| What is a post office box? | | | | mailbox is at the USPS or a commercial service, |
| A post office box can be located at a U.S. Postal | | | | staff at the location is available to receive parcel |
| Service office or at a commercial rental center. | | | | delivery during business hours, which the mailbox |
| Some rural residences are provided free services | | | | owner can then pick up whenever it's convenient |
| from the USPS because of their physical location; | | | | to do so. |
| otherwise, the USPS provides rental of mailboxes, | | | | Credibility. With the accessibility of online maps and |
| as do the commercial services. Instead of having | | | | other tools, it's very easy for someone to |
| mail sent to an actual physical address, it is sent | | | | research a business, including the actual location of |
| to the rental address, where the mailbox owner | | | | the business. A business has much more credibility |
| then goes to pick it up; mail is not delivered to | | | | if the business location is shown to be in an actual |
| the mailbox owner's home. | | | | business center, or post office, rather than a |
| Advantages for home office workers | | | | residential or rural area. Commercial mailboxes |
| There are several good reasons for a | | | | give the appearance of an office address because |
| home-based business owner to use a post office | | | | they use a street address and a box number that |
| box. | | | | is similar in appearance to a suite number. A post |
| Security. The address of the business needs to | | | | office box gives a business a more professional |
| be identified in correspondence, billing, banking and | | | | presentation. |
| many other important aspects of owning and | | | | How to rent a post office box |
| running a business. Some of these, such as a | | | | Renting a mailbox is as easy as visiting or calling |
| business license, are public record, available to | | | | your local USPS and asking if they have boxes |
| anyone who cares to look it up; others may be | | | | available, or looking in the directory to find the |
| published on the internet Being able to provide a | | | | commercial mailbox service close to your home |
| mailbox number instead of a physical address | | | | office location. Mailbox prices depend on the size |
| provides much greater security and privacy for a | | | | of the box, ranging from $7 per month up to $32 |
| mailbox owner. You wouldn't want someone just | | | | or more per month. Some commercial mailbox |
| showing up at your house, especially if you are | | | | service locations offer discounts on box rentals |
| there alone much of the time. | | | | that are paid 12 months in advance. |
| Convenience. Receiving parcel delivery is much | | | | In general, the value of a mailbox service for a |
| easier with a post office box. Whether your | | | | home-based business far outweighs its costs. |