As you look for the best virtual mailbox in Iowa to handle your mail, it appears that they are all the same. Well, they are definitely NOT. I’ve been using virtual addresses for more than a decade, and I’ve learned some key things that will help you choose the best location and company for your needs.
Here, you’ll find an breakdown of the features to look for in an Iowa virtual address, but if you’d like, you can skip down to our recommendations, selected from over 10 leading virtual mailbox providers in the United States.
Recommended Iowa Addresses
Though you can find a full list of virtual addresses in Iowa below, these next four are the addresses we recommend based on company reputation and the features they offer:
**Note: The links in this article may be affiliate links, which means that at no extra cost to you, I may be compensated if you choose to use one of these virtual addresses in Iowa.
To learn more about choosing and setting up a virtual mailbox, use the following table of contents to navigate throughout this resource.
- How to Choose an Iowa Virtual Mailbox
- How to Set Up a Virtual Mailbox in Iowa
- Full List of Virtual Addresses in Iowa
- Frequently Asked Questions
How to Choose an Iowa Virtual Mailbox
Iowa is the only state to have two borders almost entirely lined by rivers – the Mississippi and Big Sioux. It was originally known as a high producer in agriculture, but has since transitioned to manufacturing, processing, information technology and more.
Iowa’s capital and most populous city is Des Moines, and its other large metropolitan area extends into portions of Omaha Nebraska. These heavily populated areas of the state may be what you’re considering for your virtual address.
There are two primary questions to ask when choosing an Iowa virtual address:
- What features do I need?
- Is this for business or personal use?
Let’s explore both of these questions.
Features to Look For
An Iowa virtual mailbox comes with many benefits and provides individuals and businesses with a real, physical mailing address in the state. Having this kind of mailbox instead of a PO box means you receive advantages like mail scanning, forwarding, shredding and more.
These next features are some of the biggest advantages you receive with a virtual mailbox:
- Scans/Opens: Make sure you review the available plans for each provider to find out how many mail pieces they will receive on your behalf per month. You also want to see how many pages can be scanned per month. Anything over that allowed amount may incur additional fees, and those fees add up quickly!
- Mail Forwarding: Using a virtual address means you have the ability to consolidate your mail as well as forward it. Depending on your particular need, check whether your address allows for international forwarding (not all of them do). Lastly, find out which shipping companies they contract with. For instance, PostScan Mail contracts with multiple shipping providers, and that means you pay less for shipping (see our PostScan Mail review here)
- Local Pickup: You may want to drive to the address to pick up your mail occasionally. If that is the case, make sure to check that your plan allows that. Some of them do not, and if they do, they may charge a fee (usually $1-$3).
- Check Deposit: Currently, most providers offer check deposit as a feature, but it’s worth double-checking.
- Primary Hub Address: Most virtual mailbox companies contract with independent mail centers to provide address locations. The downside to this model is that they don’t have any control over quality or security. For this reason, it’s worth considering a virtual mailbox primary hub, particularly if you’re a small business.
There are obviously other features to consider, but often this boils down to your use case: are you using this address in Iowa for a business or for personal use?
Virtual Business Address in Iowa
It’s in your best interest to find a virtual address that matches your particular business’ needs. Know your highest priority – for example, if you receive large volumes of mail or if you highly value security, choose a virtual address located in a business park instead of an independent mail center in a strip mall.
Your business will also have a more professional look.
If you plan to use a virtual address for an LLC in Iowa(yes, you can do this), it’s critical to choose a company that has been in business for a number of years. It’s very inconvenient to have to change your business address because your virtual mailbox company went out of business!
Iowa has plenty of great cities to choose from for a virtual address for businesses, and digitizing your mail can save a lot of time, money and headache.
Virtual Address for Individuals in IA
Virtual mailbox services aren’t just for businesses; there are also useful personal virtual addresses for individuals and families. For about ten dollars per month, you can enjoy the benefits of a virtual mailbox, especially a greater level of privacy.
You won’t have the pressure of giving out your personal home address to anyone you don’t trust – you can provide your virtual address instead!
Popular providers like iPostal1, Anytime Mailbox, PostScan Mail, and Traveling Mailbox cater to the needs of individuals and families, making it easy to find a service that suits your personal requirements.
How to Set Up Your Iowa Virtual Mailbox
Setting up a virtual mailbox in Iowa requires a few steps but overall is a very straight-forward process. This includes:
- Choose Your Address: Obviously the first thing you need to do is choose the Iowa address you want to use and then sign up for a plan that works for you.
- USPS Form 1583: The US government requires you to sign and notarize a USPS Form 1583 consent in order to allow a provider to open mail on your behalf. Most companies will walk you through this process during your sign up.
- Set Up Authorized Recipients: At least two authorized recipients are usually allowed per mailbox (i.e. you and your spouse or your name and your business name). And of course, each recipient still needs their own notarized Form 1583 on file with the company.
- Start Receiving Mail: It takes about an hour to complete this setup process, after which you can start giving out your new Iowa virtual address.
- Manage Your Digital Mailbox: As you begin to receive mail, your mailbox dashboard will provide you with scans of any incoming mail and give you options for what you can do with that mail. Learn more about how a virtual mailbox works.
Once you’re all set up, apply for a change of address (temporary or permanent) online or at your local US post office. Your chosen provider will then scan your mails and packages and upload them to your virtual mailbox for easy access.
Full List of Iowa Virtual Addresses
We’ve done the hard work of researching the best virtual address companies and collecting a full list of every available Iowa address.
Use the sort and search functions on the table below to find what you’re looking for. Because of the amount of information, it’s often better to view this table from a desktop computer as opposed to your mobile device.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve compiled the most common questions we receive about using a virtual mailbox (in Iowa or anywhere), but this is just the tip of the iceberg. We have a ton of great resources to learn about virtual addresses that you can browse.
Yes, you can use a virtual address for your LLC in Iowa. You need to register your business with the Iowa Secretary of State and provide a physical address, rather than a P.O. box, as your registered address.
Virtual address works by allowing you to choose an actual physical address that is owned by a virtual address service. Mail sent to this address is received and scanned by the company before being uploaded to the cloud, giving you access to view and interact with the mail remotely. Learn more about how a virtual address works here.
Iowa is a popular state to register a business because they offer favorable tax incentives, particularly for corporations who do not do business in the state. For this reasons, you’ll see many international businesses set up their US base in Iowa.