{3 minutes to read} In a previous video, I explained the differences between and purposes of the resident agent and principal office for an entity registered with your state. Today, I'll be discussing which addresses can be used for your entity's principal office. In a future video, I'll cover who can serve as a resident agent.

As I mentioned, the principal office and resident agent are two standard requirements when registering a business, particularly in Maryland but also in many other states, under similar terms or sometimes different terms or phrases. When registering, you'll need to provide and keep this information up to date. The principal office is essentially where your company does business; it's where the state wants to know they can locate someone representing the business.

Identifying your principal office is straightforward if you have a brick-and-mortar location, such as a retail shop, restaurant, or corporate office. In cases where a company has multiple locations, choose the address closest to the company headquarters or main management office.

However, what if your business doesn't have a physical office for clients or customers to visit? Often, owners of such businesses will use their home address as the principal office, especially if they manage operations from a home office. Many business owners are comfortable doing this. However, it's becoming more common for people to avoid using their home address due to privacy concerns, especially as this information, in Maryland and many other states, is usually public and accessible online.

If you prefer not to use your home address, you might consider options like a virtual office or business suite location. I'll dive into these alternatives in a future video. It's important to note that most states do not permit using a P.O. box as your principal office, though it can be listed as a mailing address.