Home address, P.O. box, coworking, a traditional registered office, or Ancre?
Five ways to declare a business address in Montreal, compared line by line: what the business registry accepts, what's actually handled, and what it costs each month.
The detailed comparison
| Home address | P.O. box | Coworking | Traditional registered office | Ancre | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civic address accepted by the registry | Yes, but exposes your home | No, rejected by the registry | Sometimes, depends on operator | Yes | Yes |
| Human reception | You, yourself | No | Often missing | Varies | Yes, at suite 402 |
| Same-day scanning | No | No | Rarely | Sometimes, as an option | Yes, before 5 p.m. |
| AI-assisted mail reading | No | No | No | No | Yes, validated by a human |
| International forwarding | You arrange it yourself | No | No | Sometimes | Yes, 40+ countries |
| Proof of address | Personal bill only | Not recognized | Sometimes | Yes | Yes, instant bilingual PDF |
| Meeting room | No | No | Yes, often shared | Rarely | Yes, 12 to 16 people |
| Typical monthly cost | $0 | $15 to $25 | $250 to $500 | $60 to $150 | $49 to $219 depending on plan |
A home address costs nothing extra, but it puts a private address on a public registry and requires being home to sign for registered mail. A P.O. box solves that privacy problem, but the business registry simply rejects it as a registered office address, regardless of the postal operator chosen.
Coworking gives you an actual desk, with a good neighbourhood address, but mail handling stays an afterthought in most cases, and the ability to serve as a registered office varies enormously from one operator to the next. A traditional registered-office service solves the address problem, but rarely offers same-day scanning, AI-assisted reading, or an included meeting room.
Ancre combines both: a civic address accepted by the registry, a human at reception at suite 402, same-day scanning, and an instant proof of address, with a 12-to-16-person conference room available by the hour. The Lieu plan starts at $49 a month billed annually, without the trade-offs of the other options.
Frequently asked questions about this comparison
Can a P.O. box serve as a registered office in Quebec?
No. The business registry requires a real civic address, held by an identifiable person able to receive an official notice or service of legal process. A Canada Post P.O. box or a private mail locker are systematically rejected as a registered office or establishment address.
Is coworking a good option for a registered office?
It depends entirely on the operator. Some coworking spaces agree to serve as a registered office, with contract terms that vary widely; others rule it out explicitly. Check this before signing a lease, not after, and don't assume mail handling is included.
What's the difference between a traditional registered office and Ancre?
A traditional registered-office service usually provides an address and basic forwarding. Ancre adds systematic same-day scanning, AI-assisted mail reading validated by a human, proof of address generated on demand, and a 12-to-16-person conference room included or available by the hour depending on the plan.
Can I switch later without starting over?
Yes. Moving from a home address or a P.O. box to a registered office like Ancre requires updating the address with the business registry, Revenu Québec, and the CRA, a step Ancre supports with a proof of address, without ever filing the declaration on the client's behalf.
Anchor your business in Montreal.
Open remotely in 10 minutes. 30-day guarantee. A human at reception, suite 402.