Business address in the legal notice: What is allowed - and what is not?

Want to start your own business but need a professional website and don't want to include your home address in the legal notice? Many self-employed people and entrepreneurs face this problem. In this article, you will learn about the legal requirements, what is permitted, and how you can protect your private address without violating the legal notice requirement.

Table of contents

• 1. What does the legal notice requirement mean?
• 2. What information is required by law to be included in the legal notice?
• 3. What type of address is permitted?
• 4. Why it's better not to use your private address
• 5. The solution: Virtual business address in the legal notice
• 6. Is this really legally sound?
• 7. Conclusion: Legal notice with a professional address—without an office

1. What does the legal notice requirement mean?

According to Section 5 of the German Telemedia Act (TMG), commercial online offerings—i.e., websites with economic intent—must contain an imprint with easily recognizable, directly accessible, and permanently available information on the identity of the provider.

2. What information is required by law to be included in the legal notice?

The mandatory information varies depending on the legal form, but generally includes:

• Name or company
• Full address suitable for service of process (no PO box!)
• Contact information (e.g., email, phone number)
• Authorized representatives (for UG/GmbH, etc.)
• If applicable, registration number, VAT ID

3. What type of address is permitted?

🔒 Address for service

The address in the legal notice must physically exist and be accessible for official correspondence. P.O. boxes, anonymous c/o addresses, or mere mailboxes without proof of deliverability are not permitted.

What does "chargeable" mean?

The address must be legally usable, for example, to deliver a court letter. This means, among other things:

• full address with street, zip code, city
• Company name must be visible on the mailbox
• It must be possible to receive registered mail and official mail.

4. Why it's better not to use your private address

Risk: Data breaches

Your home address in the legal notice is publicly accessible. This can be problematic—e.g., through unwanted advertising, warnings, or even harassment.

Risk: Breach of contract with the landlord

Many rental agreements prohibit the commercial use of the apartment. Using the imprint may result in warnings or termination of the agreement.

Risk: Unprofessional public image

A private residential address often appears unprofessional and untrustworthy to potential business partners or customers.

5. The solution: Virtual business address in the legal notice

With a virtual business address, you can meet all legal requirements without having to rent an office. Teeberg, for example, offers addresses in Berlin that are valid for legal purposes, including a digital mail scanning service and a legally compliant usage agreement.

Advantages of using Teeberg for your legal notice:

• ✔️ Legally compliant & admissible in court
• ✔️ No disclosure of private address
• ✔️ Bookable immediately, 100% digital
• ✔️ Accepted by authorities, tax offices, and commercial registers

6. Is this really legally sound?

Yes. As long as the address meets the requirements for a valid mailing address (including contract and deliverability), its use is completely legitimate. Many notaries, government agencies, and courts accept virtual business addresses such as those provided by Teeberg—as long as they are verifiable.

7. Conclusion: Legal notice with a professional address—without an office

You don't have to publish your home address in the legal notice. With a virtual business address from Teeberg, you can meet all legal requirements while protecting your privacy. Ideal for founders, freelancers, and small businesses who want to present themselves digitally and professionally.

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Secure your professional address now

Do you want to have a legally compliant online presence without making your private home address public? Then secure your virtual address in Berlin in just a few minutes:

• ✔️ Available immediately
• ✔️ For legal notices, business, and tax authorities
• ✔️ With daily post-scan service

Start now at teeberg.com →