Virtual Business Address: Providers, Costs & Legal Status

Q: Does the tax office recognize a virtual business address?

Yes, as a business address. The costs are deductible as business expenses. However, the tax office also asks for the place of management, which must be stated separately.

A virtual business address is a real street address that you rent for your company without physically working there. It is legal, recognized by the tax office, and usable for the imprint, trade registration, and commercial register, provided it can receive official service of process. The monthly costs start at around 28 euros. → Rent a business address in Berlin

What you will learn in this article:

What exactly a virtual business address is and how it works
What it is legally valid for: imprint, commercial register, trade registration
What a virtual address costs and what the market offers
Who it is suitable for and who it is not
What you should really watch out for when comparing providers

What is a virtual business address?

A virtual business address is a real street address at a service provider that you use as the official address of your company. You do not work there, but mail is accepted in your name, scanned, forwarded, or held for pickup.

The difference to a P.O. box: a classic P.O. box at Deutsche Post is not a full business address. Authorities, courts, and creditors cannot make formal deliveries there. A virtual business address, on the other hand, is a real house number with a street, where deliveries are legally possible.

That makes the decisive difference: the ability to receive official service of process. An address that can receive official service of process is the prerequisite for the imprint, commercial register entry, and trade registration. That is exactly what a professional virtual business address offers.

What can I use a virtual business address for?

✅ Imprint

An address that can receive official service of process fully meets the legal requirements for the imprint. No c/o note needed. → More on this

✅ Trade registration

The trade office accepts virtual addresses if they can receive official service of process. The federal start-up portal explicitly confirms this.

✅ Commercial register

Permitted for GmbH and UG if the provider confirms the use as a registered office in writing. The notary needs this proof.

✅ Tax office

The virtual address is recognized as a business address. The place of management must be stated separately. Costs are fully deductible.

Important: a virtual address is your business address, not necessarily your tax place of management. The tax office asks for both separately. Consult a tax advisor if you are unsure.

What does a virtual business address cost?

The costs vary considerably depending on the provider, location, and scope of services. The following table shows the typical package tiers on the German market:

Package	What is typically included	Market price
Basic / Mailing address	Address use, mail receipt, email notification	from 15 to 40 €/month
Virtual Office	Mailing address + mail scan, digital forwarding, commercial register confirmation	from 50 to 100 €/month
All Inclusive	Everything above + business phone, secretarial service, meeting rooms	from 150 to 350 €/month

Market reference values for Germany 2026. Offers may differ depending on the location and provider.

What you should watch out for when comparing prices: cheap offers under 10 euros per month do exist, but often without written confirmation of the ability to receive official service of process or without explicit permission for the commercial register entry. These details can become a problem during formation. Always check the fine print.

Who is a virtual business address suitable for?

✓

Freelancers and solo self-employed

Protection of the private address in the imprint, a professional external presence without your own office.

✓

GmbH and UG founders

Official registered office for the commercial register and notary, without office costs in the formation phase.

✓

Remote teams and digital nomads

A fixed German business address, no matter where the team is currently working.

✓

International companies

Build a German registered office without opening a branch.

✗

Professions with an on-site requirement

Doctors, lawyers, notaries, and other professional groups with a statutory office or practice requirement need a physical place of business.

What should you watch out for when comparing providers?

Not every address is the same. These five points decide whether a provider really delivers what it promises:

Ability to receive official service of process confirmed in writing? This must be in the contract, not just stated on the website. Formal deliveries by authorities and courts must be possible.
Commercial register entry permitted? Definitely clarify this in advance for GmbH and UG founders. Not all providers approve the use as a registered office.
Real building or pure mailbox service? The tax office and the registry court are aware of both models. A provider with a real office building and personal availability is significantly safer.
How is official mail handled? Registered letters from the tax office or bailiff require immediate notification. Check how the provider handles this.
Are there hidden costs? Setup fees, minimum terms, or surcharges per mail item should be clear in advance. An overview of the best Berlin providers: The 5 best providers for virtual business addresses in Berlin

Virtual business address in Berlin

All five points met — service-of-process ready, commercial-register ready, active in 5 minutes.

Teeberg: Virtual business address in Berlin Prenzlauer Berg

Kollwitzstrasse 76, 10435 Berlin Prenzlauer Berg

Teeberg offers virtual business addresses in Berlin Prenzlauer Berg, one of the most sought-after locations for startups, freelancers, and founders. The address can receive official service of process, is commercial-register ready, and is usable immediately after booking. Over 250 companies have already registered Teeberg as their official registered office.

Confirmed for service of process, in writing for notary and authorities
Commercial-register ready, the Charlottenburg Local Court accepts the address
Official mail reported immediately — no missed deadlines
Active in 5 minutes, no paperwork, no waiting time
No setup fee, cancellable monthly
4.9 / 5 stars on Google (over 4,900 reviews)

"Booked in the morning, the Virtual Office was live in the evening."

Margarete H., Teeberg customer

"Professional advice and great service during the formation."

Aiko K., Teeberg customer

The Teeberg packages at a glance

Package	Includes	Price
Mailing address	Business address, mail receipt, notification. For imprint & trade registration.	from 28 €/month
Virtual Office ⭐	Mailing address + mail scan, commercial register confirmation, digital forwarding, office space on demand	from 63 €/month
All Inclusive	Everything above + business phone, secretarial service, 4 hrs meeting room/month	from 239 €/month

All prices with annual payment. Bookable monthly from 35 €, 79 €, and 299 € respectively. No setup fee.

Frequently asked questions about the virtual business address

Is a virtual business address legal?

Yes. A virtual business address is fully legal in Germany if it can receive official service of process. This means: mail must actually be able to be accepted at the address. Several higher regional courts have confirmed its admissibility for commercial register entries.

Can I use a virtual address in the imprint?

Yes. The Telemedia Act requires an address that can receive official service of process in the imprint. A virtual business address from a reputable provider meets this requirement. You can state it just like a normal office address, without a c/o note.

What is the difference between a virtual business address and a P.O. box?

A P.O. box is not a street address and cannot receive official service of process. It cannot be used for the imprint, trade registration, or commercial register. A virtual business address is a real street address with a house number, where formal deliveries are legally possible.

Does the tax office recognize a virtual business address?

Yes, as a business address. The costs are fully deductible as business expenses. However, the tax office also asks for the place of management, which must be stated independently of this. A pure mailbox address without infrastructure can be assessed critically.

Can I form a GmbH with a virtual address?

Yes, if the provider confirms the use as a registered office in writing and the address can receive official service of process. For the formation you need a domicile agreement or a corresponding confirmation that you bring to the notary appointment. More on this: Forming a GmbH with a Virtual Office

From when can I use the address after booking?

That depends on the provider. With Teeberg you are usually active within 5 minutes: book the package, upload your ID, receive confirmation. The address can then be used immediately for the imprint, authorities, and business documents.

Your virtual business address in Berlin

Service-of-process ready, active in 5 minutes, from 28 €/month. 250+ companies trust Teeberg.

Set up my business address →

No setup fee · Cancel anytime · Ready to use instantly