Nearly 535,000 Americans filed business applications in September

New Census Bureau data show 534,947 Americans applied to start businesses in September, up about 4% from a year earlier and nearly 1.8 times the monthly pace of 2019. Opus Virtual Offices is pitching its nationwide virtual office service as a way for new owners to keep home addresses off public records and set up a more professional business presence from day one.

Why it matters: - Nearly 535,000 people filed to start a business in September, signaling continued entrepreneurial momentum in the U.S. - New founders often need an address for registration forms, banking, invoices and websites. - A home address can end up on public records and become visible to anyone who searches. - A commercial business address can help separate personal and work life from the start.

What happened: - Census Bureau data released Oct. 14 showed 534,947 business applications in September. - The total was about 4% higher than the same month last year. - September filings were roughly 1.8 times the monthly pace of 2019. - Opus Virtual Offices used National Boss’s Day to promote its virtual office service to new entrepreneurs. - The company offers its service for $99 a month.

The details: - Opus Virtual Offices says its network includes 650-plus locations across the United States. - The package includes a prestigious commercial address. - A live receptionist answers calls in the company’s name Monday through Friday. - The service includes professional mail handling. - Customers also get a dedicated business phone number. - The service comes with no long-term contract. - New clients can sign up at Opus Virtual Offices and use promo code BOSS100 to waive the $100 setup fee. - Yori Galel, CEO of Opus Virtual Offices, said: “Being your own boss starts with looking the part, and that means a professional address from day one, not a home address on public record.” - Galel added: “That is what we built Opus to do.”

Between the lines: - The pitch taps a practical pain point for solo founders and very small businesses: public visibility of home addresses. - The company is positioning virtual offices as an early-stage alternative to traditional office space, which can be more expensive and less flexible. - The timing on National Boss’s Day gives the message a marketing hook, but the underlying data point suggests the startup market remains active.

What's next: - New business owners will continue weighing cost, privacy and credibility as they set up their operations. - Opus Virtual Offices is likely to keep pushing its no-contract model and nationwide footprint as selling points for early-stage businesses. - The promotional offer is limited, so interested customers would need to act while the BOSS100 code is valid.

The bottom line: - September’s business formation data show Americans are still starting companies at a brisk pace, and service providers are moving to capture those founders at the earliest stage.