Big Savings for Home Businesses: Why You Should Use a Postage Meter

Quick- what’s one of the things most business owners consistently overpay for? 

Stumped?  The answer is a surprising one- Postage.  Yep, stamps, shipping, expedited costs- they can all add up to thousands or more each year of overcharges.  See, most business owners who place shipments themselves either “round up” by placing too much postage on outgoing mail, or pay for speedy shipment charges or shipment fees because they need as much time as possible to prepare the shipment.  When you factor in the lost time spent shuttling back and forth to the post office, it’s easy to see how wasteful traditional mailing systems can be. 

A postage meter, or a digital mail system, can help you save money on anything shipment or mail related.  Mail systems with postage meters are a great tool for any business that mails marketing materials, correspondences, products to customers directly.  Here’s a quick guide to getting the best deal on a postage meter:

How they work
Postage meters are always leased, not purchased- though you can purchase equipment like scales, document feed trays, etc.  You’ll pay for the equipment, usually as a monthly charge, and then pay for postage at current USPS rates as you incur charges.  Postage machines work like parking meters- you “fill up” either online or by mailing a check to the USPS, and can stamp postage on your own envelopes or packages up to your balance.  Many digital meters have online access, so you can check your account balance, add more money, and download current postage rates more easily. 

Costs
You have a few options when it comes to payment.  Some meters are “pre-pay” only- you pay in advance.  Other companies will allow you to “pay as you go-” you are billed for postage and meter use costs at the end of a specified period of time.  These arrangements often carry additional charges or fees.
You’ll probably sign a contract with the provider for the lease of the meter. The longer term you’re willing to sign up for, the lower your monthly use rate will be.  Many providers also require businesses to purchase a maintenance or service contract for the life of the machine.  Make sure you know what you’re signing up for- compare a variety of different vendors, and ask for written quotes from each.

Features
Mailing machine equipment varies depending on your requirements.  Businesses that send a large amount of a certain item (such as a promotional brochure) can choose a machine with stacking features similar to a copy machine- you place the stack of brochures in a tray, and the machine stamps them each, one by one.  Businesses that mail products to customers can choose a machine with a scale, so shipping costs can be calculated down to the penny for each mailing.  No matter which type of mail or shipments you send, a postage machine will help you cut down on total mailing costs.