Utility
PO boxes are used to receive mail and packages without having to give out your private address. If that's all you're looking for, great. However, PO boxes don't have any particular use outside of that. Virtual mailing addresses, on the other hand, have a variety of other uses. The most notable use of a virtual address is that it can be used to register your business.
This provides significantly more privacy than a PO box, as registered business addresses are listed publicly. Even if you were to put aside concerns of privacy, a virtual office address looks significantly more professional on a business card. There are countless other services offered when you use a virtual address, but they aren't covered here as they aren't relevant in the choice between a PO box and a virtual address.
Scale
A PO box can be great for receiving packages. But, what if you require more space? There is a lot of variance in the mail capacity of virtual mailing addresses; however, there are absolutely options that are suited to handling large volumes. For example, Office101, with its other business being third party logistics, can handle up to four 40ft shipping containers simultaneously.
They even offer warehouse rental and 'pick and pack' services. This makes them ideal for businesses (or individuals) that want to receive large volumes of packages, pallets, crates, or other items at a private address.
Price
Although virtual mailing addresses tend to be more expensive than PO boxes, over a year, the difference feels insignificant. Of course, if you don't need any of the extra benefits, opting for a PO box can save you money. On the other hand, what you can get out of a virtual mailing address more than makes up for the price difference.
If you think that you'll be able to make use of a virtual mailing address, it is definitely worth paying the extra money. Business owners, in particular, will find that the price difference is negligible when you consider what a virtual mailing address can do for your business and your privacy.
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