How to Change Your Business Address in 5 Steps: Complete Checklist | Stable

Business change of address FAQ

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What is a business change of address?

A business change of address is the process of updating your company's official address with the government agencies, financial institutions, and vendors your business works with. Unlike moving as an individual, a business address change involves multiple separate steps across USPS, the IRS, your Secretary of State, your bank, and your service providers.

How do I change my business address with USPS?

Go to moversguide.usps.com and file a Change of Address form. Select "Business," enter your old and new addresses, and verify your identity with a credit or debit card. If your new address is a private mailbox or virtual address, use "PMB" as the unit designator (e.g., 123 Main St PMB 100) as required by USPS.

How do I change my business address with the IRS?

File IRS Form 8822-B (Change of Address or Responsible Party — Business) and mail it to the address listed in the form instructions. Alternatively, you can update your address when you file your next business tax return.

Do I need to update my address with my Secretary of State?

In most states, yes. If your business is an LLC or corporation, your registered address is part of the public record and needs to be kept current. The filing process varies by state — most allow you to update online through the state's business filing portal.

What is a PMB address?

PMB stands for Private Mail Box. It's the designation USPS uses for addresses managed by a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) — like a virtual mailbox provider or a UPS Store. USPS requires the PMB designation when filing a Change of Address to a private mailbox address.

What is USPS Form 1583?

Form 1583 (Application for Delivery of Mail Through Agent) authorizes a CMRA to receive mail on your behalf. The mail authorization form, or USPS 1583 form, gives a CMRA permission to accept and handle mail under you or your business’s name. CMRAs are required by USPS to have a signed copy of this form on file in order to ensure that a real person or entity is linked to the mailbox. Typically, you would need to fill this out yourself and get it notarized. With a Stable address, we’ll pre-fill this form for you and verify your identity in a few easy steps and at no charge, so all you need to do is answer a few questions. It only takes about 5 minutes.

How long does it take to process a USPS Change of Address?

Typically 7–10 business days. Once active, you'll see a yellow forwarding sticker on redirected mail.

How long does USPS mail forwarding last?

Periodicals (magazines) are forwarded for 60 days, while Marketing Mail is typically discarded. While the standard service is 12 months, you can now pay for Extended Mail Forwarding in 6, 12, or 18-month increments, allowing for up to 30 months total of redirection.

What happens if I miss updating a vendor?

If forwarding is active, USPS will redirect the mail to your new address for up to 12 months. After that, mail sent to your old address won't reach you. That's why we recommend working through a systematic checklist — so nothing important gets missed before forwarding expires.

Do I need to change my address everywhere at once?

No. It's more manageable to work through it category by category — starting with USPS forwarding to catch any mail in transit, then moving to government entities (IRS, Secretary of State), then financial institutions, then vendors. Stable's change of address checklist helps you track your progress.

Can I use a Stable address as my official business address?

Yes. Stable addresses are real street addresses (not PO Boxes) that can be used as your business mailing address, and in many cases as your official business address with the IRS, your bank, vendors, and other entities. One of the advantages of a Stable virtual address is that, once it’s in place, you never need to change your address again: if you relocate, go remote, or grow, your address travels with you. Read this case study to see this in action.

Do I need to notify my state if I’m using a virtual address?

In most cases, yes. If your registered business address changes, whether you are using a virtual address or not, you’ll need to update it with the Secretary of State through a formal amendment or statement of change. A virtual address, like those available through Stable, is a real street address and can be used as your official business address in most states. However it cannot be used as your registered agent address, which requires a separate designation. Stable also provides registered agent services in all 50 states.

How does Stable help with the change of address process?

After you sign up and complete onboarding, Stable builds you a personalized change of address checklist based on your business situation. It includes step-by-step instructions, pre-filled forms, progress monitoring, and more. We can even schedule a live walkthrough with a member of our support team.