Keep your business and personal details better separated
When you first became an entrepreneur, did you think about your business privacy? This is particularly important if you run your business from home. If you do not have your own office or other business premises, your home address appears in the KvK Business Register as your business registration address. Anyone can easily find it through a search.
You are also required to display your address on your website, and it will undoubtedly appear on invoices, quotations and other business documents. That is before considering information shared through social media. Making your home address public in this way can have unpleasant consequences. It is therefore worth thinking about this, preferably before registering your business with the KvK.
The business postal address
If you run a home-based business, applying for a business postal address at MrKantoor can be practical. Your business then has a separate address for its KvK registration, business website, correspondence and any other places where you communicate your company details. This keeps your home address private. Of course, it does not mean that you can no longer be found.
If someone is determined to visit you at home, they can often eventually obtain your address through various indirect routes. For example, you may have used your home address when you first started your business. There may still be somewhere that those old details can be found, particularly if someone uses AI to help their search.
Limits to business privacy
Official bodies such as the Dutch Tax Administration, judicial authorities and your municipality always have access to your home address. You cannot conceal it from them. Bailiffs and debt collection agencies can also request information from the municipality if you have an outstanding debt whose payment deadline has long since passed. A virtual office also accepts bailiff documents when a bailiff attends the office in connection with a seizure.
And if you are suspected of a criminal offence, the police and judicial authorities can, of course, find you at your home address. Business privacy is therefore intended solely to prevent unwanted visits from clients, representatives offering business services or other business contacts whom you would rather not have at your door just as you are sitting down with your family.
Having your address hidden in the Business Register
In the Netherlands, company information is generally transparent and accessible. A client or other interested party must be able to find your business address without too much difficulty. You can only request that your home address be hidden in exceptional cases, for example when there are serious threats or a serious incident has already occurred.
The KvK must assess such a request and can only grant it if there are sufficient grounds. In most cases, protection is granted for a specified period, after which the need for an extension is assessed. The KvK distinguishes between a specific threat and a probable threat. More information is available on its website.
How to change your business address
When you start using a business address provider, or business postal address, it is important to remove all outdated information. Change your address online through the KvK website so that the Business Register shows the correct details. It is then sensible to make a checklist of other places where you need to update your address.
Think of your website, or multiple websites if you have several businesses. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok often display a business address on your business account. Your company may also be listed on an industry website or a municipal business directory. The address needs to be updated there too.
Applying for a business postal address
If you decide to apply for a business postal address at MrKantoor, it is important to realise that your home address does not simply disappear. It can still be found. Before you can use a business address provider’s services, you must also supply the required information about your company or companies. Customer due diligence is always carried out before your agreement can take effect.
You can choose from different service packages for your chosen term. More information is available on MrKantoor’s pricing page. You can submit your application directly through the contact form.
