers collecting your data for phishing or identity theft
You wouldn’t publish your home address on Instagram — so why list it with ASIC?
Reason 2: Risk to Your Safety and Your Family
If you live with children, a partner, or housemates, making your home address public doesn’t just impact you — it exposes everyone in your household.
This can be especially concerning for:
- Individuals with stalkers or difficult clients
- People running businesses with public controversy
- Women in solo businesses concerned about safety
ASIC does allow you to apply for address suppression in rare cases (like domestic violence risk), but it’s a formal application with no guarantee of approval.
The simplest way to keep your home private? Don’t list it in the first place.
Reason 3: It Looks Unprofessional
Let’s say a client or partner Googles your business — and sees your residential apartment or suburban house listed as your official office.
While it’s 100% legal to run a business from home, perception matters. A home address on ASIC can:
- Diminish your credibility
- Create doubt about your business’s legitimacy
- Make your brand feel small or temporary
Even if you’re offering a premium product or service, that first impression can affect sales and trust.
A virtual business address in a commercial location, like New Farm or Fortitude Valley, signals that you’re professional, established, and ready to do business — even if you work from home most days.
Reason 4: It Can Affect Google Business Profile (and SEO)
If you’re planning to list your business on Google Maps with a Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business), your address matters even more.
Problems with using your home address:
- Google might suspend your profile if they detect it’s residential.
- You may fail verification if your signage doesn’t match.
- You could miss out on “near me” search rankings because your address lacks commercial credibility.
By contrast, using a commercial or coworking address can help you:
- Verify your profile easily
- Show up in local search results
- Attract more customers in your area
If you’re based in Brisbane, a virtual office at Salt Space Coworking in New Farm includes a professional address that’s ideal for ASIC and Google.
Reason 5: It’s Harder to Scale or Outsource
Running a business from your kitchen table might be fine at first — but what happens when you hire your first staff member, outsource admin tasks, or collaborate with other professionals?
Using your home address creates complications like:
- Needing to change addresses later (which costs time and money)
- Sending confusing messages to clients or team members
- Being unable to host meetings or receive deliveries during business hours
If you ever plan to grow, partner, or delegate, it’s best to start with a flexible, non-residential address.
Better Alternatives to Using Your Home Address
Now that we’ve covered the risks, let’s talk solutions.
1. Virtual Office Address (Most Popular)
A virtual office gives you access to a commercial address without renting a full-time office.
At Salt Space Coworking in New Farm, you can:
- Register your business with ASIC using our address
- Use the same address on your website, invoices, and Google profile
- Get mail handling and notifications
- Book meeting rooms if needed
This is ideal for sole traders, freelancers, and service businesses across Brisbane.
Explore our Virtual Office Packages
2. Coworking Membership
If you need a desk as well as an address, you might consider a coworking membership that includes:
- Dedicated desks or shared space
- Use of the business address
- Onsite meeting rooms, high-speed WiFi, and printing
Dedicated Desks at Salt Space are $100 per week with free parking, and it includes access to a commercial address suitable for ASIC and Google.
3. PO Box (Limited Use)
ASIC allows a PO Box for the “service of documents” address in some cases — but not for your registered office or principal place of business if you’re a company.
A PO Box can be useful for receiving mail privately but doesn’t solve the need for a physical business location.
Already Used Your Home Address? Here’s How to Change It
If you’ve already registered your business with ASIC using your home address, you can update it by:
For Sole Traders / Business Name Owners:
- Visit ASIC Connect
- Log in to your account
- Select your business name under “Lodgements & Notifications”
- Click “Change business address”
- Enter your new address (e.g. virtual office)
- Submit
For Company Directors (Pty Ltd):
- Lodge a Change of Registered Office Address (Form 484)
- Ensure your new address meets ASIC’s requirements
- Notify within 28 days to avoid penalties
Don’t forget to update your ABN via the Australian Business Register.
Final Thoughts: Set Yourself Up for Long-Term Success
While it might seem convenient to use your home address for your business, it can create more headaches than it solves.
From privacy concerns to professionalism, search rankings to safety — your business address plays a bigger role than you might think.
Investing in a virtual office or coworking membership gives you:
- Peace of mind
- A better public image
- Room to grow
If you’re a business owner in Brisbane looking to stay lean, legal, and professional, Salt Space Coworking in New Farm has flexible, affordable options to suit every stage of business.
Need a Virtual Business Address in Brisbane?
Salt Space Coworking offers:
- Professional ASIC-compliant address
- Google Business Profile-friendly location
- Mail handling and notifications
- Bookable meeting rooms
- Flexible plans starting from $40/month
Ready to protect your privacy and elevate your brand?
