A virtual address is genuinely a set-and-forget service most of the time, but a short annual check catches small drift before it becomes a real issue.
What to actually check
Three things, once a year: does the address still suit your business as it has grown or changed, do your public listings (website, invoices, ABN, ASIC) still match exactly, and has anything in your provider's terms changed since you signed up [Sprintlaw, sprintlaw.com.au].
Why this matters more than it sounds
Businesses change. What suited you as a sole trader starting out might not suit you a year later if you've incorporated, taken on a co-director, or started trading in a new state. The address itself rarely needs to change for these reasons, but it's worth confirming rather than assuming.
A natural time to do this
Tying this review to your ASIC annual review date, if you have a company, is a convenient way to remember it. You're already thinking about compliance at that point in the year, so a five-minute check of your address setup fits naturally alongside it.
What good looks like at the end of the review
Your ASIC registered office, ABR address, website, and invoices all show the same details, with no surprises in your provider's terms since you last checked. If everything matches, you're done for another year.
Space Penguin offers virtual addresses in Sydney and Melbourne from $20 per month plus GST, with no setup fee and no lock-in. Visit spacepenguin.io/virtual-address for current details.